The Guardian Blog : Arizona Nursing Home Lawyer & Attorney : Solomon & Relihan Law Firm : AZ Assisted Living Neglect & Abuse : The Guardian Blog

An Albuquerque group home for children with hearing impairment may be shut down due to excessive calls to the police. The Albuquerque news reports that the police have been to the home "dozens of times," responding to violence and threats. Some of the teens reportedly threatened to kill staff members, broke windows and slapped their caregivers.

The operators admit the situation is not appropriate. They claim to have taken steps towards a better environment, including giving staff "additional training." This begs the question, "why wasn't the staff trained properly to begin with?" Additionally, one wonders how healthy this environment can be for the teens when the staff can't control the situation and police must be called. A group home is supposed to be a supportive environment that helps its members adapt and function in society. This level of chaos and stress would surely hinder that kind of development

This article indicates the importance of a properly trained staff and safe group home environment. If a member of your family is in a group home, be sure to make sure they caregivers manage issues constructively. And, always be aware of the signs of abuse or neglect that may be occurring.
 

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When loved ones enter the hospital or assisted living centers, we expect them to receive quality care from experienced professionals. But what if your family member was actually being ignored by a recently hired nurse whose license was suspended in another state? A recent report by the LA Times detailed that exact situation, and reveals similar situations occur more than we realize.

The problem the article explores is the lack of oversight in the temporary nurse staffing industry. Staffing companies provide temp nurses to hospitals and nursing homes when demand increases or if the nursing home prefers to use temp staffing. While these companies are needed to help keep nursing homes and hospitals staffed, problems arise when neither the temp company nor the nursing home perform background checks on the temp nurse.

The Arizona Republic reported that these temp nurses have been known to steal medication, fall asleep on the job, and even fail to perform critical tests on patients. Nurses can be disciplined at other hospitals and even lose their licenses, but moving to another state lets them get hired again, putting patients at risk.

This study illustrates that seniors in nursing homes rely on quality care from the institution as well as their individual caregivers. A normally decent home could unwittingly hire a neglectful nurse who doesn't give your loved one the proper care or attention needed and deserved. When visiting family in a nursing home, it is critical to know the signs of neglect and prevent such problems from escalating to serious health concerns.
 

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During the holiday season it is only natural for thoughts to drift to family and friends. Unfortunately, seniors living in nursing homes sometimes feel isolated from family who have limited time to visit or live out of state. These feelings are only intensified by the lack of activities in a nursing home setting. Thankfully, a group of college students in Yuma put together a project to reach out to seniors in nursing homes this holiday season.

The Yuma Sun reports that these NAU-Yuma students went above and beyond their assignment and actually implemented their class project. Wanting to help their community, they collaborated with local businesses to bring entertaining performances and informative workshops to local nursing homes. The workshops teach hobbies and skills seniors can use to stay connected and engaged with the community.

This student project will go a long way to help Yuma seniors stay connected and engaged. Their efforts are especially helpful in nursing homes, where seniors can feel isolated and idle. Lack of adequate staffing or materials leaves residents with little to do with their time. If you visit family in a nursing home this holiday, you may want to ask what kind activities are offered, as well as making sure their basic health and comfort needs are being met.
 

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The Washington Post reported Saturday that hundreds of cases of group home abuse in Washington D.C. are going uninvestigated due to a lengthy backlog of reports. This backlog was created when the Department on Disability Services reformed its oversight methods and began investigating privately run group homes, thus discovering many cases of neglect and abuse that had gone on with impunity.

The department reported a 60 percent increase in serious incidents, up to 1057 in 2009, and will be hiring additional investigators to resolve the claims. But, this inability to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens in our nation’s capital speaks to the difficulties faced by those living in group homes.

As Arizona’s budget crisis deepens, deep cuts will be made to the Arizona Department of Economic Security and Department of Health Services, negatively affecting the care and wellbeing of group home residents. With government agencies falling behind, it is now more important than ever for family members to know the signs of neglect in group homes and nursing homes. Families serve as the first and best line of defense to protect the health and happiness of their loved ones.
 

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