Milwaukee Nursing Home Neglect Could Rise

Abuse shelters grow as elderly population soars

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Wednesday, January 25, 2012.

As the Baby Boomers age, the elderly population will be growing faster than it ever has before. Even now, the number of people who live to be at least 90 years old has tripled in the last 30 years. According to the Census Bureau, there are 2 million people aged 90 and above, and that number is expected to quadruple by the year 2050.

As people grow old, they often are forced to live with their children or grandchildren, particularly in the rough economy. Many also need to stay in retirement villages or nursing homes, and there have been many documented cases of nursing home abuse.

Elder abuse in general is a growing concern in this country. As people grow old, they are often mentally, physically and financially vulnerable. Advocates believe there should be more safe houses to protect the elderly from such abuse.

The first elder abuse shelter was opened in the Bronx in New York City several years ago. Now there are about a half-dozen such shelters open in the country. They are generally funded by non-profit groups, according to a USA Today article.

Unfortunately, one advocate points out, as people have aged, the percentage of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia is at an all-time high. She calls that a “recipe for disaster” in terms of the potential for elder abuse.

Sadly, abuse often goes unreported when the elderly are abused by their own caregivers. It is hoped that funding can be increased so awareness programs can become more prevalent.

Source: USA Today, “As USA grays, elder abuse risk and need for shelters grow,” Haya El Nasser, Jan. 10, 2012

Do you need legal assistance from a Milwaukee personal injury attorney for a case of nursing home abuse? Contact Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. today for a free initial consultation.

Can Granny Cams Stop Abuse in Milwaukee Nursing Homes?

Former nurse’s aide faces felony charges for abuse caught on camera

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Friday, December 9, 2011.

In a post last summer, we told you about how some people in various states are setting up “granny cams” in order to catch nursing home abuse. In a recent case, a woman was convicted based on evidence that included footage from such a camera.

Police in another state are charging the woman with a felony after she admitted to repeated abuse of an elderly patient at MetroHealth Medical Center.

The woman was a nurse’s aide at a nursing home called Prentiss Center, and the abuse of the patient was caught on a video camera after the patient’s son installed it in the room. Among other abuse, the video allegedly showed the nurse tossing the patient onto a bed in a violent manner.

After her arrest, the woman surrendered her nurse’s aide license to the state. Now she will not be able to work for centers to which Medicaid gives funds.

The findings are surprising to the supervisors of the center, they say, because they had credited the nurse’s aide with being attentive and caring to all patients and their needs. Unfortunately, things are not always as they seem in these cases.

The woman was set to face her charges during a court hearing last week. There is a possibility she could receive 10 years in prison.

A second nurse’s aide has been accused of abusing the same patient and she will face a trial in January.

Source: WKYC, “Investigator: Nurse’s aide faces 10 years for patient abuse,” Tom Meyer, Nov. 28, 2011

If you need legal representation for an elder abuse lawsuit, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. for a free consultation.

Wisconsin Nursing Home Prank Deemed a Crime

Nursing assistants who orchestrated ‘prank’ get jail time

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Friday, August 26, 2011.

When you play a “prank” on someone who mentally is not able to object, it’s not a prank at all. It can be a crime.

That’s what two nursing assistants learned recently after they were caught coating elderly dementia patients with slippery ointment. The incident happened in California, but could easily have taken place in a Wisconsin facility. The outcome shows that such nursing home abuse should never be tolerated.

The two nursing assistants were reportedly found guilty of misdemeanor elder abuse. They were each sentenced to 20 days in county jail, as well as two years of probation earlier this month.

The incident occurred at the Valley View Skilled Nursing Home in November 2009. The woman apparently slathered the elderly patients with ointment from head to toe so they would be slippery for the staff who came in next. According to the Press Democrat, the Attorney General called the incident “cruel and shocking” at the time.

The women, who are 52 and 34 years old, respectively, were not the only employees involved in the incident. Along with them, three other nursing assistants had their licenses revoked. Another employee was found guilty of elder abuse and sentenced to community service and probation. Two others were found guilty for failing to report elder abuse.

While the patients were not technically injured, they were not able to object to what was happening to them. The nursing home employees’ behavior proved to be an inexcusable violation of the patients’ rights.

Source: Press Democrat, “Caregivers get jail time in Ukiah nursing home prank,” Glenda Anderson, Aug. 9, 2011

If you have suffered an injury through no fault of your own, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.

Tips from Milwaukee Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Signs to look out for with nursing home abuse

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Friday, August 19, 2011.

When people make the tough decision to move loved ones into a nursing home, they have every right to hope for the best care possible. Much of the time, the care is fine. But nursing home abuse does happen, unfortunately, and it’s important to watch for the signs.

According to the Nursing Home Abuse Center’s website, sometimes nursing home workers are not trained well. On top of that, they can be underpaid and overworked, which is a bad combination. Sometimes, abuse cases can happen at facilities that appear quite clean and legitimate.

Abuse can be physical, but it can also be verbal. It can lead nursing home residents to feel isolated and ashamed, and they are not always likely to want to talk about it. Here are a few signs to watch out for.

Physical signs may include bruising, cuts, torn clothing or bedding, weight loss or gain, burns, open wounds, abrasions and loss of hair. More subtle red flags may be withdrawal, unresponsiveness, unusual financial transactions, unusual behavior and the disappearance of personal items.

Another possible problem is if a family member arrives during normal visiting hours and the staff does not allow or delays access to the resident.

The best thing to do if any of these signs are noted is to talk to management and express concerns. If that doesn’t help, it may be time to consult with a qualified attorney.

It’s important to remember that the elderly are of a generation that is not quick to complain. People who survived the Great Depression and World War II maybe too proud to discuss an abuse problem. If abuse is going on, it may be up to the family to figure it out.

Source: Nursing Home Abuse Center, “Signs of nursing home abuse,” Aug. 18, 2011

Do you need legal assistance from a Milwaukee personal injury attorney for a case of nursing home abuse? Contact Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. today for a free initial consultation.

Could Milwaukee Granny Cams Stop Abuse?

In some states, hidden cameras reveal nursing home abuse

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Thursday, July 21, 2011.

An increasing number of hidden cameras are capturing nursing home abuse in communities across the country.

The so-called “granny cams” are legal in many states. Family members use them to make sure their elderly loved ones are safe from harm and to be reassured they are cared for properly. The devices can be hidden in many places, including clocks, pens and eyeglasses, and are often easily purchased online or at a local business.

Laws in places prevent the cameras from being turned off or covered, and nursing home residents cannot be asked to leave permanently for the use of a camera. People in states that don’t have the laws are pushing for similar rules to be enacted.

Although there is no law about using hidden cameras in Ohio nursing homes, for example, one man discovered the rough treatment of his mother, who suffers from dementia, by using one. He said he would like to see a law pass giving those the ability to freely use them.

According to WKYC TV, an expert on elderly abuse says that between hidden cameras and employee privacy, it is more important to keep nursing home residents safe and make sure they are treated well. She adds that many times patients with dementia have a higher chance of being physically and psychologically abused.

Others, including state representatives and attorneys in some areas, also believe the right to have a hidden camera is one the public should have in order to prevent further abuse from happening. It is a controversial practice, to be sure, and it remains to be seen whether it will become more commonplace country-wide.

Source: WKYC, “Investigator: ‘Granny cams’ used to capture elder abuse,” Tom Meyer, 5 July 2011

If you have suffered an injury through no fault of your own, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.