Brookdale Senior Living Solutions
September 26th, 2016 by Attorney Roger Weinberg
Brookdale operates more than 1,100 assisted living facilities in 47 states, according to its website. One of those states is Maryland, where it operates seven facilities. Assisted living facilities are meant to provide a level of care that is less involved than that of a nursing home or skilled nursing facility. One of the dangers of using such a facility is that the operator may be more focused on filling beds and generating income than ensuring residents are not too disabled to safely live there. (more…)
Damages: What Can Be Awarded at a Trial
September 21st, 2016 by Attorney Roger Weinberg
Lawsuits involving Maryland nursing homes, group homes and assisted living facilities can be very emotionally charged. No matter the pain, suffering and anguish a defendant may have caused, in the end a successful lawsuit provides only monetary compensation (though you may get satisfaction when the responsible party is held accountable). That amount of money, known as damages, is meant to compensate the victim and his or her family for the harm done. (more…)
National Assisted Living Week
September 19th, 2016 by Attorney Roger Weinberg
The National Center for Assisted Living, an industry group representing those owning assisted living facilities, has a National Assisted Living Week every year. This year it’s September 11-17, with the theme “Keep Connected,” in hopes that those living and working in these facilities can be made more aware of each other and encouraging residents’ use of technology to keep in touch with others.
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Do Those With Dementia Live Longer at Home or in a Nursing Home?
August 26th, 2016 by Attorney Roger Weinberg
People who have dementia face a progressive disease that impacts their cognitive abilities, can change their personalities, cause hallucinations and impact their physical well being. Eventually those with dementia may need round-the-clock care, which family care givers may find difficult, if not impossible. Often those with dementia are placed in Maryland nursing homes or facilities that specialize in caring for dementia patients. Where will a person with dementia live longer — at home or in a nursing home?
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Food Poisoning Threatens Nursing Home Residents
August 15th, 2016 by Attorney Roger Weinberg
For most of us, a bout of food poisoning is a temporary, but awful, experience causing pain, vomiting and diarrhea. For those living in Maryland nursing homes, food poisoning can be a serious threat because of advanced age, poor health, impaired immune systems and pre-existing medical conditions.
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Nursing Home Residents Whose Medicare Payments End Find Themselves Headed for the Door
August 9th, 2016 by Attorney Roger Weinberg
Short-term rehabilitation is where the Medicare money is, so increasingly Maryland nursing homes are prioritizing those patients over traditional long-term care residents. That’s because Medicare payments for short-term care are 84% higher than Medicaid payments for long-term care. Many long-term care patients rely on Medicaid, the government health care program for the indigent, to pay their nursing home bills.
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Bereaved Parents Awareness Month
July 15th, 2016 by Attorney Roger Weinberg
July is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month, in support of those who have lost a child. Most parents never imagine life without their children, assuming they themselves will be the first to pass away. It doesn’t always work that way — some Maryland parents lose children in the years between infancy and adulthood, due to a disease or disorder, suicide, crime or accident caused by another. (more…)
Depending on the facts of the case, there could be a number of legal claims filed against a nursing home or an assisted living facility following the death or serious injury of a resident in Maryland. Though extreme cases of neglect or abuse are occasionally covered by the media, most often legal claims involve simple negligence. (more…)
Should Complaints About Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities Be Anonymous?
July 15th, 2016 by Attorney Roger Weinberg
If you want to file a complaint with Maryland’s Department of Health & Mental Hygiene you can do so anonymously or you can include your name and choose whether or not the facility can learn of your identity. Whether anonymous complaints serve the public is being debated in the Illinois legislature, according to U.S. News & World Report. (more…)
Nursing Homes Can Be Held Liable for Their Employees’ Actions
June 24th, 2016 by Attorney Roger Weinberg
Nursing home residents and their families trust those owning and managing nursing homes to hire, supervise and retain trustworthy, competent people who will not neglect or abuse residents. Maryland nursing homes are not always up to the task. Some of them act negligently when they fail to supervise employees and prevent harm to residents. (more…)