Eating Difficulties and Weight Loss
Published on December 7, 2016
If a resident has difficulty eating, the facility must establish an individualized care plan to maintain the resident’s ability to eat food orally. There are specific therapeutic programs which can be used to help improve a resident’s ability to swallow | Read More » |
Food and Nutrition
Published on November 3, 2016
Generally nursing homes must provide each resident a nourishing, palatable, well–balanced diet that meets daily nutritional and special dietary needs. Specific legal requirements include requiring the nursing home: Serve at least three meals daily, | Read More » |
Representing Elder Physical Abuse Victims
Published on October 14, 2016
Litigation involving the physical abuse of an elder is a complicated but rewarding area of practice. Families will be contacting you after something terrible has happened to their loved one. Whether they express it or not, these families are filled with | Read More » |
Feeding Tubes
Published on October 13, 2016
The law disfavors the use of feeding tubes. They are to be used only as a last resort because they lead to a loss of functioning and can cause serious medical and psychological problems. If a resident is able to swallow and can get adequate nutrition | Read More » |
Dehydration and Inadequate Fluids
Published on September 5, 2016
Far too many nursing home residents become dehydrated because they are not given sufficient fluids. Symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, confusion, constipation, fever, decreased urine output, and skin problems. Severe dehydration can lead to serious | Read More » |
Resident’s Rights
Published on May 29, 2016
Many elders and their families are unaware of residents’ rights in nursing homes. Under both California and Federal law, residents are given a “bill of rights” which the nursing facility must uphold. In fact, nursing homes are required by law to | Read More » |
Preventing Falls and Accidents
Published on April 5, 2016
Falls and other accidents are a serious concern for nursing home residents. Almost 50 percent of nursing home residents fall annually. Over 10 percent of these falls result in serious injury, especially hip fractures. The law requires nursing homes to | Read More » |
Personal Care
Published on March 29, 2016
The law mandates that nursing homes provide residents with all necessary assistance for bathing, dressing, eating and other personal needs. Unless it is medically unavoidable, the nursing home must ensure that residents’ abilities to carry out activities | Read More » |
Medications
Published on February 22, 2016
Nearly all nursing home residents receive medicine to treat illness and maintain their health. Detailed federal and state rules instruct nursing homes and physicians on how to properly order, record, store, administer and monitor medications. Some other | Read More » |
Infection Control
Published on January 14, 2016
The law requires that nursing homes must have an organized infection control program that prevents diseases and infections from developing and spreading. This means that nursing homes must: Investigate, control and prevent infections in the facility; Screen | Read More » |