.


LTC Articles



Nursing home operators lose 93% of appeals:
report the federal government won 66 of 71
appeals cases brought by nursing home
providers last year according to a recent
report from the Center for Medicare Advocacy.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
won all 18 cases decided on the merits at the
Appellate Division; it won 48 of 53 cases at
the Civil Remedies Division. The report author
used the findings to call for stricter
regulatory oversight of facilities. It is
believed to be the first such examination of
nursing home appeals findings in citations of
poor care, she said. "The study shows not only
that problems in care are serious and that
penalties are modest, but also that facilities
choose to appeal these enforcement actions
throughout he administrative appeals process.
Almost always the facilities lose their cases,"
said report author Toby S. Edelman, a senior
policy attorney for the Center for Medicare
Advocacy. She called for an upgrade of the
regulatory system, including higher fines for
deficiencies. Her analysis, "Nursing Home
Decisions of the Department of Health and Human
Services'

Departmental Appeals Board, 2007,"
can be found at

<http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/
SNF_08_05.15.DABdecReport.htm>

The full report is available at

<http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/
SNF_08_05.13.DABNursingHomeDecisions.pdf>



Ananova, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 1:01 AM PDT
Fake bus stop for Alzheimer's patients

<http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2879882.html>

A German nursing home has created a pretend bus stop
to prevent Alzheimer's patients from wandering off.


The Sacramento Bee, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 0:07 AM PDT
State regulators clamp down on nursing home after
deaths

<http://www.sacbee.com/health/story/987279.html>

State regulators said Tuesday that conditions have
gotten so bad in a Sacramento nursing home, they
have no choice but to try to shut down the
27-year-old facility.


Reuters via Yahoo! News,
Wed, 04 Jun 2008 1:27 PM PDT
Bladder and dementia therapy may be incompatible

<http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080604/
hl_nm/bladder_dementia_dc_1>

In a study of elderly nursing home patients, those
who took medications for dementia called
cholinesterase inhibitors and medications for
incontinence called anticholinergics at the same
time had a 50 percent faster decline in function
than those who were being treated only for dementia.


Sarasota nursing assistant arrested on drug charges
ABC Action News - Tampa,FL,USA

Deputies say Forsyth is a certified nursing assistant
who was arrested after she tried to sell 258 morphine
pills and 24 Vicodin pills to an detective ...

<http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/
local/story.aspx?content_id=
6e1d4a70-e123-4f9d-9e56-560b76420ee5>


Chester nurse pleads guilty to stealing
prescription meds
Rutland Herald - Rutland,VT,USA

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION- A licensed nursing assistant
from Chester has pleaded guilty to stealing
prescription medication from the elderly nursing
home...

<http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/
pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20080602/THISJUSTIN/833217930>


Nurse sentenced for DUI, stealing drugs
BurlingtonFreePress.com - Burlington,VT,USA

According to court records, the former licensed
nursing assistant at Windsor's Cedar Hill Health
Care Center admitted to removing patches
containing a ...

<http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/
pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080602/NEWS/
80602024/1001/NEWS>


Caregiver Gets Prison Time For Med Theft
WCAX - Burlington,VT,USA

Forty-three-year-old Sonja White worked as a
licensed nursing assistant at Cedar Hill
Health Care Center. Prosecutors say she
admitted to removing patches ...

<http://www.wcax.com/Global/
story.asp?S=8415162&nav=menu183_5_2_2>


Kent State Geauga focuses on health care
News-Herald.com - Willoughby,OH,USA

In addition to the bachelor's program, Kent State
Geauga also has started a state-tested nursing
assistant program, said Reina Taylor, ...

<http://www.news-herald.com/site/
news.cfm?newsid=19743937&BRD=
1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6>


Four receive Evers Nursing Scholarship
Oskaloosa Herald - IA

She has worked as a certified nursing assistant at
Pella Regional. She is the daughter of Brian and
Lisa Metcalf. • Amy Van Hal, has been attending
Trinity ...

<http://www.oskaloosaherald.com/
health/local_story_155115805.html>


Nursing home sued in patient's auto death
San Diego Union Tribune - United States

By Matthew Rodriguez The son of a 94-year-old woman
who was hit by a car early Thanksgiving morning
after she wandered away from an Escondido nursing
home ...

<http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/
northcounty/20080604-9999-1m4palomar.html>


Tennessee nursing home inspections faulted
The Tennessean - Nashville,TN,USA

By CLAUDIA PINTO Staff Writer June 4, 2008 State
inspections have uncovered an unprecedented number
of dangerous living conditions at nursing homes ...

<http://www.tennessean.com/apps/
pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080604/
NEWS07/806040409/1006/NEWS01>


Settlement reached over care for brain-injured
patients
Worcester Telegram - Worcester,MA,USA

By MARK JEWELL AP Writer BOSTON The state will help
brain-injured patients move out of nursing homes
and into communities under a proposed settlement
to a ...

<http://www.telegram.com/article/
20080602/APN/806021061>


Laws target nursing home regulation
Business Gazette - Gaithersburg,MD,USA
by Audrey Dutton | Staff Writer

Maryland legislation designed to beef up
nursing home regulation was signed into law late last
month, just as two nursing ...

<http://www.gazette.net/stories/
060408/kensnew193253_32363.shtml>


State agrees to improve care for victims of brain
injuries
Wicked Local Middleborough - Brockton,MA,USA

To Catherine Hutchinson, living in a nursing home
after a stroke left her unable to speak or move was
like being "in prison for a crime I didn't commit. ...

<http://www.wickedlocal.com/middleborough/
news/lifestyle/health/x99499720/
State-agrees-to-improve-care-for-
victims-of-brain-injuries>


Proposed settlement would allow brain-injured people
to leave ...
The Republican - MassLive.com - Springfield,MA,USA

The other plaintiff from Western Massachusetts is
Nathaniel Wilson, 54, of Springfield, who is a patient
at the Wingate at Wilbraham nursing home. ...

<http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/
2008/06/proposed_settlement_would_allo.html>


Landmark Settlement for Individuals with Brain Injuries
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA

... and their home communities." Approximately 8000
people with brain injuries currently reside in nursing
and rehabilitative facilities in Massachusetts. ...

<http://www.businesswire.com/news/
google/20080602006373/en>


Disabled grandma gets settlement
Attleboro Sun Chronicle - Attleboro,MA,USA

... not exceed the amount the state is currently paying
for nursing homes. For Hutchinson, who suffered a
devastating stroke while gardening at her home, ...

<http://www.thesunchronicle.com/
articles/2008/06/03/news/3250834.txt>


Nursing home operators seek more money
The Patriot-News - PennLive.com - Harrisburg,PA,USA

Ed Rendell to support funding for nursing home
residents. BY DAVID WENNER

Should Pennsylvania give more money to nursing homes
or spend more to help people ...

<http://www.pennlive.com/news/
patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/
1212544521214250.xml&coll=1>


Nursing homes rally for funds
York Daily Record - York,PA,USA

By RICHARD FELLINGER Hundreds of nursing-home caregivers
and residents packed the Capitol rotunda Tuesday to
rally for more state money for Medicaid ...

<http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_9470619>


The Champaign News-Gazette,
Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:16 AM PDT
Nursing home seeking $460,000 loan

<http://www.news-gazette.com/news/politics/
2008/06/04/nursing_home_seeking__loan>

URBANA Champaign County's nursing home will come
asking the county board for a $460,000 loan Thursday
night, and it will probably get it, but not without
a fight. The nursing home's litany of bad luck is
familiar by now: cost overruns, a nursing shortage
that requires more expensive agency nursing, an
operating deficit that's often $100,000 a month, and
now a state inspection that not only ...


KGTV San Diego, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:25 AM PDT
Son Files Wrongful-Death Suit Against Nursing Home

<http://www.10news.com/news/
16494468/detail.html?rss=sand&psp=news>

The son of a 94-year-old woman who was hit by a car
early Thanksgiving morning after she wandered away
from an Escondido nursing home has filed a
wrongful-death lawsuit against the facility.


WBIR-TV Knoxville, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 9:47 AM PDT
Knoxville nursing home cited by state after
investigation

<http://www.wbir.com/news/local/
story.aspx?storyid=58936&provider=rss>

According to the Tennessee Department of Health
Serene Manor Medical
Center, a 79-bed nursing home on Wray Street had its
admissions suspended effective May 27, 2008.


News On 6 Tulsa, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 6:48 AM PDT
Former nursing home official sentenced for exploitation

<http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=8429774>

Associated Press - June 4, 2008 9:35 AM ET
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A former Tulsa nursing home
administrator who pleaded no contest to financially
exploiting patients is avoiding prison.


WATE 6 Knoxville, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:42 AM PDT
Admissions suspended at N. Knoxville nursing home

<http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=8430999>

The state has suspended admissions of new residents
at a North Knoxville nursing home due to conditions
found during a complaint investigation last month.


Knoxville News Sentinel, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 8:47 AM PDT
Nursing home hopes for new eval today after admissions
suspended

<http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jun/04/
state-suspends-admissions-
knoxville-nursing-home/
?partner=yahoo_headlines>

New admissions to Serene Manor Medical Center nursing
home have been suspended effective May 27, the state
reported Wednesday.


Gaffney Ledger, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:15 AM PDT
Brookview residents go ridin'in style during
National Nursing Home Week

<http://www.gaffneyledger.com/news/
2008/0604/lifestyles/020.html>

Brookview Healthcare pulled out all the stops during
its recent observance of National Nursing Home Week
with lots of fun activities for the residents, staff
and visitors. Highlights of the week were
Motorcycle Day on Wednesday, May 14, and Western Day
on Friday, May 16.


The Sacramento Bee, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 0:15 AM PDT
State regulators clamp down on nursing home after
deaths

<http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/987279.html>

State regulators said Tuesday that conditions have
gotten so bad in a Sacramento nursing home, they
have no choice but to try to shut down the
27-year-old facility.


Kingsport Times-News, Wed, 04 Jun 2008 7:02 AM PDT
Johnson City nursing home owner convicted of
Medicaid fraud to get enhanced sentence

<http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9006645>

A former nursing home owner convicted of defrauding
Medicaid will receive enhanced sentencing because
a federal judge believes she lied under oath during
her trial last year.


Concord Monitor, Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:24 PM PDT
IDs sought in SUV theft from nursing home

<http://www.concordmonitor.com/
apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20080604/NEWS01/806040349>

The Boscawen police are asking for help identifying
the people who stole a Toyota 4Runner from the
Merrimack County Nursing Home on Monday.




"Barbara Acello, RN"
<bacello@...>