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

A report by the state auditor has found that the California Department of Public Health has done a poor job of administering and collecting fines from nursing homes that violate regulations.  The lax collection of fines has allowed nursing homes to go without punishment for violating regulations and has deprived the department of nearly $ 9 million in revenue that could have been used to fight nursing home abuse and neglect.

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A 93-year-old Alzheimer's patient at an assisted living facility in Delray Beach, Florida has died after accidentally swallowing diswasher detergent.  The state agency is investigating and the facility may face a $10,000 fine for not properly securing its kitchen, which allowed this tragic event to occur.

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Officials in South Texas have formed a task force to fight elder abuse.  Reported crimes against the elderly were up 15% in Texas last year, and the task force will attempt to fight this problem by focusing on training for nursing home staff and financial exploitation of the elderly.

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A report in the Cleveland Jewish News documents the growing problem of financial exploitation of the elderly.  Americans aged 70-90 are the wealthiest age group in the country and new technologies such online banking have made financial exploitation easier than ever.

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An investigation by the Bristol Herald Courier in Bristol, Virginia has revealed that police failed to question a serial rapist in a nursing home sexual assault case three years despite strong evidence that he was a suspect.  The newspaper's ongoing investigation has revealed that failures by both the nursing home staff and law enforcement allowed the rapist to remain free and sexually assault at least a dozen residents at two different long-term care facilities over a period of 10 years.

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Police in Howard County, Maryland are looking for a mentally disabled man who disappeared from his group home on Saturday, June 19.  42-year-old Everett Lee Clark left his group home on Saturday and has not been seen since.  He does not have a cell phone or identification and may not be able to prove his address.  Anyone with information on Mr. Clark's whereabouts should call 911.

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A former employee at a Los Angeles-area senior living facility has been sentenced to life in prison for abusing several elderly residents.  21-year-old Cesar Ulloa was convicted of toture and seven counts of elder abuse.  The victims all suffered from dementia and were unable to speak or report the abuse.

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The New York Times reports on the frightening increase in a syndrome known as "hospital delirium."  According to the American Geriatric Society, this condition, which can cause frightening and disorienting hallucinations, affects one third of hospital patients over 70.  Though the causes are not fully understood, the Times says that many cases may be caused by doctors and nurses who do not know how to properly treat the elderly.  Additionally, the syndrome is often misdiagnosed, leading to more complications later.

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Two New Jersey group home operators were arrested due to a fatal fire that killed one of their residents last August.   After an extensive investigation, police and fire officials determined that the group home did not have proper safety measures in place to prevent the fire.

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An Orlando assisted living facility is being investigated for excessive use of restraints on a disabled man.  The man, Bryan Barboka, 26, suffers from cerebral palsy and is paralyzed except for the use of his left arm.  After being restrained, he suffered a fractured shoulder and severe bruising. 

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Following the death of a nursing home resident who had been given a lethal dose of morphine, a North Carolina attorney is investigating the use of drugs in nursing homes.  Attorney Carma Henson is representing three of the nine residents at Britthaven nursing home who tested positive for morphine following the death of Rachel Holliday on Feb. 16. 

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Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has announced a Senior Anti-Crime University in Sedona on June 24.   This free half-day seminar will feature classes on consumer scams, investment fraud, personal safety, elder abuse, financial exploitation and other issues affecting seniors. 

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A North Carolina nursing home worker has been arrested for murder after allegedly giving an Alzheimer's patient a lethal dose of morphine.  Angela Almore also faces felony abuse charges for overmedicating at least six other residents with morphine.  It is believed that Almore overmedicated the residents in order to keep them docile and manageable. 

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June 15 is the fifth annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.  The event is organized by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) to raise awareness of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.  The day will feature events around the country and the world designed to educate about elder abuse.

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NBC affiliate WOWT in Nebraska is reporting that Nebraska police officers are currently investigating a potential elder abuse incident. The report states a 74-year-old man was discovered in his apartment lying on a couch. Police said they discovered the environment was unsanitary, including discovering trash, rotting food, and cat and human feces in the apartment.

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Among the millions of missing person’s each year, many are elderly who had resided at a nursing home and wandered off.  Accoding to an article by Enterprisenews.com, Thomas Gould, 54, was reported missing two weeks ago from Old Colony Rest Home where he had resided for several years. 

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An employee at a nursing home repeatedly molested at least seven residents between 2000 and 2007.  Now, an investigation by a local newspaper has shown that the abuse was allowed to continue even though there were warning signs.  The investigation also documents the torment the abused residents must still live with, even though the molester is now in prison.

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Local police and officials at nationally renowned school for disadvantaged children  in Pennsylvania failed to follow up on an allegation of molestation in 1998.  This failure allowed the pedophile to continue visiting the school and molest at least 17 more children before finally being arrested in 2008. 

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