A nursing home lawsuit has been filed against a nursing home for wrongful death. The nursing home allowed a patient to suffer through respiratory failure, leading to death. The patient showed signs of lacking oxygen, however, the nursing home staff did not properly respond to those signs.  The patient also suffered from aspiration pneumonia, caused by ingesting liquid without the ability to properly digest it.

The CMS has implemented additional criteria for its five-star rating system informing potential patients and their families how they rank in healthcare provision for nursing home patients. The new criteria include: Percentage of short-stay residents who were successfully discharged to the community (Medicare claims- and MDS-based) Percentage of short-stay residents who have had an outpatient emergency department visit (Medicare claims- and MDS-based) Percentage of short-stay residents who were r…

 In a nursing home where two deaths occurred due to injuries from fall and negligent care before and after the falls, investigations continue. Although the health department has completed its investigation of the incidents, there are still concerns from the family of the loved one who died. The family’s attorney is looking into the issue of falsified records in connection with the negligence that led to a patient’s death.  The investigation of the incidents by the health departments re…

A nursing home caregiver has been charged with abuse after telling a coworker that she put pillows over the face of a 95-year-old patient disabled, and under her care. She stated to her coworker that the patient would not be quiet. Upon knowledge of the incident, she was arrested by police  The caregiver was sentenced to pay all court fees and two years of probation with 60 days of home confinement.

A nursing home chain with repeated citations from survey results has been cited yet again. The citations involved delayed care and medication errors. One patient fell and it was not discovered until the next morning that the patient had blood on the pillow from a head injury.  Another patient was sent to hospice.

One state on the verge of implementing a new bill allowing “granny cams” is coupled with controversy by elder care advocates. Although advocates for better quality care for nursing home patients are in support of allowing cameras in nursing home facilities to monitor the care of patients, the stipulations are causing concern. The new bill would require patients to identify that they have cameras in the room.  The requirements include signs identifying the cameras and consent forms for …