Friday, May 2, 2014

Why Is Pneumonia Such a Common Sickness in Nursing Homes?

A family member or caretaker may not realize a loved one was neglected in an Illinois nursing home until after he or she has been transferred out of the nursing home. When your loved one is transferred out of a nursing home to a hospital sit down with the doctor and discuss the status of your loved one’s nursing home care. Frequently nursing home residents are transferred to the hospital for treatment of pneumonia. The unfortunate reality is that pneumonia may be the result of nursing home neglect.

In 2010, pneumonia, combined with influenza, was the 8th leading cause of death in the United Sates, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The Centers for Disease Controls reports 1 out of 20 adults who get pneumonia dies. Addressing the underlying causes of pneumonia in the elderly a serious matter.

Pneumonia is frequently a symptom of inactivity. An injury from a fall or other physical neglect may result in limited or reduced mobility. Virtually every body system is affected by immobility. Immobility can worsen existing medical illnesses and lead to new ones such as circulatory problems including blood clots in the legs, further loss of strength, pressure ulcers, or pneumonia. Immobility as a result of poor nursing care or an injury decreases lung volume and weakens respiratory muscles thus making it easier for pneumonia to develop.

A nursing home must take steps to prevent injury and maximize resident’s physical activity to prevent pneumonia including: 

  • A nursing home should develop and implement a care plan that specifically addresses immobility. Progressive mobility and range-of-motion plans should be included;
  •  A nursing home should take all necessary steps to prevent falls and other mobility limiting injuries;
  • A nursing home should also document range-of-motion exercises and progressive mobility activities in the medical record. They should periodically summarize the results, noting the resident's overall progress and whether the resident is using assistive devices;
  • A nursing home resident should be on bedrest for the least amount of time possible;
  • Nursing home staff should encourage the resident to be as active as possible, whether it's turning over in bed or moving the wheels on his or her own wheelchair.
You may not know if your loved one was immobilized as a result of injury or neglect but you will see the symptoms including pneumonia. If your loved one is diagnosed with pneumonia after being transferred from an Illinois nursing home take action and contact an experienced Chicago nursing home neglect attorney to evaluate your case. 

If you have a question about this post, or any other issue related to Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys at Keating Law Offices. You can contact Mike Keating directly by calling 312-208-7702 or emailing MKeating@KeatingLegal.com, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All phone calls and emails are returned promptly. All initial consultations are free and confidential.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Is A Hip Fracture a Sign of Nursing Home Neglect?

It is a tragic reality that it does not become clear that a loved one was neglected in an Illinois nursing home until after they are seriously injured. All too frequently nursing home residents are transferred to the hospital for treatment of a fractured hip. Hip fractures in a nursing home are almost always the result of some form of neglect.

Falls are common in nursing homes, with devastating consequences for residents and their loved ones. In particular, fall-related injuries including hip fractures are among the most serious health issues facing facilities and their patients. Hip fractures may result in hospitalizations, pneumonia, and sometimes death.

Hip fractures represent 40% of all serious fall-related injuries in nursing homes. On average each nursing home resident falls between 1 and 4 times per year. Patients with dementia experience falls at nearly double the rate of patients without cognitive impairment, averaging more than four falls per year. Furthermore, nearly 35% of fall related injuries occur in residents who are bed or wheelchair-bound.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 16 to 27% of nursing home falls are a result on environmental hazards. Environmental hazards include poor lighting, slippery or wet floors, debris in walkways, and improper exit signs. Faulty bed rails and incorrect bed height accounts for close to 30 percent of nursing home falls nationwide.

A well-run and effective nursing home should be able to prevent the majority of these incidents. It is of the utmost importance for nursing home staff to be attentive at all times and respond to call lights, especially to patients who suffer from cognitive impairments. The nursing home had a duty to protect your loved one from falls.

If your loved suffered a fractured hip in an Illinois nursing home contact an experienced Chicago nursing home neglect attorney to evaluate your case.

If you have a question about this post, or any other issue related to Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys at Keating Law Offices. You can contact Mike Keating directly by calling 312-208-7702 or emailing MKeating@KeatingLegal.com, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All phone calls and emails are returned promptly. All initial consultations are free and confidential.

Keating Law Offices Retained to Represent Family of Deceased Nursing Home Resident

The daughter of a former resident of a nursing home in Chicago's south suburbs has retained the law firm of Keating Law Offices to investigate her mother’s death. Her mother suffered a Stage IV sacral pressure ulcer resulting in a severe infection and death.

The Chicago Nursing Home Attorneys at Keating Law Offices are very familiar with the particular nursing home. “Our firm has successfully resolved several cases against this nursing home involving allegations of failure to prevent bed sores in recent years,” said Attorney Mike Keating.
 

All nursing home have a duty to implement interventions (actions for nursing staff to take) necessary to prevent pressure ulcers from developing and provide safe living conditions for each of its residents. Pressure sores are preventable. Proper nursing care can ensure residents do not sustain pressure ulcers. All too often, nursing staff fails to turn and reposition residents, provide proper mattresses, or provide nutrition necessary to prevent skin breakdown.

The failure to prevent and treat a pressure sore may result in fatal infection. In this case, the resident developed sepsis which ultimately lead to renal failure and death as a direct result of her large open pressure sore.

If your loved suffered a bed sore, injury, or death at a nursing home in Chicago, the suburbs, or elsewhere in Illinois please contact an experienced Chicago nursing home neglect attorney to evaluate your case.

If you have a question about this post, or any other issue related to Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys at Keating Law Offices. You can contact Mike Keating directly by calling 312-208-7702 or emailing MKeating@KeatingLegal.com, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All phone calls and emails are returned promptly. All initial consultations are free and confidential.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Keating Law Offices Attorneys Named to "SuperLawyers" List of "Rising Stars"

Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys Michael S. Keating and Alexander Loftus of Keating Law Offices, P.C. in Chicago, Illinois have been named to SuperLawyers Magazine's annual list of "Rising Stars." Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor. The selection for this respected list is made by the research team at Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. 

The annual selections are made using a rigorous multi--phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. The list will be published in the annual edition of Illinois SuperLawyers Magazine and in the February 2014 edition of Chicago Magazine.

Michael S. Keating was previously included in the “Rising Stars” list in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Alexander Loftus was including in the “Rising Stars” list for the first time last year. The Keating Law Offices attorneys were nominated by fellow attorneys and that nomination was reviewed by an attorney-led research team that reviews the credentials of potential candidates and assigns points based on a set of defined evaluation criteria. The point totals from the general survey and research process are then added to arrive at a final tally.

Keating Law Offices concentrates its practice on nursing home negligence and abuse cases as well as other personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from transportation negligence, medical malpractice, premises liability and product liability. The firm has successfully represented nursing home residents and their families


Keating Law Offices, P.C. may be found on the internet at www.KeatingLegal.com. The firm is located at 79 West Monroe, Suite 1024 in Chicago, Illinois. Phone: 312-239-6787. Email: Info@KeatingLegal.com.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Illinois Law Provides That Illinois Nursing Homes Can Be Responsible for Assaults Committed By Other Residents

All Illinois nursing homes have a duty to protect residents from each other. Many nursing home residents suffer dementia and other forms of mental illness that may result in violent outbursts. All too frequently, nursing home residents with mental illness are housed in close quarters and not properly supervised. The failure to properly supervise mentally ill residents may result in serious physical and emotional injury to the other residents. Under Illinois law, the nursing home is responsible for harm caused by unsupervised residents.
 

In Illinois, nursing home residents are protected under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. All long-term care facilities are required to comply with the Act. According to the Act (210 ILCS 45/1 113), a “long term care facility” is defined as a “private home, institution, building, residence, or any other place, whether operated for profit or not, or a county home for the infirm and chronically ill...which provides, through its ownership or management… nursing for 3 or more persons.”

The Nursing Home Care Act defines the minimum standards for nursing homes in Illinois including a patient’s right to be free from abuse and neglect. The Act defines “Abuse” as “any physical or mental injury or sexual assault inflicted on a resident other than by accidental means in a facility.” 210 ILCS 45/1-103. The Act defines “Neglect” as “a facility’s failure to provide, or willful withholding of, adequate medical care, mental health treatment, psychiatric rehabilitation, personal care, or assistance with activities of daily living that is necessary to avoid physical harm mental anguish or mental illness of a resident.” 210 ILCS 45/1-117.
 

The nursing home is accountable for the actions of its unsupervised residents. Injuries resulting from an attack by another unsupervised resident are a symptom of neglect just like a bed sore or malnutrition. The Nursing Home Care Act holds long term care facilities accountable for neglecting to adequately supervise dangerous residents.

If you have a question about this post, or any other issue related to Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys at Keating Law Offices. You can contact Mike Keating directly by calling 312-208-7702 or emailing MKeating@KeatingLegal.com, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All phone calls and emails are returned promptly. All initial consultations are free and confidential.