Resident at Redeemer Health and Rehab Suffers Serious Burns from Radiator

There was a story this week in the Star & Tribune titled: Minneapolis nursing home blamed in resident’s death. Redeemer Health and Rehab on Lake Street in Minneapolis was found to be negligent for allowing a resident with dementia to sustain burns on his legs and feet from a radiator next to his bed. The resident apparently suffered second to third degree burns and was taken to the emergency... [Read more]

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Residents of Wadena Nursing Home Subjected to High Medication Error Rates

There was a story today in this week in the Star & Tribune titled: Drug errors led to patient’s death in Wadena nursing home. A central Minnesota nursing home committed serious medication mistakes three times within 16 days last year causing the death of one of them according to state investigators. Apparently the “significant medication errors”at Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena indicated a systems... [Read more]

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Charges Dismissed Against Minnnesota Woman Charged with Finanical Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult

There was a story today in the Austin News that charges were dismissed against a woman who was accused of financially exploiting a vulnerable adult. See the story: Mower prosecutors dismiss woman’s felony charges. Although there was not a criminal case in this instance the story does call attention to the growing problem of financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, at home by friends, family... [Read more]

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Resident Suffers Head Injury After Fall at St. Anthony Health Center

According to a Star and Tribune article dated February 11, 2010 a St. Anthony nursing home resident was injured when she fell from her bed moments after a nursing assistant left the woman’s side with various safety precautions not in place, and the woman’s condition worsened until her death four days later. Apparently, state health investigators cited the unnamed aide for neglect.  The... [Read more]

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Medicare and Medicaid Fraud in Nursing Homes can Happen in Many Ways

False Billing to Medicare and Medicaid and other Fraud in Nursing Homes Fraud can occur in a number of different ways.  In many instances, the nursing home staff will not provide the documentation needed to Medicaid or Medicare.  In other instances, the nursing home make false claims to Medicare or Medicare on your behalf in attempt to bolster profits from the facility.   Nursing... [Read more]

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Nursing Home Residents Should be Free from Abuse

Any type of abuse in a nursing home environment is wrong and a crime.  Under the Minnesota Nursing Homes Residents Bill of Rights, all residents have the right to “be free from harm, including abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.” Physical abuse is the most common type of abuse in nursing homes but sexual abuse also occurs behind closed doors.  No one wants to think that this could be happening... [Read more]

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Asphyxiation of Nursing Home Residents Due to Obstructed Tracheal Tubes is Preventable Neglect

As we get older it is not uncommon to develop complications involving our respiratory system. Many elderly patients in nursing home care will require breathing tubes in order to support life. A clogged or obstructed breathing tube can often lead to brain damage or death. Another risk to residents is from respirational pneumonia if food becomes lodged in their respiratory system. It is the responsibility... [Read more]

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Burn Injuries to Nursing Home Residents are Preventable with Additional Care

Nursing homes across Minnesota have an obligation to comply with minimum care standards established by state and federal regulations. Many times the explanation for burn injuries occurring to residents of Minnesota nursing homes, assisted living and other types of elder care facilities is related to a corporate organization which is focused on maximizing profits at the expense of safety. Many of... [Read more]

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Nursing Homes Need to Ensure Residents are Properly Hydrated

Elderly Dehydration occurs when a nursing home resident loses more water than they take in. The human body requires an adequate amount of fluid to function properly; for example, to regulate body temperature through sweating, maintain blood pressure, and eliminate bodily waste. If severe enough, dehydration can lead to confusion, weakness, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bedsores in bed-ridden... [Read more]

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Falls in Nursing Home are Usually Preventable with Proper Care and Supervision

Unlike many types of accidents, falls are often preventable with adequate and trained staff providing proper care and monitoring. Even if the actual fall event is an accident many facilities fail to take the necessary required steps to protect the interests of the vulnerable adult, by not adequately responding to the fall event. After a fall the individual needs to be closely monitored and assessed... [Read more]

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