A new ombudsman program has been funded to expand its training to recruit and educate more volunteers. The $133,000 will go to help facilitate training for new ombudsman from additional counties. New ombudsman volunteers will support additional counties with nursing home residents.

A government funded agency has added more emphasis on training nursing home staff to improve the quality of care for nursing home patients. A new initiative focusing on prevention and improvement of medical assessments and condition management is providing higher education for caregivers in hopes of raising the bar of care provided. Expected outcomes from the model promoted with the training include reduced hospitalizations and spending of government funds.

Surveillance video captured by a hidden camera has brought allegations against a nursing home employee for abusing a patient. The nurse was caught on camera punching a patient suffering from throat cancer in the face. Because of the cancer, the patient could not speak to answer for bruises that manifested on her body or a broken arm.

A nursing home is under watch once again after a nurse has been placed on probation for abuse of a patient in her care at the facility. The patient’s family was concerned for their loved one, subsequently placing cameras to video the patient’s care. The surveillance footage revealed abuse from the nurse caring for their family member.  In response, the patient was removed from the facility and the former employee was fired and placed on probation as a nurse.

A nurse in the role of director at a nursing home facility has pleaded guilty to tampering with records involving a sexual assault incident with two patients. The records included a witness statement regarding the assault that took place between two residents. Trying to cover up the incident, the nurse destroyed the records.

A nursing home employee has pleaded guilty to stealing from nursing home patients at the facility where she worked. Items stolen from the 11 victims included jewelry, money, and credit cards. The jewelry items were sold and found in pawn shops upon investigation of the theft.  The nursing home worker avoided time in jail by pleading guilty, but she will have to pay back $6,000 to the victims from whom she stole, along with a sentence of two years probation.