Uncategorized | Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd

How Can Negligent Hiring and Supervision Lead to Nursing Home Abuse?

May 12, 2020/in Blog, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Nursing homes are responsible for ensuring residents are properly cared for in a safe and healthy environment; however, when a facility and its administrators fail to hire qualified staff, provide inadequate training, or poorly supervise employees, these shortcuts could result in harm, or even death, to a resident.

What is Negligent Hiring?

Negligent hiring is “a claim made by an injured party against an employer based on theory that the employer knew or should have known about the employee’s background which, if known, indicates dangerous or untrustworthy character,” according to US Legal. Performing a proper background check could include the following:

Checking employment and personal references
Validating college degrees, certifications, and licenses
Performing a drug screening
Performing a criminal screening
Performing a credit check
Checking driving records

Examples of Negligent Hiring

There are several ways that negligent hiring could lead to resident abuse. For example, a nurse with a fraudulent degree from a non-accredited college who performs CPR on a resident could result in death. Another example is a newly hired staff member who has had a history of anger issues attacking a resident and causes injury to them.

What is Negligent Supervision?

There are several ways negligent supervision could lead to resident abuse. An example of negligent supervision would be if a registered nurse who was known to sign off on medications but never properly administered it to residents, and a resident later dies as a result of not receiving that medication. Many times, nurses will sign off saying they gave the resident their medication but didn’t. The employer was made aware that the registered nurse was doing this and didn’t address it, which leads to negligent supervision.

Examples of Negligent Supervision

There are several ways negligent supervision could lead to resident abuse, for example, an administrator of the facility is aware that a nurse and a resident don’t get along, but still assigns the nurse to work that resident, an argument could turn into a physical altercation, resulting in the resident being hurt. Another example is if a staff member knows several items have been missing from a residents’ room under the supervision of the same caregiver but doesn’t investigate, discharge, or reassign employees, the caregiver could end up stealing the resident’s identity and racking up thousands of dollars.

What To Do If You Suspect Abuse

If a nursing home facility fails to provide the proper hiring and supervision, it can have a serious impact on residents who depend on nurses, caregivers, and other staff members for care.

If you or a loved one has experienced abuse or neglect at the hands of a caregiver, we recommend you contact an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorney right away. Our team has proven success in nursing home cases and we will use our extensive legal experience to help you navigate the process to get you full and fair compensation for our loved ones injuries. To receive a free consultation, please call (312) 384-1920 or visit our website for more information.

Daughter of Illinois Nursing Home Resident Questions Whether Her Mother Died of Severe Neglect or Something Else

May 6, 2020/in Uncategorized/by DAMG

The daughter of a deceased nursing home resident is seeking answers to the cause of her mother’s death after her request for an autopsy was denied [Source: Northwest Herald]. Apparently, the 78-year-old, who was a resident of Bria of Geneva, allegedly tested positive for COVID-19 before passing away. Faith Heimbrodt, the woman’s daughter, was unaware that her mother had even contracted the virus until she was informed by the agency she had paid to perform an autopsy that it couldn’t be done because her body bag said “COVID-19 positive.”

Surprised by the news, Heimbrodt contact Bria of Geneva’s director who confirmed that her mother had not tested positive for COVID-19. In fact, she told the news source that her mother was never tested, nor did she display symptoms associated with the virus. At that point, Heimbrodt began questioning what the true cause of her mother’s death was.

Previous Visits with Her Mother May Have Pointed to Neglect

While Heimbrodt said she used to visit with her mom every few weeks, she had to begin limiting her visits after she was warned the flu was going around. The 49-year-old shared that she suffers from multiple sclerosis and didn’t want to risk getting sick. Heimbrodt said she had seen her mother in December and then again on April 23^rd. But during the visit in April, Heimbrodt admits she was shocked at her mother’s condition.

Not only did Heimbrodt say that the roof of her mother’s mouth was “covered with sores that were blackened,” but her “dentures had never been removed.” She told the source that she “could see debris and caked food” on them. Her mother’s “eyes were also sunken in and she looked dehydrated.” After questioning whether her mother was being hydrated, a nurse allegedly told her that “they were not giving her any water because she might aspirate into her lungs.” The nurse went on to explain that they do not do IV fluids but would relay the information to her mother’s doctor.

Heimbrodt said that while a physician was assigned to her mother when she became a resident, she “didn’t think he ever saw her mother, let alone provide any care.” The next day, Heimbrodt had contacted the facility and demanded that if her mother was not given water, she would contact a lawyer. The facility did bring out Vitas Hospice to see her mother, but healthcare staff told Heimbrodt that her mother was getting startled each time they tried to touch her. At that point, she questioned the last time her mother was cleaned or moved.”

Just two days after visiting her mother, the 78-year-old passed away on April 25^th. Now, Heimbrodt is looking for answers.

Do you suspect that a loved one of yours who is living in a Chicago, IL nursing home is being neglected?

If you answered yes, the Chicago, IL nursing home neglect lawyers at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. are here to answer your questions and address your concerns.

You can contact Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at:

221 North La Salle Drive, Suite 1100

Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: 1-312-384-1920

Website: www.dinizululawgroup.com

Why Do Nursing Homes Drug Dementia Patients Without Their Consent?

May 5, 2020/in Blog, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

The Human Rights Watch estimates nearly 179,000 people in nursing homes are administered antipsychotic drugs every week without having a diagnosis for which the drug is approved. The use of antipsychotic drugs as chemical restraints has a long, disturbing history in nursing homes. Many times, staff members use antipsychotics to convenience or “discipline” a resident.

Manufacturers have faced many civil and criminal penalties in the last decade for the misbranding of the medication to promote the drug as appropriate to treat older people suffering from dementia. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required manufacturers to place a “black box warning” on the packaging, advising against the medicine and the side effects it may have on an individual. Antipsychotics being administered to someone with dementia almost doubles the risk of death for them and have never been approved as safe or effective. Despite the warning, nursing homes still administer antipsychotic drugs, sometimes without informed consent first, which is a violation of federal regulation and a person’s human rights.

Antipsychotics are powerful drugs developed to treat schizophrenia; however, nursing home staff often administer them to those with dementia for the sedative effects. Government regulations prohibits the use of drugs as chemical restraints or without informed consent.

Antipsychotics are misused for a variety of reasons, including the misperception by nursing homes that medications may help those with dementia, lack of awareness of the danger of the drug, lack of training in dementia care, and possibly the most significant, to compensate for understaffing. Kaiser Health News found that nursing homes have been exaggerating levels of nursing and caretaking staff for years, according to The Washington Post.

In most cases, antipsychotic drugs are administered in a harmful way without the appropriate consent. Nursing home residents and family members have reported the resident was given the medication without their knowledge, awareness of risks or dangers, or any objections of their own. Staff members have admitted they we not aware of an informed-consent policy, rather they gave it to the resident out of their own convenience. Nursing staff, pharmacists, and medical directors commonly prescribed medication to residents without even seeing them.

Antipsychotic drugs are a favorite among psychotropic medications in nursing home facilities because dementia is associated with aggression, anxiety, agitation, delusions, disinhibition, irritability, and wandering. Federal regulations say residents have a right to be informed of their treatment, or their right to refuse treatment; however, nursing homes ignore these rules, partly because they are rarely held accountable.

An 81-year-old man in Texas spoke out about his experience being over medicated, saying, “too many times I’m given too many pills. I can’t even talk. I have a thick tongue when they do that. I ask them not to give me the antipsychotic drugs. When I say that, they threaten to remove me from the home. They get me so I can’t think.”

The Human Rights Watch found 97 percent of citations for violations at nursing homes were related to antipsychotic drugs from 2014 to 2017. In almost no cases, the government did not impose financial penalties, leading to the likelihood of it occurring again. Nursing homes are mostly a for-profit industry, controlling most aspects of their residents’ lives.

If you or a loved one is injured due to a medication error you believe was unnecessary or wrongfully given, reach out to one of our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys. We have helped thousands of wronged victims get the justice and compensation they deserve. With over 50 years of combined experience, our verdicts and settlements have helped clients have a peace of mind and security. Please call the Dinizulu Law Group at (312) 384-1920 to schedule a free consultation or visit our website for more information.

DLG Has Taken Action to Continue Serving Clients & Welcoming New Staff

April 28, 2020/in Blog, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

During this unprecedented time and dynamic nature of COVID-19, the Dinizulu Law Group would like to let our clients, colleagues, and friends know what steps we have taken to ensure we remain available to you during this uncertain time. It is our goal to continue to serve clients’ needs, while at the same protecting our employees. We have taken precautionary measures and will be working remotely with a plan in place to serve our clients in the weeks to come.

As we monitor and follow the recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and state authorities, we are continuing our operations remotely. Luckily, we have all of the technology we need to serve clients and are ensuring we do so successfully. You are still able to call or email your attorney as you normally would with any questions or concerns.

To shed some light on a dark time, we have recently decided to expand our firm and would like to welcome Brian Orozco and Layinka Bell to the Dinizulu Law Group staff.

Brian will serve as an associate attorney focusing on litigating. Brian is a California native who graduated with a B.A. from the University of San Diego (2008), prior to earning his J.D. from DePaul University (2012). Brian’s true passion lies in ensuring the safety and dignity of the less vulnerable in our community. Brian is dedicated to representing injured individuals in wrongful death, police brutality, nursing home abuse, and other serious injury cases. Brian previously worked at a plaintiff’s civil rights firm where he litigated excessive force, police shootings, and wrongful death caused by police departments, jails, and prison, in both federal and state court. Brian is fluent in Spanish and we look forward to expanding our clientele.

Layinka joins our firm as a paralegal and project management, advocating for Chicago communities of color that are historically underserved and unrepresented. Layinka was born and raised in Chicago and received her degree from DePaul University in Multi-Minority Social Justice and her Master’s from DePaul in Jurisprudence. Layinka brings twenty-six years of experience as a senior trial and litigation paralegal specializing in project management and organization of law firms. She began her legal career managing and monitoring tort claims for a general counsel of a large Chicago based corporation before transitioning into various large and small firms where she focused on trial management and readiness.

Our team is dedicated in a precedented way to ensure that client services are still offered during the COVID-19 crisis. As we learn more, we will let you know when we resume to normal operations. Courts in Illinois have been postponed until further notice. This may slow down the progression of some cases, but we are working diligently working on cases so they are ready to go when the deadline resumes. We are still in contact with defense attorneys and insurance companies to resolve your case. If you have any questions and need to contact us, please do not hesitate to contact us. We thank you for your trust and patience during this time. Most importantly, be safe and stay healthy!

How to Report Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect in Illinois

April 21, 2020/in Blog, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Nursing homes abuse is an all-too-common problem across the nation that leaves elders vulnerable, injured, and emotionally scarred. Studies have shown that most perpetrators are the caregiver or a family member. Incidents of abuse can usually stem from poorly trained staff members who violently lash out on residents or fail horribly to meet their needs. Fortunately, families have many options to report nursing home abuse or negligence.

Families can report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation by contacting:

Local police or law enforcement
Nursing home administrators
Medical expert, such as doctors or nurses
Long-term care Ombudsman
Senior HelpLine
Illinois Department of Public Health
Healthcare and Family Services for Supportive Living Facility Complaints
Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Unit

If you suspect abuse, it’s important to contact someone right away rather than letting a loved one stay in a possible abusive situation. Nursing home abuse often goes unreported due to fear, embarrassment, or because a resident is unable to communicate how they feel. Unfortunately, nursing home administrative staff are not always responsive to complaints. Some administrators may not want to report cases of abuse or neglect to the authorities out of fear that their nursing home will undergo a costly investigation. If you suspect that someone is in immediate danger, call 911 immediately – don’t wait until a tragedy occurs.

Long-term care Ombudsman are advocates for nursing home residents who are trained to assist people with concerns about the long-term care system, in which they work with various professionals to resolve complaints. Their primary goal is to improve the overall quality of care for the elderly.

An ombudsperson handles a variety of concerns, including:

Abuse or neglect
Lack of respect for residents
Poor quality of care
Improper discharge or transfer

You can assume that an elder individual has been abused if there are sudden changes in their behavior and personality, or tension between the elder and their caregiver. If you suspect abuse, look for additional signs of abuse and take pictures to document for reference.

According to the Nursing Home Abuse Center, signs and symptoms of abuse can include:

Physical abuse
- Unexplained broken bones, dislocations, or sprains
- Bruising, scars or welts
- Failure of proper medication
- Signs of restraint, i.e. rope marks on an elder’s wrist
- Broken glasses
- Caregiver refusing others to be alone with the elderly person
Emotional abuse
- Unusual behavior in the elderly person that could resemble symptoms of dementia, including mumbling, rocking back and forth, or sucking one’s thumb
- Belittling, controlling, or threatening behavior of the caregiver
Financial exploitation
- Change in the elderly person’s financial situation
- Unexplained withdrawals from the elderly person’s bank accounts
- Changes in power of attorney, life insurance policies, property titles or wills
- ATM withdrawals, especially when a senior is bedridden, and they couldn’t have done it themselves
- Lack of medical care in spite of having money to afford it
- Adding names to accounts or signatures to the elder’s credit cards
Neglect
- Unsafe living conditions, such as lack of heat or lack of running water
- Not bathing the person
- Soiled bed clothing, dirty clothes, bugs or dirty conditions
- Presence of bedsores from not turning the patient regularly
- Unusual weight loss or dehydration
- Leaving the elderly person alone in a public location
Sexual abuse
- Stained, bloody, or torn underwear
- Bruising near genitals or other unexplained infections
- Unrelated genital bleeding to a medical condition
Healthcare Fraud
- Lack of adequate training to the staff
- Insufficient amount of staff to care for the elder
- Evidence of poor care
- Evidence of getting too little or too much medication
- Duplicate bills for the same services or devices

Victims of nursing home abuse or neglect should not be left to defend themselves – they need the support and help of staff, caregivers, family members, doctors, and other residents to report abuse to the authorities. If you or a loved one has experienced abuse or neglect at the hands of a caregiver, you will need an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorney. Our team has proven success in nursing home cases and will use our extensive legal experience to help you navigate the process and to get you full and fair compensation for you or your loved one’s injuries. To receive a free consultation, please call (312) 384-1920 or visit our website.

Is sepsis preventable in nursing homes?

April 16, 2020/in Uncategorized/by DAMG

In most cases, yes.

When a person develops an infection, their body’s first response is to release chemicals into the bloodstream to fight it, according to the Mayo Clinic. When the body’s response to the chemicals is out of balance, it can trigger changes that can lead to multiple organ systems becoming damaged. This response is what the Mayo Clinic classifies as sepsis.

Sepsis is a “potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body’s response to an infection.” If sepsis is given the opportunity to progress rather than be contained, it can lead to serious health issues and even death. Although any type of infection can lead to a person suffering from sepsis, the following types of infections are more commonly associated with it:

Pneumonia
Infections of the digestive system.
Infection of the kidney, bladder, and other parts of the urinary system.
Bloodstream infections.

While anyone can develop sepsis, it often occurs more frequently in those who are ages 65 and older, suffer from chronic conditions, and/or have a weakened immune system. Because most nursing home residents are around the age of 65 and older and many suffer from chronic conditions, they are more susceptible to suffering from sepsis after they developed an infection.

How can nursing home residents avoid sepsis?

The key to preventing a nursing home resident from developing sepsis starts with the facility and those working in it. Because sepsis stems from infections, it is up to staff members to take all precautionary measures that would prevent bacterial, viral, or fungal infections from getting into the nursing home. For example, nursing home staff members should not only be practicing good hygiene and assisting residents to do the same, but they should have a basic understanding of what they need to do to prevent the spread of germs.

Sadly, there are plenty of nursing homes that have been recognized for their failure to follow infection control guidelines which have not only led to residents suffering from various types of infections but also sepsis.

In the event a nursing home resident does develop sepsis after they contracted an infection, they must receive immediate medical attention so that their condition is less likely to worsen. The longer a resident goes without receiving the proper care, the more likely their body is to suffer more permanent damage.

Can I hold a nursing home in Chicago, IL liable if a loved one developed sepsis?

If your loved one suffered medical complications as a result of them not being treated in a timely manner, whether it was due to understaffing or another cause, you may be able to hold the facility accountable for neglect. Nursing home staff workers in Chicago, IL should not only be able to recognize signs of sepsis but also know how to address the situation when presented with a case of it. If you believe a nursing home facility in Chicago is responsible for your loved one’s declining health, contact Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. to speak with one of our qualified Chicago, IL nursing home neglect attorneys.

You can contact Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at:

221 North La Salle Drive, Suite 1100

Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: 1-312-384-1920

Website: www.dinizululawgroup.com

54-Vehicle Crash Shuts Down Part of Kennedy Expressway

April 16, 2020/in Blog, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Snowy, click conditions led to a massive multi-vehicle car crash on the Kennedy Expressway Wednesday morning, sending 14 people to the hospital. The Chicago Fire Department the vehicles involved in the crash were in the inbound lanes near North Avenue around 5 a.m. Officials attribute the crash to “low traction on the expressway” and drivers speeding, according to the Chicago Tribune. Snow had been falling during the early morning, contributing largely to the accident.

The 14 people – all adults – were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, all with minor injuries. Authorities shut down the expressway at North Avenue for hours to clean up the crash, with at least a dozen Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) vehicles towing away cars that are no longer drivable.

The Illinois Department of Transportation released a statement, saying:

IDOT crews were called in at 1:30 Wednesday morning and those numbers continued to escalate as the forecast changed and the event intensified. At one point, IDOT had approximately 70 trucks on the road spreading salt and de-icing materials.

We do believe that the low traffic volumes as of late have increased speeds, resulting in many of the spinouts and crashes this morning. Traffic counts have been cut in half over the last month. As a result, n speeds on the expressways have been very high and traffic is moving too fast for current conditions.

In 2017, there was a total of 311,679 crashes that occurred on Illinois roadways, according to the IDOT. Approximately 854 crashes occurred per day in 2017; furthermore, 10 persons were injured per hour, and nearly three persons were killed per day due to traffic crashes in 2017.

Driving in the snow and ice create for dangerous road conditions, especially when speeding. If you’re driving in the snow, it’s important to remember to drive slow, accelerate and decelerate slowly, and increase your following distance.

Department of Justice Launches National Nursing Home Initiative

April 8, 2020/in Blog, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Nursing Home Initiative (NNHI), which will investigate nursing homes nationwide that provide “grossly substandard” care to their residents. The DOJ indicated that it was dedicating significant resources to partner with the U.S Department of Health and Human Services and local and state prosecutors to respond to life-threatening quality of care issues the nursing home industry currently faces.

The DOJ is committed to combatting elder abuse and financial fraud, as it affects at least 10% of Americans every year. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act committed by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. Through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness, the DOJ serves to prevent all forms of abuse and neglect.

The DOJ announced nearly 30 investigations in nine states that are currently underway. The NNHI focuses on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most problematic nursing homes nationwide, including those that:

Consistently fail to provide adequate care to residents
Failure to adhere to basic protocols of hygiene and infection control
Failure to provide residents with enough food so they become sick or weak
Withholding medication, or
Using physical or chemical restraints or sedating a resident, unless otherwise stated by the resident’s physician

For example, care failure can cause residents to develop pressure sores, or bedsores, down to the bone. Residents should be turned every 2 to 3 hours when laying in a bed, while they should be turned every 15 minutes when sitting in a wheelchair. If nursing home staff act carelessly or fail to do their job, they leave residents vulnerable to developing an illness, or in some instances death.

Federal regulators and law enforcement have had the authority to develop and enforce quality-of-care standards for nursing homes, while state regulators have traditionally played a leading role in investigating and prosecuting nursing homes for quality of care violations. The Department prosecuted claims under the False Claims Act (FCA) which relates to the federal spending on nursing home care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

“The HSS Office of Inspector General continues to pursue nursing home operators who provide potentially harmful care to residents who are often unable to protect themselves,” said Chief Counsel to the Inspector General Gregory Demske. “Creating the Initiative sends a message to those in charge of caring for beneficiaries that substandard care will not be tolerated.”

The NNHI is part of a broader commitment by the Department to combat elder abuse and fraud, two things that often happen in nursing facilities. The Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) was developed in 2016, which will coordinate the NNHI. The task force is dedicated to coordinating the prosecution of elder abuse, including physical abuse, financial fraud or exploitation, caregiver negligence or abandonment, sexual abuse, or psychological abuse.

According to a press release by the DOJ, all entities must meet state and federal requirements and are encouraged to consider the following:

Reviewing all surveys over the past 5 years and addressing citations of substantial quality of care
Ensure all internal and external complaints are appropriately addressed
Ensure the entity has a compliance program that flags and escalates any complaints or concerns to ensure they are properly handled

Under the DOJ’s increased scrutiny, operators and investors in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other skilled nursing facilities are encouraged to discuss the quality of care standards and concerns.

If you or a loved one has experienced abuse or neglect at the hands of a caregiver, you will need an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorney. Our team has proven success in nursing home cases and will use our extensive legal experience to help you navigate the process and to get you full and fair compensation for you or your loved one’s injuries. To receive a free consultation, please call (312) 384-1920 or visit our website.

Awareness of Elder Abuse Increases While One Form is Often Overlooked

April 7, 2020/in Blog, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

In recent decades, the media has exposed a crime that is often overlooked – abuse against the elderly. Often times the violation comes from a caregiver or a relative. Extensive research has shown adults 65 and older will often experience violence or neglect that was brought on by a caregiver or family member. Experts have recently been studying patients that suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease; however, there is one form of abuse that is often overlooked.

Resident-to-Resident Harassment
Resident-to-resident mistreatment (R-REM) is the “negative and aggressive physical, sexual, or verbal interactions between long-term care residents that (as in a community setting) would like be construed as unwelcome and have high potential to cause physical or psychological distress in the recipient,” according to the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (LTCOP) Reference Guide.

Nearly 20% of nursing home residents experience a negative or aggressive encounter with another patent in just a four-week period. Encounters include:

Verbal abuse
Physical abuse
Invasion of privacy
Inappropriate sexual behavior

Types of Abuse
According to research by the National Consumer Voice, there are many forms of R-REM that include the following:

Verbal abuse
- Cursing
- Screaming
- Verbally threatening
- Controlling
- Racial or ethnic slurs
Physical abuse
- Hitting
- Kicking
- Grabbing
- Pushing
- Biting
- Scratching
- Spitting
Sexual abuse
- Unwelcome verbal sexual advances
- Exposing self or inappropriate body parts
- Touching/kissing/trying to get in another resident’s bed

These are the most common forms; however, other forms include throwing items, destroying others property, threatening gestures, wandering, or rummaging.

Case Studies Show Staff Negligence of Issue
In one case study, a researcher found over a one-year period 294 cases of resident-to-resident abuse. Common injuries included lacerations, bruises, and fractures. Nurse aides reported extensive verbal, physical, material, psychological and sexual abuses, with the most common being verbal and physical.

Victims of R-REM are more likely to be male, with cognitive impairment, moderate functional dependency and behavioral disturbances. Perpetrators are normally individuals who have suffered with alcoholism, psychiatric illness and substance abuse.

Research has also shown that the actions of staff members may cause aggressive tendencies by resident. Another study found that a crowded environment was correlated with violent episodes. For example, in a nursing home setting where older people who may have lived alone for years are exposed interactions with residents and staff in crowded spaces. Any hostile or aggressive environment puts victims at an increased risk of being abused.

Consequences of Resident-to-Resident Mistreatment
There can be minor or severe consequences to R-REM such as a victim falling, fracturing a bone(s), lacerations, and/or abrasions. Victims also experience a decreased quality of life, depression and anxiety.

The SEARCH approach to managing R-REM. The SEARCH approach (Support, Evaluate, Act, Report, Care plan & Help to avoid) provides the guidelines for nurses and care staff on how to prevent R-REM in long-term care settings. According to research, the steps include:

Support	Support the injured resident until help arrives Listen to all involved residents’ perspectives on the situation or any witnesses Validate residents’ fears and frustrations
Evaluate	Evaluate what actions are needed Evaluate and support all residents involved in, or who have witnessed an act of abuse Monitor residents’ behavior
Act	Seek medical treatment when indicated Try to stop the incident verbally before interfering Call for other staff or security to help Separate residents who do not get along In the case of missing personal items, assure the resident that a room-by-room inspection will be conducted promptly Follow-up with involved residents Acknowledge resident’s concerns
Report	Initiate an investigation of serious incidents when warranted Contact families, if appropriate Notify a supervisor or administrator Document the incident Initiate facility protocol and procedure for reporting RREM
Care Plan	Plan for the victim and the initiator Talk with the care team about the best ways of intervening and avoiding RREM Document all threatening behaviors Monitor residents to potentially avoid future incidents
Help to Avoid	Have adequate staff Avoid crowding people and equipment into small spaces Reinforce resident’s safety is a nursing homes priority Educate residents about dementia-specific behaviors Take inventories of personal belongings Recognize risk factors or RREM

Filing a Lawsuit
While resident-to-resident mistreatment is often overlooked, it is still a form of abuse that needs to be reported immediately. To prove negligence or abuse has happened to a resident, you will need an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorney. Our team has proven success in nursing home cases and will use our extensive legal experience to help you navigate the process and to get you full and fair compensation for you or your loved one’s injuries. To receive a free consultation, please call (312) 384-1920 or visit our website.

Neglected Nursing Home Residents Often Develop Bed Sores

April 3, 2020/in Blog, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Most residents in nursing facilities can’t move around on their own. They may be confined to their bed or a wheelchair, and it can be difficult for them to shift their weight of their body. When a body part is experiences persistent pressure, bed sores can develop. Staff members must take extra precaution to prevent the development of bed sores, such as flipping the resident over.

What are bedsores?

According to John Hopkins, bedsores can form when a person is, “bedridden or otherwise immobile, unconscious, or unable to sense pain.” Bedsores happen on areas of the skin that are under pressure from lying in bed or wheelchair for an extended period of time.

If an immobile or bedridden resident is not turned or positioned properly, given proper nutrition and skin care, bedsores can develop into one of four stages.

What causes bedsores?
Bedsores develop when blood supply to a person’s skin is cut off for more than 2 to 3 hours. Depending on the severity of the bed sore, the person’s physical condition and depending on if they have any underlying diseases, bedsores can take days, months, or years to heal.

What are the symptoms of bedsores?
Bedsores have 4 stages, ranging from least severe to most severe:

Stage 1. The area is red and warm to touch. On darker skin, the area may have a blue or purple tint. During this stage, a person may complain that it hurts, itches, or burns.
Stage 2. The area begins to look more damaged and have an open sore, scrape or blister.
Stage 3. The area has a crater-like appearance because of the damage below the skin’s surface.
Stage 4. The area is severely damaged, and a large wound is present. Infection is a significant risk at this stage.

How are bedsores diagnosed?
A healthcare provider or physician can diagnose bedsores by inspecting the person’s skin. According to their appearance is what stage the person is at.

How do you treat bedsores?
A healthcare provider will discuss specific treatment options based on the severity of the person’s condition. Healthcare professionals are supposed to monitor the bedsore closely and document the size, depth, and response to treatment. Treatment can include:

Keeping the wound clean
Ensuring good nutrition
Removing pressure on the affected area
Protecting the wound with gauze
Medication, such as antibiotics

How can bedsores be prevented?
By examining the skin closely and looking for areas of redness, aparticularly in bony areas. Other methods include:

Turning and repositioning a resident every 2 hours
Sitting up-right in a wheelchair, repositioning roughly every 15 minutes
Provide good skin care
Provide good nutrition

What to do if I’ve found bed sores on myself or a loved one?
To prove negligence or abuse has happened to a resident, you will need an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorney. Our team has proven success in nursing home cases and will use our extensive legal experience to help you navigate the process and to get you full and fair compensation for you or your loved one’s injuries. To get a free consultation, please call (312) 384-1920 or contact us via our website at www.dinizululawgroup.com.