Nursing Home Abuse Advocate

Make Sure Your Nursing Home Is Giving You The Correct Medication

John R Kormanik — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:37:36 -0700

As a resident of a nursing home or assisted living facility, there are many things you rely upon the facility to help you with. One of the most important, perhaps, is the administration of prescription or over-the-counter medications. If the facility gives you the wrong medication, the consequences can be dire, even fatal.

In an article posted today, KSAX, an ABC affiliate in Minnesota, reports on such a medication error. According to reporter Megan Matthews, the facility gave another's medication to a resident. The result was death. According to the CEO of Fair Oaks Lodge, Mr. Joel Beiswenger, the medication error and resulting death was "just one of those things that happened. Nobody intended to do anything, and it was the human making the tragic error." a

Mr. Beiswenger appears to either honestly miss, or simply ignore, an important point: Similar medication errors have occurred no fewer than two other times at the facility. This facts leads me to question whether Mr. Beiswenger or Fair Oaks Lodge have taken adequate steps to find the root cause of such errors. Was the facility adequately staffed for the number and acquity of the residents? Was the staff adequately trained to ensure medications were given only to the proper resident? Were there safeguards in place to prevent a medication error which led to a resident's death?

If you are a resident of a nursing home or assisted living facility, make sure the medications you receive are, in fact, your own. Make sure you receive them in the correct dosages at the proper times. The life you save may be your own. If you are the family member of a nursing home or assisted living facility resident, make sure the facility takes adequate precautions to prevent medication errors. Such medication errors can and do occur and, as demonstrated by the incident at Fair Oaks Lodge, the results can be catastrophic.

Too Many Idaho Nursing Homes "Below Average" According to Medicare

John R Kormanik — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:49:54 -0700

Last week, I made the argument that Idaho nursing homes should voluntarily post their Medicare "Five Star" ratings. California has enacted a law requiring facilities to post these ratings, it was my hope that Idaho facilities would voluntarily do so. Since making my argument, I have done some research on Medicare's ratings for Idaho facilities. All I can say is "shame" to many of the facilities in Idaho. It is no wonder facilities in our fair state do not voluntarily inform the public about their Medicare "Five Star" ratings; in many cases, those ratings are nothing short of dismal.

According to Medicare's website:

79 nursing home facilities in Idaho;
77 nursing home facilities with ratings;
14 nursing home facilities have Medicare's highest rating - 5 stars;
13 nursing home facilities (17 % of those with ratings) have Medicare's lowest "much below average" rating - 1 star;
13 nursing home facilities (17% of those with ratings) have a "below average" rating - 2 stars.

To the facilities with 5 star ratings I say: Keep up the good work. To those facilities with ratings of 2 stars or below, a shocking 34% of facilities in Idaho, I say: Shame on you. Why would a knowledgeable person voluntarily put themselves or a loved one in your care?

Please, before you make a decision on which nursing home is right for you, do your homework. Check the Medicare "Nursing Home Compare" website. Use the other resources available to you. Remember, knowledge is power - the power to choose a safe environment and the power to hold nursing homes accountable for their poor performance before you or a loved one becomes a victim.

Idaho Nursing Homes - Post Your Medicare Ratings

John R Kormanik — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:47:47 -0700

In a previous post entitled "Reliable Internet Resources For Choosing A Nursing Home," I linked to Medicare's "Nursing Home Compare" website. Through the Nursing Home Compare website, you can access and view a facility's "Five Star" rating. According the Medicare:

"The Five-Star Quality Rating System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions. This rating system is based on continued efforts as a result of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA '87), a nursing home reform law, and more recent quality improvement campaigns such as the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes, a coalition of consumers, health care providers, and nursing home professionals."

From the link I posted, it takes approximately five (5) "clicks" to get to the faciilty's rating. Shouldn't it be easier than having to go through Medicare's website to find a facility's Five Star rating? The folks in California think so. That is why a new law was passed that requires nursing home facilities, beginning in January 2011, to post their rating. According to Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich: "This posting system provides vital information for families to make informed decisions about the care for their loved ones and provides incentives for nursing homes operators to establish and maintain high-quality standards of care and compliance."

Now, I'm generally not in favor of more laws. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. You have to wonder why nursing homes would not voluntarily post their Five Star ratings. After all, aren't they something to be proud of? If not, why isn't the facility doing something to "fix" the problems it has?

Come on, Idaho nursing homes, do you need a law requiring you to post your ratings or will you do the right thing for your potential residents and conspicuously post your Medicare ratings for all to see? Don't you want to provide this information to those shopping for the best nursing home around? Really, what do you have to hide?

Elder Abuse - Prevention Is Everyone's Job

John R Kormanik — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:33:52 -0700

In a previous post entitled "Yes, Elder Abuse Happens...Even In Idaho," I relayed the story of Verda Nicks and her untimely and tragic death. Ms. Nicks' twin sons, age 55, are charged with felonies alleging they subjected Ms. Nicks to abuse and neglect.

The day after my post, the Idaho AARP issued a press release letting all of us know the signs of Elder Abuse. The AARP's list contains important information for you to be aware of. According to the AARP, the following are signs of elder abuse:

Unexplained bruises or other injuries.
Sudden change in behavior.
Caregiver's refusal to allow visitors.
Elder is extremely upset, withdrawn, unresponsive; other unusual behavior.
Dehydration, malnutrition, untreated bed sores, weight loss.
Unattended health problems or lack of necessary aids, such as eyeglasses or dentures.
Unsanitary living conditions (lice, soiled bedding).
Inadequate clothing; no heat or running water.
Unexplained bank withdrawals, unauthorized use of a credit or ATM card, stolen or "misplaced" cards or checkbook.
Checks written as a "loan" or "gift."
Abrupt changes in a will or other documents.

These warning signs apply whether an elderly person is in the community, an assisted living facility or a nursing home.

If you observe any of these warning signs, or if your "gut" tells you an elderly family member, friend or neighbor is being abused, you should call Adult Protective Services at (877) 471-2777 and the local police; in an emergency, call 911. If you observe the signs in an assisted living facility or nursing home, report your concerns immediately to the facility's management and call the Idaho Ombusdman at (208) 334-3833.

Of course, you will not see any of these warning signs if you do not take the time to check in on an elderly family member, friend or neighbor. I know we are all busy but, honestly, are we so busy that we do not have a few moments to pick up the phone and place a call or walk to an elderly neighbor's house to check on them? We have all heard the expression "it takes a village to raise a child." In fact, it also takes a village to ensure our elderly citizens are properly cared for and not subject to abuse and neglect. Take the time and make the effort, you could be saving someone's life.

Yes, Elder Abuse Happens...Even In Idaho

John R Kormanik — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:41:17 -0700

As part of my work on behalf of nursing home and assisted living facility residents, and in part because of my work on this blog, I am constantly updated on news stories concerning elder, nursing home and assisted living facility abuse. Typically, the stories I read are from such far flung regions as Illinois, Florida and New York. Although I certainly take no pleasure in any of these stories, I am "glad" these tragedies are not occurring in my back yard. Unfortunately, a story in today's Idaho Statesman concerning elder abuse is in my back yard. That the abuse did not occur in a nursing home or assisted living facility matters naught. It is a tragedy.

The story by the Idaho Statesman's Kristin Rodine is about the death of Verda Nicks, who died on December 26, 2009. Six weeks earlier, Ms. Nicks was found in a "garbage-and feces-filled home." She was found because of the caring actions of a friend, who had been unable to contact Ms. Nicks by telephone for several weeks. Although Ms. Nicks told authorities she was caring for herself, the Canyon County Prosecutor, John Bujak, has evidence that Ms. Nicks' twin sons, Danny and David Nicks were, in fact, providing care for their now-deceased mother. Mr. Bujak has charged the sons with felony abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult, a crime which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000.00 fine.

According to the article, and based on information provided by Ms. Nicks' sons, Ms. Nicks had been bedridden for about two years since breaking her hip. This was the second time Ms. Nicks had done so. The first time, she entered a nursing home. Apparently, again according to the sons, Ms. Nicks did not want to go back to the nursing home after she broke her hip the second time.

Under our system of justice, the sons are presumed innocent until proven guilty; this story is just beginning. Whether or not the sons are ever convicted, this story does provide a cautionary tale for those of us with elderly parents. If you parent is injured, make certain you can, in fact, provide the care that is necessary. If you cannot, help them, with input from qualified health care providers, find a facility that meets their needs. There is no shame in admitting you cannot provide the care y our loved one needs.

If the sons are indeed telling the truth when they say Ms. Nicks did not want to return to a nursing home after breaking her hip the second time, this fact also makes me wonder. What kind of experience did Ms. Nicks have during her first nursing home stay that resulted in this thinking? Unfortunately, at this point, we will likely never know.

The New Year - A Good Time To Tackle Difficult Things

John R Kormanik — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:16:00 -0700

Let's face it: No one wants to think about the end of their life. Because of this, many of us do not have end of life plans to ensure our affairs are in order. Making sure your wishes are followed as your life nears its end is important; after all, they are your wishes!

Melissa Healy, in a recent Los Angeles Times "booster shots" blog, tackled the difficult subject of "getting your affairs in order." The post links to a Guide Book for those with a serious illness to help get their affairs in order. The guide book was published by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Although Ms. Healy's entry is based upon receiving bad news from a health care provider, it contains good information for all of us to consider as the new year approaches.

The Guide Book discusses, in fairly good detail, step-by-step instructions on the following areas:

Planning how you will pay for the healthcare you need;
Making a plan for the management of your health and personal decisions during your illness;
Making a plan for the management of your money and property;
Planning for the care of dependents;Knowing your rights as a patient;
Knowing your rights as an employee; and
Getting your legal documents in order.

Although all of these areas are important, for nursing home residents, perhaps the most important area is that of making a plan for the management of your health and personal decisions. If you cannot make your wishes known, you want to make certain they have been previously documented or someone who knows your wishes is legally able to make them known for you.

In Idaho, there is a specific law governing "living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care." This is just the document to make sure your desires are known and a the appropriate person is able to legally make decisions about your health care when you cannot. Such decisions include, for example, the level of care desired, including whether a "do not resuscitate" or "DNR" is properly carried out.

End of life decisions are difficult things to think about, let alone put on paper. Carefully considering the care you wish to receive, with input from, among others, family, friends, medical care providers and, perhaps, clergy, is critical. If you do not plan, and put your wishes to paper in a legally enforceable document, your wishes may not be followed. That would be a tragedy.

Take the turning of the year to decide what you want concerning your health care. Make a plan and make your wishes known. There is no better time to do so.

Nursing Homes Do Not Always Hire Qualified Caregivers

John R Kormanik — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:25:06 -0700

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Bureau of Facility Standards is the state agency that conducts "surveys" of Idaho's nursing homes to make sure they are in compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations. It may surprise you that in the most recent survey available, for the period of January through June 2009, there were seven (7) citations issued for facilities who hired staff "guilty of abuse." Although this may not seem like a large number of citations, remember two things: (1) This survey was for a six month period; and (2) There were only 64 surveys conducted.

What drives facilities to make such an egregious and potentially harmful hiring decision? First and foremost, facilities often do not conduct appropriate and thorough background checks on applicants. Second, many facilities do not pay for quality staff and, thus, they "scrape the bottom of the barrel" of the employee pool. Third, some facilities simply need to "fill the void" when existing staff leave and may believe that some staff is better than no staff. Of course, none of these "excuses" for hiring staff "guilty of abuse" are "reasons" for substandard hiring practices.

Before choosing a nursing home, make sure you ask the appropriate administrator what type of background checks are conducted on potential employment candidates. Also ask if the facility has received any citations from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's Bureau of Facility Standards. If the facility has received any citations, ask to see them and what the facility did to correct its conduct.

How To File A Complaint About Nursing Home Care

John R Kormanik — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:22:53 -0700

In a prior post, I wrote about the Ombudsman for the Idaho Commision on Aging and his or her duty concerning the care of nursing home residents. If you are concerned about nursing home care, you can also lodge a complaint with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW). Indeed, the IDHW encourages the filing of appropriate complaints: "The opportunity to lodge a complaint provides the public with a mechanism to notify the Bureau of Facility Standards (i.e. State Survey Agency) of a health care providers failure to provide appropriate care within the framework required by regulations."

If you wish to file a complaint, you should contact the Bureau of Facility Standards at (208) 334-6626, or, in writing at: Bureau of Facility Standards, PO Box 83720, Boise ID 83720-0036. If you file a complaint, you should be prepared to provide the following information:

Provider/Facility Name and City
Name of Patient/Resident
Detailed Statement of Care Provided And Any Negative Outcomes
Names of Witnesses
Your Name and Contact Information; unless you wish to remain anonymous.

After a complaint is filed, it will be investigated by Bureau of Facility Standards' staff in a confidential manner. If you would like to know the result of any complaint against a facility, you need to request the results through a public records request to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Although notification of the staff of a facility is one way to ensure your concerns are heard, you should also file a formal complaint with the Bureau of Facility Standards. Such a complaint will ensure your concerns are taken seriously and investigated appropriately.

Did Lack Of Training Lead To A "Preventable Death" In A Colorado Assisted Living Facility?

John R Kormanik — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:52:27 -0700

According to a December 12, 2009, online article by Jeffrey Wolf and Kevin Torres of Colorado's 9news.com, 87 year old Eldon Foster "strayed away" from his assisted living facility in the freezing temperatures and, ultimately died of exposure. What is shocking is that Mr. Foster was found by an employee of the facility and returned to his bed; he did not die in the outdoors.

The circumstances of Mr. Foster's death are, indeed, tragic. Mr. Foster had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. According to the article, Mr. Foster wandered away from the facility, wearing only a T-shirt and his underwear,at around 2:30 a.m.; the temperature outside was 3 degrees Fahrenheit. The aide found him Mr. Foster lying on the sidewalk "about 15 feet from the door" with a cut on his head. Instead of calling 911, however, she simply assisted Mr. Foster back to his bed. The aide checked on Mr. Foster again after about an hour; he was unresponsive. Only then did the aide call 911.

Although the owners of the assisted living facility say this was a tragic "accident that could have been prevented," because of the facility's policies, what is more telling is the fact that the aide had worked for the facility "on and off for nine years." This fact leads me to believe the aide was simply not properly trained to perform her job. If the facility had properly trained her, there would have been no doubt in the aide's mind about what needed to be done when she found Mr. Foster. I am sure the assisted living facility, no doubt, conducted a training session immediately after this tragedy. Unfortunately, for Mr. Foster and his family, that training came too late.

If you or a family member is a resident of an assisted living facility or nursing home, be sure to ask about the training staff receives concerning the facility's policies and procedures. This not-so-gentle reminder may lead to proper training of the staff and, ultimately, save a life.

Should You Sign An Arbitration Agreement With A Nursing Home?

John R Kormanik — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:00:00 -0700

In a recent blog post by the California lawyers of the Walton Law Firm, talk about the growing trend against mandatory arbitration of claims arising out of abuse or neglect occurring in a nursing home facility. In two of our most recent nursing home abuse cases, a review of the documentation revealed the presence of an "Arbitration Agreement." Although this "Arbitration Agreement" was "voluntary," if signed by the proper individual, it is, indeed, binding.

Whether you are required to sign an arbitration agreement upon admission, or are asked to sign one, there are several things you should know. If the agreement is signed, it is, absent some very specific circumstances, binding.

Additionally, should you be injured by the negligence of the staff of the facility, you give up certain rights if you signed the arbitration agreement. Examples of just some of the rights you give up are:

Instead of having your case against the nursing home heard in public and by a jury made up of members of the community, your case will be heard in private by one or more "professional arbitrators";
You may be responsible for one-half the cost of the arbitration, which can cost you thousands of dollars out of your own pocket; and
At the conclusion of the arbitration, your right to appeal any award may, and oftentimes is, extremely limited.

I am not in favor of arbitration in the nursing home context. I believe in the jury system and feel that, when a person is injured by the negligent acts of a nursing home facility's staff, that matter should be heard by a jury. Honestly, the private nature of arbitration does not ordinarily benefit the injured party; instead, it is typically the facility who wants to keep its negligence out of the public eye.

When you or a loved one are being admitted to a nursing home or assisted living facility, be careful what you sign your name to. In the mound of paperwork provided by the facility, you may be signing away your right to sue the facility in court if you are injured as a result of negligence. Know what you are signing; it matters.

Health Care Reform May Result In More People Going To Nursing Homes

John R Kormanik — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:33:38 -0700

In today's New York Times, an editorial by Harold Pollack, of the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration, recognizes one of the costs of expanded health care now being considered by Congress. According to Mr. Pollack, although approximately 30 million Americans stand to gain health care coverage under the bills now being considered by Congress, that expanded coverage comes with a price.

That price, Mr. Pollack informs us, is a decrees in Medicare spending on home health care services. These are the very services which allow Medicare recipients to remain at home and out of nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Mr. Pollack's editorial contains short views of a number of other experts concerning the Senate bill.

Is it better for us or our loved ones to be cared for at home rather than be forced, by financial realities, to enter a nursing home or assisted living facility? Of course. Is it better for 30 million Americans to be provided with health care coverage which they otherwise would not have? Of course. There, as they say, is the rub.

No matter the final outcome of the health care debate, with the aging of the American population, one thing is certain. More people will likely be entering into nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Those individuals and their families must be sure the facility provides the services necessary to provide adequate care. Those facilities also must be held to the highest standards in the care of residents.

Elopement - What Can A Nursing Home Facility Do To Prevent Residents From Wandering?

John R Kormanik — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:02:35 -0700

Elopement, it is not just for teenagers. According to Merriam-Webster Online, in addition to running away to get married, the word "elopement" means: "to slip away." When nursing home or assisted living facility residents "slip away" it often has serious consequences. There are both "simple" and highly technical methods which a facility can employ to ensure your loved one is safe and secure in the facility chosen to care for them.

Recently, Illinois attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld, an Illinois attorney specializing in nursing home abuse litigation, was interviewed for an article concerning elopement. Jonathan was good enough to blog about his interview, providing seven key preventative measures to prevent "wandering." According to Jonathan, nursing homes which care for residents prone to wander or "elope" should employ the following safeguards:

Door alarms
Window locks
Door locks
Bracelets that track each resident's location
Hire adequate staff to look after residents
Have contingent plan in case a resident does wander from the facility

Although of these safeguards are important, in my view, the requirement of a contingent plan is critical. The saying goes "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," however, even with all the "prevention" in the world, some times a "cure" is required. If your loved one is in a nursing home, and wanders away, it is critical the staff has a plan in place to contact the appropriate authorities, conduct a search and notify you, the family.

If someone you love is a resident in a nursing home, ask what safeguards they have in place for preventing elopement. Make sure they have appropriate safeguards in place as well as a plan in place to quickly and efficiently locate any resident who wanders away from the facility. If the nursing home's safeguards or plan are inadequate, take the initiative and suggest ways the facility can improve its plan. Remember, the nursing home should welcome your input...after all, you have nothing but the best interests of your loved one and, by extension, the facility, in mind.

Handwashing Will Protect Nursing Home Residents From Infection

John R Kormanik — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0700

With all the news about H1N1 "Swine Flu," focus has turned to methods to protect ourselves from becoming infected. The Swine Flu is serious, no doubt, but the methods for protecting yourself from becoming infected with the Swine Flu apply to ensuring you are not infected by just about any similar contagious disease.

RISKS OF BECOMING INFECTED WITH THE FLU VIRUS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although people 65 years old and older are least likely to become infected with the H1N1 Swine Flu virus, if such a person does get infected, they are at "high risk" to develop serious complications from the virus. Additionally, the CDC believes those 65 years and older are at "increased risk" for serious complications from the seasonal flu as well. As a nursing home or assisted living facility resident, how can you protect yourself? Simple, wash your hands and make sure all those who come in contact with you do the same.

PROPER HANDWASHING IS A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE PREVENTATIVE MEASURE

The CDC believes: "Handwashing is a simple thing and it is the best way to prevent infection and illness." Although handwashing seems like a simple process, which all of us have seemingly been doing since we were 2 years old, the CDC provides the following guidelines for effective and proper handwashing:

When washing hands with soap and water:

Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend.
Rinse hands well under running water.
Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
Always use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands. Alcohol-based hand rubs significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast-acting.

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

Apply product to the palm of one hand.
Rub hands together.
Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.

A simple and effective method of ensuring people wash their hands is to purchase a container of alcohol-based hand sanitizer and put it on a table in your room. Do not be shy about asking people to use it! It is up to you to make sure people who come into your room wash their hands.

Protect yourself from infection by making sure those who come in contact with you, whether they be staff caring for you or friends and family visiting you, wash their hands. The alternative, becoming infected with a contagious disease to save a few minutes of time just is not worth the risk.

Suggestions For Easing Tensions Between Family And Nursing Home Staff

John R Kormanik — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0700

In a recent New York Times blog entitled "Easing Tensions In The Nursing Home," author Paula Span addresses the important issue of tension between family members and nursing home staff. As you can imagine, most, if not all, of the issues contributing to this tension is a family's belief their loved one is not being cared for in an appropriate manner against the staff's belief to the contrary.

According to Ms. Span, the tension between family and staff leaves the family concerned that, if they voice their concerns, their family member will suffer because unhappy staff will, in some way, retaliate against the resident for the complaints of the family. To avoid, or at least lessen, the chance for tension between family and staff, Ms. Span provides the suggestions of Karl Pillemer, a gerontologist at Cornell University, and the sociologist J. Jill Suitor of Purdue University:

Take complaints and requests to the right place. While aides do most of the hands-on care in nursing homes: “They’re almost never the ones who are making decisions about it. You’ve got to go high enough up the chain to make sure the person you talk to has the ability to influence what goes on.” The staff social worker is a starting point.
When a problem involves an aide’s duties, practice “clear and respectful communication.” “Avoid blaming the other person. As people get angry, there’s a tendency to insult the other party, and it escalates.” A demand or reproach — “How come nobody’s shaved my father?” — puts overworked staffers on the defensive. Try phrasing it this way: “I noticed my father isn’t shaved. This is very important to him. How can we make sure he’s shaved every day?” After the conversation, summarize to clarify the agreement you have reached: “I understand that you were short-staffed today. But he will be shaved every morning — is that what you’re saying?”
Keep visiting, and monitoring. “The amount of visiting people receive is directly related to the quality of care. Families do need to advocate for their relatives, but they need to do it in the right way.”
Give positive feedback as often as possible.

In a previous blog post, entitled "The Ombudsman for the Idaho Commission on Aging is on the Side of Idaho Nursing Home Residents," I addressed the role of the Idaho Ombudsman for long term care in addressing concerns regarding teh care of nursing home and assisted living facility residents. Regardless of the involvement of the Ombudsman, it is important you, as a loving and caring family member, are able to effectively communicate your concerns with the proper individual at the facility so your family member does receive the proper care. As Ms. Span and Mr. Pillemer suggest, perhaps the most important contact at any nursing home or assisted living facility is the social worker or, if none is available, the director of the facility.

I suggest not only approaching the appropriate individual with your comment or concern, but also following up with that person in writing. A written summary of your concerns, the discussion which you had with the appropriate upper-level employee and the outcome or change in care you expect are all good things to write down. This way, if the concern is not addressed, you can again voice it or contact the Ombudsman. If the concern is addressed, you will be able to follow up with a "thank you" to the staff of the facility caring for your family member or loved one.

Reliable Internet Resources For Choosing A Nursing Home

John R Kormanik — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:54:05 -0700

Are you choosing a nursing home for yourself or a loved one? You need to be comfortable and knowledgeable. There are numerous websites to assist you.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services' Medicare nursing home website is an excellent place to start your quest for knowledge. There, you will find a link called “Nursing Home Compare.” You can use this website to compare nursing home facilities in your area. You can also compare the quality of nursing homes you are considering. A “Nursing Home Checklist” is available if you are going to be visiting a facility.

In Idaho, you have additional choices for researching potential nursing homes. You can contact the Idaho Commission on Aging to help you in this most important decision. There you will find information about the Ombudsman program as well as a link to the Bureau of Facility Standards, where you can review results of surveys of long term care facilities in Idaho. A copy of the most recent survey results lists 84 facilities throughout Idaho. The survey includes complaints, violations discovered during inspections and a facility’s response to these things.

The "Nursing Home Checklist" is an excellent resource for when you go to various facilities to investigate which facility is the right one for you. For example, the beginning of the Checklist focuses you on whether the facility actually has the appropriate level of care you or your loved one requires. Remember, no matter how nice a facility or its staff is or appear to be, if the appropriate level of care (skilled nursing vs. custodial care) that facility is simply not the right one for you or your loved one. Choosing an inappropriate facility can lead to numerous problems, not the least of which is injury to you or your family member.

Questions To Ask When Deciding On A Nursing Home

John R Kormanik — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:08:31 -0700

The decision to place someone you love into a nursing home or assisted living facility is not easy. You and your loved one have decided it is “best” because they can no longer live safely on their own. You have struggled with the decision. You have spoken to everyone you know about it, but do you know the important questions to ask when making this most important decision?

In Tammy Worth's Los Angeles Times article, How to Decide Whether a Nursing Home is the Right Fit, she shares excellent questions you and your loved one should ask before deciding on a facility. Those questions are:

Does the care meet the needs of your family member? Does the facility have proper medical services? Can residents personalize their rooms with photographs and other items? Are staff members interacting one-on-one with residents? Is the staff smiling and welcoming?
Does the facility have adequate fire and safety systems? The most recent state inspection report will show if it had deficiencies related to fire drills, up-to-date manuals and policies, or expired fire extinguishers. A fire marshal report should also be posted at each facility.
Does it have a wanderer alert? These devices are used to make sure a disoriented resident doesn't leave the residence.
Does it have a pastoral care program of any kind? Such programs suggest the homes are connected to the community and that they value all dimensions of the residents' lives.
Does it have a volunteer program and, if so, what do those volunteers do? These programs indicate “fresh air in the place.”
What is the policy on chemical and physical restraints? Obviously, the fewer the better.
How frequently do patients get pressure ulcers? Such injuries occur when an individual stays in one position for too long and the skin in contact with the bed or other surface begins to break down. Again, the fewer the better. This is listed under a home's quality report on Medicare's Nursing Home Compare.
What is the medical direction model? This explains what kind of care the facility specializes in providing, i.e. subacute, Alzheimer's, for the developmentally disabled. Ideally, many of the patients at a facility would need similar kinds of care.
What are the weight loss numbers like? All homes will have some, but they should not be substantial. This is listed under the quality report on Nursing Home Compare.
Does the facility have a resident or family satisfaction survey, and if so, will they show you the results? Good facilities will be transparent?

Of course, the most important question to ask regarding any facility is whether it has the ability to meet the needs of you or your family member. If a facility does not have the experience or expertise to meet the medical and other needs of your family member, it really does not matter that it "looks nice," or "the food is good." If the facility is unable to meet a potential resident's needs, it should say so. Unfortunately, that may no always happen. That is why it is important for you to be knowledgeable and ask the right questions. Questions, like those Ms. Worth suggests are a good place to start.

The Ombudsman For The Idaho Commission On Aging Is On The Side Of Idaho Nursing Home Residents

John R Kormanik — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:25:47 -0700

According to a 2005 factsheet by the National Center on Elder Abuse, the incidence of abuse of the elderly is between 2% and 10% nationwide. Remarkably, the NCEA believes that, for every incident of elder abuse in America, five additional incidents are not reported. It seems like there is a story about a nursing home resident being abused in the newspaper every day.

In Idaho, if you are a resident of a nursing home or assisted living facility and believe a loved one is being abused or neglected, you have someplace to turn. The Idaho Commission on Aging has an “Ombudsman” program to help you.

An Ombusman is a an person appointed by the Idaho Commission on Aging to investigate complaints concerning your care in either a Nursing Home or an Assisted Living Facility. The Ombudsman will insure your health, safety, welfare and rights are protected. You can contact the Ombudsman free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Ombudsman is an excellent resource for residents of Idaho's nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In fact, the Ombudsman's primary job is to "advocate for resident's rights and quality care." Because the Ombusdman is familiar with the duties a nursing home or assisted living facility owes to its residents, he or she can answer a variety of questions or accept ensure the investigation of resident complaints. If you have a question about the care you or a family member is receiving in an Idaho nursing home or assisted living facility, the Ombudsman should be your first call.