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shutterstock_1717046857-300x203Nursing home residents are confronted with numerous safety issues while living in the facility. Although some accidents seem almost inevitable because nursing homes house mostly older people, there are ways to be proactive. Nursing home staff should have safety measures in place to deal with obvious problems, so that they can mitigate injuries and lessen the impact. If you have a loved one who is a nursing home resident, you will want to recognize their vulnerability and how you can help them. Read on to learn about top three safety issues facing nursing home residents.

  1. Falls: This is one of the biggest concerns for nursing home residents. This shouldn’t come as a surprise because many individuals realize that falls are one of the main causes of fatalities for seniors. Ironically, getting help with moving around (to shower and bath, for instance) is one of the reasons that people move into nursing homes; they want to reduce the risk of falling. However, falls can still occur in nursing homes, due to negligent staff or poor design of the facility. Here are some things that you can check to see if the nursing home staff is doing their best to help prevent trips and falls:
  • Does the staff help the residents stay physically active, so they are less likely to fall?
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shutterstock_264466154-1-300x200Many seniors in the U.S. experience some form of abuse while they are residing in a nursing home. And many cases are unreported. Although neglect is considered a form of abuse, it is also considered a separate type of injury entirely. The distinction is minimal when it comes to ensuring safety for nursing home residents: Either way, you will want to get help for your loved one. However, it is important to recognize the differences and to get clarification on what is truly happening to them in their nursing home. Read on to learn the difference between abuse and neglect.

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

The federal government considers abuse “the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinements, intimidation, or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish.” Nursing home abuse includes several types, including the following:

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shutterstock_1712819545-300x200In the early stages of the pandemic, it was up to the employees themselves to keep track of Covid-19 cases. Now, it is the  employers’ turn to let their employees know about the coronavirus, thanks to a California law. The Governor passed AB 685 on September 17, 2020.  It went into effect on January 1, 2021 and expires on January 1, 2023. This law requires employers to give specific notices about Covid-19 in the workplace.

 Notice Requirements for COVID-19 the workplace

California employers must provide their employees with written notice within 1 business day of getting notification of potential exposure of Covid-19. All employees (and employers of any subcontracted employees) who were at the common worksite as the worker who was diagnosed with Covid-19 during the infectious period must be notified.

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shutterstock_657828892-300x225Many nursing home residents depend on the assistance of staff to help administer their medication. This is a very important aspect of their lives because medication can be needed to help manage existing health conditions and to ensure that the residents can maintain healthy lives. However, there are times when nursing homes improperly use medication as a chemical restraint.

What is a Chemical Restraint?

Thankfully, most nursing homes would never consider using a physical restraint. However, many institutions do indeed use chemical restraints in the form of psychotropic drugs. These drugs can impact the resident’s thoughts, physical responses, and general behavior.

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shutterstock_251528320-300x200One of the main reasons for placing your loved one into a nursing home may be that they need care and supervision they simply can’t get at home. However, this very important factor may be undermined by understaffing in nursing homes. Unfortunately, understaffing in nursing homes is a common problem throughout the country. Read on to learn about the understaffing problems in nursing homes and how the resident to staff ratio can impact the quality of care in these facilities.

Immobile Residents

Since many nursing home residents have mobility issues and have difficulty moving independently, they rely heavily on staff for help. For instance, understaffing can lead to occasions when the staff members are unable to turn the residents in bed enough times or to move them around to avoid muscle atrophy. Because they occur when an individual remains in the same position for too long a period, bedsores can also occur. Immobility can also lead to skin infections, and falls, which can result in even more serious injuries.

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https://www.californiaelderabuselawyer-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2021/03/03.05.21-300x200.jpgNo matter how you feel about social media it is here to stay. Many people turn to social media to communicate with others and to express their thoughts on every facet of their existence, including their professional lives.

For those who wonder whether you can get fired for your social media posts, this issue doesn’t just concern celebrities or those in the news; it has happened to many different people in various industries. The following are some examples of content that has resulted in the poster being fired:

  • Bankers used social media to pretend to be members of a terrorist group.
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shutterstock_1796069254-300x300Being involved in a vehicle accident can leave you shaken up and disoriented. However, you will want to remain calm and try to incorporate certain activities to your “to-do” list after you’ve been involved in a collision. Read on to learn what steps to take after a car accident.

Requirements in Case of Injury or Death 

If you are involved in an accident where anyone was injured or killed, you should do the following:

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shutterstock_7658928042-300x300Thousands of people are seriously injured each year by falling on various unsafe surfaces. It could happen anywhere. You could slip on the wet floor in a grocery store, or trip on a raised sidewalk in front of the bank, or on a rough patch of ground near your local pharmacy. However, just because you slip, and fall doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a case to pursue.

Liability for Falls

If you’ve experienced a fall, you have to determine whether someone is liable for any damage that you’ve suffered. People who own, lease, or control property owe a duty to reasonably protect people from harm when they enter that property. In some cases, the property owners will be responsible, and other times they will not.

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shutterstock_17128195454-300x200Most employment is considered “at will.” This means that employees can be fired at any time without any warning and with no cause. However, there are times when your employer dismisses you that are illegal and are considered wrongful termination. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted some of these unlawful ways to get rid of employees. Here are categories for such examples:

Discrimination

An example of discrimination that occurs during the Coronavirus pandemic often involves persons with disabilities. You could be legally protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if you have a condition that makes it unsafe for you to go to work at your normal worksite because it makes you more vulnerable to getting Covid-19. If you requested an accommodation that would allow you to work remotely or in a way to minimize your risk rather than the worksite, but you were fired instead, that could be illegal. If your accommodation was reasonable (wouldn’t cause undue hardship or interfere with your ability to do your job), then you might have a claim for wrongful termination.

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shutterstock_6578288924-300x225According to the FDA, medication errors account for over 1 million injuries annually. A nursing home medication error is defined as a preventable drug-related mistake that impacts a nursing home resident. If you or your loved one is in such a facility, then it’s important to learn more information about this topic.

 Common Types of Medication Errors

The majority of nursing home residents use some kind of prescription medication, and there are a lot of ways things can go wrong when it comes to dispensing it. Here are some examples:

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Contact Information
San Diego
12555 High Bluff Dr
#333
San Diego, CA 92130
Phone: (858) 384-3320
Riverside County Office
26636 Margarita Rd #100
Murrieta, CA 92563
Phone: (951) 240-5522

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