California Injury Lawyers Blog

The California Department of Public Health has ordered two Orange County assisted living facilities to pay fines over patient deaths involving "inadequate nursing care." Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is to pay $100,000 over a fatal fall accident that took place in a bathroom, while Emeritus at Yorba Linda has to pay $90,000 following a deadly choking accident. There may be a possibility that the families of both residents may be entitled to Orange County, California nursing home neglect and abuse, as well as wrongful death damages.

At the Newport Beach nursing home, a female patient who needed assistance to use the toilet was left unsupervised. She was found facedown and without a pulse in the bathroom. The coroner determined her cause of death as spinal fracture caused by a fall. Since the Orange County, California fall accident, Newport Nursing says staff has received more training.

At the Yorba Linda nursing home, a female patient died after a nursing assistant forgot to give the resident her dentures so she could eat lunch. The patient, who had problems swallowing and chewing, was supposed to be given chopped meat. The woman was taken to the hospital after she was found blue in front of a ham sandwich that was partially eaten.

At the hospital, a large piece of meat was removed from her throat. Less than a week later, she died from respiratory and cardiac arrest related to choking.Emeritus said nurses now have to verify that each patient is being given the proper meal.

Falls and choking accidents are not uncommon at assisted living facilities. Many nursing home patients have injuries, illnesses, or other conditions that make them a known fall accident risk and it is the responsibility of staff to enact a care plan that minimizes the chances of any type of fall. This includes assisting residents who cannot walk or stand without supervision, providing wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches, helping transfer patients to and from beds, installing handrails along walls, and other measures. Proper supervision is essential.

As for choking accidents, some patients cannot chew or swallow without help. It is essential that they be given foods that they can eat, which may include food items that are liquefied or chopped up into small enough pieces so that a patient doesn't choke and die from a meal.

Orange County, California nursing homes know that such preventive measures need to be in place so there is no reason why a patient should die because the appropriate steps weren't taken.

"It is unacceptable for a nursing home resident to die because nursing home staff failed to give them the care that they needed," said Howard Law, PC partner and Newport Beach nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer Vincent Howard. "Patients are at assisted living facilities to get the care that they need, not to fall victim to an accident caused by negligence."

2 O.C. nursing homes fined in patient deaths, OC Register, December 20, 2011

More Blog Posts:
California Nursing Home Fall Leads to $75K Fine by State, California Injury Lawyers Blog, October 31, 2011

$1.3M Los Angeles County Nursing Home Abuse Judgment Awarded to Elderly Patient Injured in Fall Accidents, California Injury Lawyers Blog, September 27, 2011

Los Angeles County, California Nursing Home Death Leads to $75,000 Fine, California Injury Lawyers Blog, August 31, 2011

Continue reading "Orange County, California Nursing Home Negligence?: Newport Beach and Yorba Linda Facilities Fined Over Patient Deaths" »

The California Department of Public Health has issued a Class A citation to Crystal Ridge Care Center because of the death of a nursing home patient after fall accident in the bathtub. The assisted living facility must also pay a $75,000 fine.

Although the care facility's policy it to have two operators run the mechanical lift that was used to transfer the resident, just one certified nursing assistant was it to move the male resident from the bathtub. The patient fell into the tub, breaking three neck bones and striking his head. He passed away a few days later.

The CDPH says that the patient's records had documented that he was at risk for fall accidents and needed assistance when being transferred. Also, not only had the assisted living facility not provided any lift training to its staff, but also its administrator does not use a checklist to cibfurn workers' competencies. The state says that Crystal Ridge failed to keep the patient safe.

Nursing Home Fall Accidents
Transferring patients to and from beds, wheelchairs, bathtubs, and chairs requires the proper safety procedures to minimize the chance of serious injuries. This assistance may involve the manual help of nursing home staff or, in some instances, the use of a mechanical lift.

Lifts are usually used to assist patients who are overweight, contracted or so severely impaired that the added support of the lift is best alternative. A mechanical lift might be used to help a person go from standing to sitting position or help in being transferred from one place/location or modality (bed to wheelchair) to another.

Common cause of mechanical lift injuries:
• Just one staff member operating a lift that requires two people for safe operation
• Inadequately secured transfer belts, which can lead to fall accidents and bruising
• Inadequate training
• Not enough staff
• Poor maintenance

You may be able to obtain Orange County, California nursing home negligence damages for a loved one that was injured in a fall accident that could/should have been prevented. Assisted living facilities know that some patients are more prone to falls than others and it is their job to implement and execute the proper safety procedures to prevent that from happening.

For many sick and elderly people, a nursing home fall is a serious accident that can lead to the deterioration of one's health and even death. If a care facility is understaffed or hasn't trained workers to properly handle patients need help then Anaheim nursing home neglect may be at play.

Some reasons why some patients may be more prone to Orange County, California nursing home falls:

• Mental illness
• Dementia
• Old age
• Hip injuries
• Poor vision
• Sedation from medication
• Poor balance
• Weak muscles
• Slower reaction time
• Physically disabled

Nursing Home Faces Most Severe Fine After Death of Resident, Fox40, October 31, 2011

Grass Valley nursing home fined $75K in patient death, The Union,
November 1, 2011

Related Web Resources:
California Department of Public Health

Falls in Nursing Homes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

More Blog Posts:
California Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit: Poor Care Allegedly Caused 80-Year-Old Female Dementia Patient to Suffer Dehydration, Malnutrition, and Infections, California Injury Lawyers Blog, October 27, 2011

$1.3M Los Angeles County Nursing Home Abuse Judgment Awarded to Elderly Patient Injured in Fall Accidents, California Injury Lawyers Blog, September 27, 2011

Los Angeles County, California Nursing Home Death Leads to $75,000 Fine, California Injury Lawyers Blog, August 31, 2011

A woman who says her 80-year-old mother was hospitalized because of the negligent nursing care she received has filed a California nursing home negligence complaint. The plaintiffs in the case are Accentcare Home Health of California, Inc., EHC Management, LLC, and Evergreen at Petaluma LLC.

In the California nursing home neglect lawsuit, Billie Walter says that while receiving home care, her mother, Elizabeth Walter, suffered a broken hip during a fall accident. Billie believes that the health care workers who were sent over by Accent Home Health of California left her mom unattended even though they knew she was a fall risk and was afflicted with dementia.

Following her hip injury, Elizabeth went to live full time at Petaluma Health and Rehabilitation where she became dehydrated and developed serious infections. A few weeks after she was admitted to the nursing home, Elizabeth was transferred to the hospital because of these conditions and due to malnutrition.

Billie is accusing the nursing home company of inadequate staffing at the assisted living facility and making misrepresentation about the quality of care her mother was to receive there, including assurances that Elizabeth would be treated by specialists that actually didn't work at the care home.

Negligent Nursing Care
You should know that you might be able to hold a nursing home company for negligent nursing care received either in private or at an assisted living facility. Orange County, California nursing home neglect can lead to serious health complications, injuries, and even death for patients.

If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect do not hesitate to notify the authorities, report your concerns to the assisted living facility, and remove your loved one from the unsafe situation as soon as possible. An experienced Anaheim nursing home negligence law firm can help you figure out what to do.

Broken Hips and the Elderly
Not only are elderly seniors at higher risk than others of becoming involved in a fall accident, but also they are more prone to fracturing or breaking their hips. This can be an extremely painful and traumatic process.

The process of recovery and learning to walk again can take its hold on the patient's health, making him/her more prone to health complications, infection, and death. Care facilities and their employees know this and it is their job to prevent such accidents and injuries from happening.

You will want to work with an experienced Orange County, California nursing home abuse and neglect law firm that knows how to prove that an assisted living facility or nursing company was liable for the harm suffered by your loved one. It can be very upsetting to know that the people you entrusted with your family member's care hurt more than helped him/her. You may be able to hold them accountable in civil court.

Nursing home sued for negligence, Petaluma 360, October 27, 2011

Related Web Resources:
California Advocates of Nursing Home Reform

California Department of Public Health

More Blog Posts:
$1.3M Los Angeles County Nursing Home Abuse Judgment Awarded to Elderly Patient Injured in Fall Accidents, California Injury Lawyers Blog, September 27, 2011

Los Angeles County, California Nursing Home Death Leads to $75,000 Fine, California Injury Lawyers Blog, August 31, 2011

San Bernardino Nursing Home Negligence?: Assisted Living Facility Fined $80,000 Over 2008 of Patient Who Became Accidentally Disconnected from Ventilator, California Injury Lawyers Blog, July 8, 2011

Ruby Walters, an elderly assisted living facility resident, has been awarded a $1,311,593.67 Los Angeles County nursing home abuse judgment in her case against Greenpark Villa Inc. in Torrance. Walters, who fell twice while under the facility's care, suffered a hip fracture as a result and experienced severe pain.

Walters began staying at the Torrance residential care facility for the elderly after undergoing surgery for her other hip, which was fractured first. She also had a stage 1 pressure sore and suffered from dementia.

According to her Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyers, poor staffing and not enough funding lead to inadequate nursing care, which is why Walters felt twice and her pressure sore became a stage four bedsore that became infected. Walter's legal team also claims that the assisted living facility didn't send her to the hospital after her second Los Angeles fall accident and she ended up experiencing severe pain for several months without knowing that she'd fractured another hip.

Bedsores and Fall Accidents Pose Serious Health Threat to the Elderly
Pressure sores and fall accidents are two of the most common causes of serious injuries to the elderly. They can be caused by nursing negligence. For example, a Stage 1 decubitus ulcer can rapidly becoming a serious wound that can cause serious health complications and infection and even death. Meantime, fall accidents can cause serious and painful injuries for the patient, who may have to undergo surgery and, in some cases, may find their health deteriorating as a result.

Nursing homes know all of this and it is the job of staff to check for bedsores, prevent them from happening, and properly treat them when they do. As a matter of fact, pressure sores are usually preventable unless nursing neglect comes into play.

Easy ways that nursing staff can prevent bedsores:
• Proper hydration
• Proper nutrition
• Checking the skin regularly
• Frequently changing the patient's physical position
• Skin that is regularly cleaned, then tried, and moisturized
• Changing soiled or wet sheets and clothes
• Preventing bony areas of the body from touching each other
• Immediate treatment of signs of a stage one pressure sure

As for fall accidents, assisted living facility staff are supposed to closely monitor patients that are fall accident risks, including those that cannot walk without help, and providing other assistance (for example wall railings, walkers, and wheelchairs). Fall accidents can cause broken bones, hip fractures, bruises, back injuries, neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and even deaths.

You may be able to obtain Los Angeles personal injury recovery for California nursing home abuse or neglect. You will want to work with a law firm that has the experience and resources to pursue this type of case.

$1.3 Million Judgment Against Torrance Assisted Living Facility For Elder Abuse, The Sacramento Bee, September 26, 2011

More Blog Posts:
Los Angeles Bedsore Lawsuit Claims LAC Medical Center Attempted to Conceal California
Elder Neglect, California Injury Lawyers Blog, June 25, 2011

Los Angeles Elder Abuse and Neglect Alleged in 89-Year-Old's Alzheimer Patient's Fatal Fall At Woodland Hills Retirement Community, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 16, 2011
Jury Awards $29.1 Million California Nursing Home Neglect Verdict to Family of Patient who Died from Infected Bedsore, California Injury Lawyers Blog, May 13, 2010

State regulators have fine the Orchard-Post Acute Care $75,000 for a patient's Los Angeles County, California nursing home death. The 78-year-old man reportedly died after his feeding tube was incorrectly inserted. Per the California Department of Public Health's Web site, because of this mistake, medicine and food entered his peritoneal cavity instead of his stomach.

Following the error, the patient, who suffers from Alzheimer's an been living at the Whittier nursing home since 2008 after suffering a stroke, began complaining of stomach pain. He was transported to an emergency room where doctors discovered that his abdomen was inflamed and he was suffering from septic shock. The elderly patient underwent surgery and was hooked up to a ventilator before dying six days later.

In addition to the fine, the assisted living facility also received an "AA" citation over the incident, which is considered the most severe citation per state law. The California Department of Public Health says that inappropriate care and services resulted in the patient's passing.

This is the 63rd time in five years that the state of California has fined Orchard-Post Acute Care. When the assisted living facility was known as Royal Court Health Care, Nursing Home Compare, the federal ranking system, gave it two out of five stars.

Feeding Tubes
Some nursing home residents cannot eat and drink without the help of a feeding tube. In other instances, a feeding tube might be required to combat malnutrition or dehydration. While some feeding tubes are inserted through the nose, others must be placed into the stomach or small bowel. It is important that a feeding tube is properly inserted so the patient can receive all the nutrients that he/she needs. It is also important that the tube be inserted correctly to prevent complications. Possible risks include infection, aspiration, damage to the abdominal wall, skin irritation, and other health issues.

Dementia Patients and Feeding Tubes
A few months ago, the New York Times wrote about the use of feeding tubes for patients with dementia and the recent study, which found 13.7% of families surveyed said that doctors had inserted feeding tubes in their loved ones without obtaining anyone's consent. Considering that getting informed consent is part of proper medical procedure, even if a patient is suffering from mental illness, this finding gives one cause for concern. For 12.6% of families that did give their consent, they said they felt pressured to agree to the feeding tube. Some reported that discussion of possible risks was minimal. Also, opting to give patients with dementia feeding tubes didn't necessarily improve survival, treat bedsores, improve the quality of life, or treat pneumonia.

Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing home workers must be properly trained in working with feeding tubes. Should negligence, inexperience, or carelessness cause a person to sustain injury, illness, or not get the proper nutrition and liquids necessary to maintain his/health, the assisted living facility could be held liable for Los Angeles nursing home negligence.

State fines Whittier nursing home for resident's death, Los Angeles Times, August 17, 2011

When Demented Patients Receive Feeding Tubes, New York Times , May 9, 2011

CDPH Citation (PDF)

Read more about the nursing home fine

More Blog Posts:
San Bernardino Nursing Home Negligence?: Assisted Living Facility Fined $80,000 Over 2008 of Patient Who Became Accidentally Disconnected from Ventilator, California Injury Lawyers Blog, July 8, 2011

Los Angeles Bedsore Lawsuit Claims LAC Medical Center Attempted to Conceal California Elder Neglect, California Injury Lawyers Blog, June 25, 2011

Los Angeles Nursing Home Negligence?: 94-Year-Old Woman Discovered in Freezer of Calabasas Nursing Home, California Injury Lawyers Blog, November 17, 2010

Continue reading "Los Angeles County, California Nursing Home Death Leads to $75,000 Fine" »

The California Department of Public Health has fined the Community Hospital of San Bernardino $80,000 over a nursing home patient's death. The state says that the resident died on February 2, 2008 because the tubes connecting him to a ventilator had detached. The patient, who was suffering from emphysema, stopped breathing and died.

Health officials say that nursing staff was not aware that the tubes had come off because the machine's alarms were not turned on. Per the state's report, the patient died from inadequate nursing care. With this type of finding, there is the possibility that the patient's loved ones might decide to file a San Bernardino nursing home negligence claim over his California wrongful death.

Administrators have been working with the staff to make sure that this type of accident doesn't happen again. The nursing home has also improved staff training on how to properly care for patients using ventilators and document that care.

A ventilator is used to help a patient breathe. If a patient becomes disconnected from a ventilator, he or she can die, which is why it is so important that he/she is properly hooked up to the machine (that should be working correctly). Nursing staff must make sure that a patient doesn't accidentally become disconnected from a ventilator. In the event of an accidental disconnect, there must be measures in place to warn of this immediately so that the mistake can be fixed. Patients also cannot be intentionally disconnected from a ventilator without the proper consent.

It is a tragedy to lose a loved one because nursing home staff made a mistake or were negligent in other ways. If you that your loved one died because he/she did not receive the proper care at an assisted living facility, you may have grounds for filing a San Bernardino nursing home neglect lawsuit. If the death happened because the ventilator or one of its parts failed, you may have reason for a California products liability case against its manufacturer.

SAN BERNARDINO: $80,000 fine in patient's death at nursing home, The Press-Enterprise, June 29, 2011

SoCal nursing home fined $80k in patient death, Contra Costa Times/AP, June 29, 2011

Related Web Resources:
California Department of Public Health

Ventilator Disconnect and Death (PDF)

Respiratory Care

More Blog Posts:
Los Angeles Bedsore Lawsuit Claims LAC Medical Center Attempted to Conceal California Elder Neglect, California Injury Lawyers Blog, June 25, 2011

Los Angeles County Nursing Home Negligence?: Santa Monica Assisted Living Facility Fined $100,000 After Resident's Choking Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 23, 2011

Los Angeles Nursing Home Negligence?: 94-Year-Old Woman Discovered in Freezer of Calabasas Nursing Home, California Injury Lawyers Blog, November 17, 2010

A woman is accusing the Los Angeles County Medical Center of neglecting her mother, a 64-year-old woman who stayed at the facility for several days last year. In her Los Angeles elder neglect lawsuit, Irene Garcia contends that LAC Medical Center was reckless in letting her mom, Esperanza, lie in her own waste for extend periods of time and that this caused her to develop pressure sores. Garcia says that workers at the facility purposely mischaracterized her mom's decubitus ulcer as a skin rash.

She also says that her "gravely ill" mom did not have pressure sores until after she was admitted to the medical center. Garcia claims that staff knew Esperanza was at risk for skin breakdown yet failed to take preventative action. She contends that once her mom developed the bedsores, no one treated her symptoms or reported them. Instead they allegedly let the wounds grow worse. Not only did they leave Esperanza in her own excrement but they also failed to clean and turn her correctly.

Esperanza's family says that by the time they took her from LAC Medical Center, her condition was so poor that the bedsores were untreatable. She died a day after leaving the medical center.

The plaintiffs are also accusing the county and 100 unidentified agents and employees of elder abuse. Esperanza's loved ones claim that the defendants violated the state's Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act.

Bedsores can cause serious health complications, which is why it is so important that action is taken to prevent them from developing on a patient's body or if they do show up that they are treated immediately. Elderly patients--especially those who cannot move without assistance--are at higher risk than others of developing bedsores. Common causes of bedsores:

• Staying in the same position for extended time periods
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Allowing moisture, human excrement, urine, or sweat too stay close to the skin for an extended time period
• Not checking a patient regularly for signs of decubitus ulcers
• Delayed treatment

Medical professionals can be held liable for Los Angeles nursing negligence if failure to provide the patient with the proper care causes personal injury or wrongful death.

Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act

Los Angeles Elder Abuse and Neglect Alleged in 89-Year-Old's Alzheimer Patient's Fatal Fall At Woodland Hills Retirement Community, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 16, 2011

Costa Mesa Nursing Home Fine Over Alleged Orange County, California Nursing Home Negligence Related to 93-Year-Old Man's Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 28, 2011

San Bernardino County Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit Blames Assisted Living Facility for Patient's California Wrongful Death by Suicide, California Injury Lawyers Blog, September 10, 2010

Orange County, California elder abuse doesn't just occur at assisted living facilities. The abuse of the elderly has also been known to take place in private homes. Sometimes, the abuser is a family member. At other times, it is a professional caretaker, who was hired to work in a private residence. That said, doesn't matter whether the neglect or abuse occurred in a house or at a nursing home, the patient still may be able to sue for damages.

This week, Domingo Rabino, a Mission Viejo caretaker, was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an 80-year-old patient. The caretaker had been hired to take care of the woman and her husband, who has since died, in their private residence. Now, Rabino is accused of committing sexual violations against the woman, including trying to rape her, while giving her therapeutic massages.

It is important that families who hire a private caretaker observe the interactions between him/her and your loved one. It also is a good idea to stay alert for signs of possible California elder abuse or neglect, including:

• Unexplained bruises
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Bedsores
• Sudden mood swings
• Depression
• Deterioration of health

If the caretaker speaks to your loved one in an abusive or derogatory way or doesn't physically handle him/her with care, your relative may be experiencing Orange County, California elder abuse or neglect. You may also have cause for concern if the caretaker starts isolating your loved one, you notice depletion in your family member's finances, or he/she is suddenly added as a beneficiary to a will. Unfortunately, California elder financial abuse is also not uncommon.

Our Anaheim elder abuse lawyers know that sometimes seeking damages from a caretaker can be a delicate process--especially if the caretaker is a relative or close friend. Nevertheless, we can help you explore your legal options and determine whether your elderly loved one has a case.

Caretaker arrested for elderly woman's assault, ABC Local, May 16, 2011

Allegations of elder abuse spark arrest in Orange County, Empowered News, May 15, 2011

More Blog Posts:
Costa Mesa Man Accused of Stealing Over $280K in Alleged Elder Fraud Abuse, California Injury Lawyers Blog, April 13, 2011

Los Angeles Elder Abuse and Neglect Alleged in 89-Year-Old's Alzheimer Patient's Fatal Fall At Woodland Hills Retirement Community, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 16, 2011

Three Workers Arrested for California Nursing Home Sexual Abuse, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 4, 2011

The LA County Board of Supervisors and Ramiro Polanco have settled his Los Angeles personal injury lawsuit for $207,000. The 38-year-old main sustained a permanent traumatic brain injury after jumping out of a hospital window. At the time, Polanco was a psychiatric patient.

He fell three stories on September 17, 2008 while at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. According to his Los Angeles TBI lawsuit and hospital malpractice case, the nursing staff at the Sylmar hospital did not adequately supervise him.

Polanco's Los Angeles injury lawyer says that his client, who had just had a schizophrenic episode and should have been constantly watched, had made previous attempts to break the glass window with a chair. He contends that nurses did not prevent him from jumping. A nursing attendant employed by Los Angeles County even wrote down that Polanco had tried to escape before he got out threw the window.

As a result of his Los Angeles traumatic brain injury, Polanco will require round-the-clock care. Following the incident, county officals made the windows "psychiatric safe" and conducted training with nurses regarding how to asses patient behavior.

Health care workers at hospitals and nursing homes and other medical facilities must ensure that they provide adequate supervision and properly monitor patients. This means that make sure that patients--especially those who are mentally ill--don't do anything to hurt themselves or others.

Other examples of how a patient might get hurt when not properly supervised:
• Choking accidents
• Wandering or elopement
• Slip and fall accidents
• Nursing home abuse
• Physical or sexual assault

If the medical facility or nursing home did not but could (and should) have acted to prevent your Los Angeles personal injury, you may be able to file a claim or lawsuit.

LA County to pay $207,000 to injured psych patient, Mercury News, April 19, 2011

Read the Los Angeles County Claims Board's Recommendation (PDF)

Related Web Resource:
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

More Blog Posts:
Los Angeles Elder Abuse and Neglect Alleged in 89-Year-Old's Alzheimer Patient's Fatal Fall At Woodland Hills Retirement Community, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 16, 2011

Los Angeles County Nursing Home Negligence?: Santa Monica Assisted Living Facility Fined $100,000 After Resident's Choking Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 23, 2011

San Bernardino County Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit Blames Assisted Living Facility for Patient's California Wrongful Death by Suicide, California Injury Lawyers Blog, September 10, 2010

Police have arrested John Thomas Windsor, a Costa Mesa resident, for allegedly stealing more than $280,000 from a 98-year-old Newport Beach woman who was suffering from dementia. Our Anaheim injury lawyers would like to remind our readers that stealing money from older seniors is Orange County, California elder abuse.

Windsor is charged with felony residential burglary, fraudulent use of an access card, caretaker theft of an elderly, and three counts of forgery. The charges come with sentencing enhancements based on the allegation that the crime was a white collar one involving the theft of over $200,000.

Police contend that Windsor began living with the victim without her knowledge in 2007. The woman, referred to as Edna M,, was deaf, blind, and suffering from dementia. At the time he moved in, Windsor was on parole for fraud and domestic violence.

The authorities say that Windsor got Edna to turn over power attorney to him even though doctors later found that she wasn't mentally capable of doing so at the time. He also allegedly took over $280,000 from Edna's bank accounts and used her credit cards to make purchases, including a Tiffany & Co. engagement ring and two cars. Edna passed away in 2009 at age 99.

Elder Financial Fraud
Signs that your loved one may be a victim of Anahaim elder financial fraud:

• Unexplained withdrawals from accounts
• Valuables or money missing from the elderly person's residence
• Sudden changes in power of attorney, will beneficiaries, insurance policies, or titles
• Sudden changes in an elderly person's financial state
• Unpaid bills
• Suspicious charges on your credit card bill

Man charged with stealing more than $280K from elderly woman, Daily Pilot, April 13, 2011

John Thomas Windsor Allegedly Stole Blind Widow's $280k for Cars, Ring and Sex Swing, OC Weekly, April 13, 2011

Related Web Resources:
National Center on Elder Abuse

Elder Abuse and Neglect, HelpGuide

More Blog Posts:
Los Angeles Elder Abuse and Neglect Alleged in 89-Year-Old's Alzheimer Patient's Fatal Fall Fatal At Woodland Hills Retirement Community, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 16, 2011

Three Workers Arrested for California Nursing Home Sexual Abuse, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 14, 2011

Costa Mesa Nursing Home Fine Over Alleged Orange County, California Nursing Home Negligence Related to 93-Year-Old Man's Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 28, 2011

Continue reading "Costa Mesa Man Accused of Stealing Over $280K in Alleged Elder Fraud Abuse " »

The family of Carrie Delay is suing the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital for Los Angeles nursing negligence and wrongful death. Delay, an 89-year-old Alzheimer's patient, died a week after falling off a landing between the first and second floors on October 17, 2010.

According to the Los Angeles elder abuse and neglect complaint, Delay fractured her spine and sustained skin tears and contusions during the Woodland Hills fall accident. She died a week after the incident. Prior to her death, Delay was a resident of the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital for almost 10 years.

Her family is also claiming inadequate supervision, and California premises liability. The family's Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers contend that Delay was left unsupervised and that no one stopped her from going past a nursing and behind a fire door. The fall accident took place less than 300 feet from where she had been left unattended.

Fall Accidents
Elderly persons that have physical and mentally disabilities are at risk of getting hurt in fall accidents. This is why there must be adequate safety measures in place to prevent fall accidents, slip and fall accidents, and trip and fall accidents. In some cases, an elderly senior may require constant supervision.

According to the Website Learnnottofall.com:
• Approximately 30% of seniors age 65 and older fall annually.
• More than 50% of seniors in the 80 and over age group fall every year.

Fall accidents can lead to spinal cord injuries, head injuries, broken hips, broken bones and other painful injuries that can take awhile to recover from and may result in additional health complications, such as muscle cell breakdown and pressure sores. Assisted living facilities and retirement homes are aware that elderly and frail patients are vulnerable to fall accidents and it is their job to protect them from such incidents. Failure to do so can be grounds for a Los Angeles nursing home neglect case.

Family files lawsuit against MPTF after elderly woman falls, dies, Daily News, March 15, 2011

Family of deceased nursing home patient sues Motion Picture & Television Fund for negligence, Los Angeles Times, March 15, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital

Learn Not to Fall

More Blog Posts:
Los Angeles Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit Blames Woodland Hills Facility for Actor Gene Barry's Wrongful Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 3, 2010

California Nursing Home Negligence?: Fatal Fall Accident Involved Improperly Maintained Mechanical Lift, California Injury Lawyers Blog, October 27, 2010

Jury Awards $29.1 Million California Nursing Home Neglect Verdict to Family of Patient who Died from Infected Bedsore, California Injury Lawyers Blog, May 13, 2010

California Department of Justice agents have arrested three nursing home workers for the alleged elder abuse of an elderly man. They say that one of the workers pulled on the resident's genitalia, while the other two knew about the incident but did not report it. The California nursing home sexual abuse occurred at the Idylwood Care Center.

The nursing home workers who were arrested are Arnold Samson, who faces charges of elder abuse and battery, Ricardo Martinez, and Ryan Tan. The incident came to the attention of the state after a fourth nursing home worker reported seeing Samson grab at the resident's genitalia. Agents say that their investigation revealed that Samson had done this to the man several times, including once when the resident was asleep. There were also other occasions when Samson allegedly threatened to touch the man.

Elder Abuse
Nursing home workers are supposed to report any incidents of abuse or neglect that they see their coworkers committing. An assisted living facility is supposed to stop the abuse or neglect immediately.

Unfortunately, California nursing home abuse and neglect continue to be serious problems at certain assisted living facilities. When this happens to a patient, he/she may have grounds for filing a personal injury claim.

Many residents cannot fight back when they are abused or sexually assaulted by a nursing home worker. Speech problems, mental illness, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, and other health issues may make it impossible for them to fight back or even report what happened. This can make it easy for the abuser to keep coming back, while inflicting harm on the resident.

Nursing homes must be careful about who they hire. They must also closely supervise their employees to make sure that they are administering the proper nursing care to residents.

Sunnyvale: Three nursing home workers charged with elder abuse, Mercury News, March 3, 2011

Sunnyvale Nursing Home Worker Arrested For Alleged Elder Abuse, KTVU, March 3, 2011

Related Web Resources:
National Center on Elder Abuse

Elder Abuse and Neglect, HelpGuide.org

Sexual Abuse Took Place at Hawthorne, California Nursing Home, Says Ex-Employee, California Injury Lawyers Blog, January 27, 2011

Continue reading "Three Workers Arrested for California Nursing Home Sexual Abuse" »

California's Department of Public Health has fined Victoria Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center $75,000 for Costa Mesa nursing home negligence in the death of 93-year-old Donald Bodkin. The 93-year-old man died from an undetected intestinal ulcer and infection.

Bodkin was admitted to the Costa Mesa assisted living facility last August after he underwent hip surgery. Just two weeks into his stay, he experienced appetite loss, low urine output, and pain in his abdomen. He also was reportedly in pain and feeling lethargic.

Yet state officials say that Bodkin's family was never notified of his discomfort. They also claim that the nursing home failed to properly evaluate his condition or tell the doctor that the elderly man was exhibiting life-threatening conditions.

Several days later, Bodkin was discovered without a pulse. He died on September 13.

Per the coroner's report, a ruptured ulcer caused the infection in Bodkin's bloodstream that led to his "untimely" death. The ulcer reportedly broke three days to a week before his passing.

Our Costa Mesa nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers are dismayed at the number of residents who end up suffering because they did not receive the proper care and supervision that they required. Not only must nursing home workers monitor each patient's condition, but also they must report any issues of medical concern to a physician and family members so that the resident can get the necessary care and attention immediately. Failure to provide proper nursing and medical care can lead to serious health complications, including infection, bedsores, permanent injuries, and death.

Nursing home fined in patient death, The Orange County Register, February 23, 2011

Related Web Resources:
California Department of Public Health

Nursing Home Overview, Medicare.gov

More Blog Posts:
Los Angeles County Nursing Home Negligence?: Santa Monica Assisted Living Facility Fined $100,000 After Resident's Choking Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 23, 2011

California Nursing Home Negligence?: Fatal Fall Accident Involved Improperly Maintained Mechanical Lift, California Injury Lawyers Blog, October 27, 2010

81-Year-Old Orange County, County Nursing Home Resident Accused of Murdering 94-Year-Old Roommate at Laguna Woods Rehabilitation Center, California Injury Lawyers Blog, October 5, 2010

Continue reading "Costa Mesa Nursing Home Fine Over Alleged Orange County, California Nursing Home Negligence Related to 93-Year-Old Man's Death" »

The California Department of Public Health has fined the Goldstar Rehabilitation and Nursing Center $100,000 for the inadequate nursing care that led to a patient's death. The resident, age 60, choked on his food while eating dinner. The Santa Monica nursing home has been given an "AA citation," which is the most severe citation a long-term care facility can receive in California.

Unfortunately, choking accidents are not an uncommon occurrence at assisted living facilities, where some patients may have problems swallowing or chewing or taking in solid foods. This is why it is important that nursing home workers make sure that each patient is given the food specified under his/her care plan. In some cases, this means making sure that meat has been cut into tiny pieces or, when warranted, liquefied. In the event that a resident gets sick, sustains a brain injury, or dies from a choking accident that could have been prevented, the victim and his/her family may have grounds for a Los Angeles nursing home neglect case.

Healthcare officials say that the Santa Monica nursing home did not give the man the soft diet that a doctor had prescribed. As a result, the patient choked on a piece of meat and lost consciousness for at least 10 minutes.

Goldstar Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has been cited for serious violations in the past. Also, since March 2004, it has received 150 complaints. 55 of them, alleging inadequate care, nursing neglect, nursing home abuse, and other wrongdoings, have been substantiated.

Nursing Home's Citation Follows Long List of Complaints, Penalties, Santa Monica Patch, February 18, 2011

Nursing home is fined after patients dies after choking, Los Angeles Times, February 16, 2011

Related Web Resources:
California Department of Public Health

Goldstar Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

More California Injury Lawyers Blog Posts:
Sexual Abuse Took Place at Hawthorne, California Nursing Home, Says Ex-Employee, California Injury Lawyers Blog, January 27, 2011

California Nursing Homes Must Post Federal Ratings in 2011, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 31, 2011

Los Angeles Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit Blames Woodland Hills Facility for Actor Gene Barry's Wrongful Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 3, 2011

Continue reading "Los Angeles County Nursing Home Negligence?: Santa Monica Assisted Living Facility Fined $100,000 After Resident's Choking Death" »

An ex-nursing home worker who was fired from Ideal Home Care says that he was let go because he complained about patient abuse, understaffing, and poor record-keeping at the California nursing home. Anthony Beasley started working at the nursing home, which takes care of physically and developmentally disabled adults, in May 2008.

He says that even though one male patient sexually assaulted both men and women, nursing home staff were only told to monitor him but not lock him in. Beasley says that entries he made in the staff log complaining of the patient's inappropriate behaviors were deleted or changed. He also claims that the assisted living facility was poorly staffed. Not only was he required to work 14 hour shifts, but also there were employees whose English was poor and who made medication mix-ups by giving the wrong ones to the wrong patients.

Nursing Home Sexual Abuse
Because many nursing homes patients are sick, frail, mentally ill, or disabled, they can make easy targets for sexual perpetrators. It is the responsibility of an assisted living facility to make sure that Los Angeles nursing home sexual abuse doesn't happen. This means carefully screening the people they hire so that they don't bring in employees that will abuse, neglect, or sexually assault patients. This also means carefully monitoring residents to make sure patients don't violate other residents.

In California, you can sue an assisted living facility for Los Angeles County nursing home neglect if their negligence allowed a patient to become a victim of sexual assault or any other type of violent crime. You should explore your legal options right away.

Meantime, Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives are looking at over 100 hours of graphic videos that it received last year showing men sexually assaulting mentally and physically disabled women, with some of them wearing diapers. They think the sex crimes occurred at a Los Angeles nursing home in 2007 or 2008.

Ex-caregiver alleges abuse at Hawthorne facility, Mercury News, January 26, 2011

Related Web Resources:
California nursing home violations, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform

Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes, State of California Department of Justice

Continue reading "Sexual Abuse Took Place at Hawthorne, California Nursing Home, Says Ex-Employee" »