By John R Kormanik on Posted in Nursing Home Abuse,Nursing Home Resident Safety,Resident and Family ResourcesIn a recent article, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), described in detail a serious problem in nursing home facilities: pharmaceutical companies "pushing" antipsychotic medications to be used on elderly nursing home residents with dementia. Often times, these types of medications are used as "chemical restraints" on nursing home residents. AARP’s article is, quite… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesLet me get this straight: The California Department of Public Health performed investigations into the deaths of residents at the following facilities: Fountain View Subacute and Nursing Center in Los Angeles; Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills; and Downey Care Center in Downey. The Department found conditions at the facilities contributed to the deaths… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesIn a recent New York Times "The New Old Age" post, author Paula Span broached the subject of drinking problems in assisted living facilities. Ms. Span references a study performed by a University of Pittsburgh "team" to determine whether there is, indeed, a problem. The short answer remains: No one really knows. The "study" referenced… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesAlthough I am a lawyer, I do not typically write on "ins-and-outs" of nursing home or assisted facility law. Frankly, the laws can be complicated and do not typically lend themselves to a relatively "short" (for a lawyer, anyway) post on this site. I’m going to change it up a little today, though, because I think… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesImagine walking into a traditional nursing home for the first time. There is a reception area at the front door. Turn right and walk down a hallway – there are resident rooms on both sides. There is typically a nurse’s station. in amongst the rooms. There may be medication carts in the hallway. There may… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesDid you know: Changing nursing home or assisted living facilities can be hazardous to a resident’s health? That would certainly appear to be the case and now there is science to back that fact up. A recent article in the Science Daily, describes the results of a study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesA recent story by Matt Sedensky, addresses the use of antipsychotic medications in treating dementia in nursing home residents. The story begins with the story of Hazel Eng, a resident of the Ecumen home in North Branch, Minn. "Day after day, Hazel Eng sat on her couch, a blank stare on her face. The powerful… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesAccording to the Center for Disease Control’s website, September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day. Here are some disturbing facts about Alzheimer’s disease: It is currently estimated that approximately 2.6 million to 5.2 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s disease, depending upon the approach used for identifying individuals with dementia. If no cure is developed and present… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesI am a dog person. I love dogs. I believe they bring joy into our lives like few other things. That is why over the past 20 or so years, I have owned a dog. Pictured here is my dog Maggie May. As you can see, she is very patient with me. When I first moved to Idaho, I… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesI came across an interesting article by Paula Span in the New York Times about a couple’s end-of-life decision and a New Mexico assisted living facility’s reaction to it. Honestly, the title says it all: "Deciding to Die, Then Shown the Door. The story is about Armond and Dorothy Rudolph and their decision to voluntarily stop… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesIn yesterday’s Seattle Times, Michael J. Berens wrote an article entitled: "Senior-care Placement Companies Scramble For Cash." In the article, Mr. Berens does an excellent job of pitting two competing business models for elder-care placement against each other: One is a nationwide internet-based service; the other is a locally based provider. Although both providers charge… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesI found a story in today’s Tampa Bay Online (Florida) interesting, disturbing and, unfortunately, unsurprising. According to the article, Brian Lee, Florida’s long term care ombudsman resigned after "butting heads" with Florida’s new governor, Rick Scott. Mr. Lee indicated the "last straw" which lead to his forced resignation was a letter he sent out to Florida’s… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesIn a story in today’s Orange County Register, Courtney Perkes writes about the death of a 93 year-old Donald Bodkin. Mr. Bodkin died of an undetected ruptured intestinal ulcer and infection. Courtney’s story reveals the nursing home facility, Victoria Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, "received the most severe penalty under (California) state law" – $75,000 for… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesIn a recent post on his law firm’s blog, my friend Randy Walton discussed a Washington Post story about younger nursing home residents and their needs. The WP story, by Matt Sedensky, reveals "about one in seven people now living in such facilities in the U.S. is under 65. But the growing phenomenon presents a… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesIn a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Katherine Hobson discusses a Center for Disease Control (CDC) survey of nursing home and hospice residents’ files. Specifically, the CDC survey looked to how many residents had an "end of life care plan" or "advanced directive" on file at the time of discharge. The CDC’s numbers were not… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesIn an article on the Oregonian’s website, Julie Sullivan laments the state of Oregon’s Ombudsman’s program. According to Ms. Sullivan, Oregon’s ombudsman program has only one paid employee for every 6,692 long-term care facility beds. That is not good. Ms. Sullivan’s article got me wondering how Idaho fairs in this arena. One of the very… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesAs I look back at the year that was 2010, and review my various postings, one in particular, sticks out today. Almost 1 year ago, on January 11, 2010, I wrote asking Idaho nursing homes to post their Medicare 5-star ratings. This one seemed particularly good given a story in today’s Los Angeles Times. The… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesIn an interesting article in today’s New York Times, Patrick Egan discusses his experience during a time when his father’s assisted living facility decided the father needed an "upgrade" in service. Not surprisingly, the upgrade in service came with a somewhat hefty price tag – $12,000 per year. Mr. Egan sets out some good recommendations… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesI have previously written about "getting your affairs in order" in the form of a living will. A story by Jane Friedmann in yesterday’s Minneapolis Star Tribune brought to mind an important topic concerning living wills or, as they are sometimes known, "advanced directives for health care." These are formal documents which tell your healthcare providers whether,… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Crime and Punishment,Resident and Family ResourcesHey, it’s just money…right? A story in today’s Bonner County Daily Bee caught my attention and got my hackles up. Apparently, Elise Anne Davidson, of Spirit Lake, Idaho, has received no more than a "slap on the wrist" for her financial exploitation of an elderly man. You see, Ms. Davidson used a financial power of… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family ResourcesPressure Sores are a problem in Idaho nursing home facilities. In Fiscal Year 2009, the latest data available, a staggering 33 citations, or 40.5% of skilled nursing facilities, were cited by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for failing to properly care for their residents in such a manner as to prevent or heal… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Resident and Family Resources A recently published study by the University of South Florida, the authors confirmed what many of us probably presumed was true: Quality of care substantially improved following the Florida legislature’s enactment of requirements for increased nursing staff levels and other quality care measures. According to the study, beginning in 1999, "Florida began developing a national reputation… Continue Reading
By John R Kormanik on Posted in Family Resources,Resident and Family Resources,Resident ResourcesIn a recent Los Angeles Times’ "Booster Shots" article, Shari Roan writes briefly about a study of nursing home resident’s sleep patterns and habits. The study, published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society, and conducted by UCLA and the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, looked at 121 "older adults," 65 and older, living… Continue Reading
