Moving to a new living situation is a big adjustment. This can be made easier by providing as many remembrances and favorite belongings as their new room will comfortably and tastefully contain. A cherished piece of furniture like a rocker…
Michigan Supreme Court’s Recent HIPAA Decision
On July 13, 2010, the Michigan Supreme Court rendered the long- awaited decision in a case called Holman v Rasak. The issue before the Court was whether the lawyers that represented the doctors and hospitals were required to obtain…
Despite a Shift Away From National Nursing Home Chains, Quality of Care Not Improved
The Health and Human Services is weighing in on the controversy over the impact on quality of care as a result of private equity firm investment in the nursing home sector. HHS obtained data from Texas to “describe the corporate…
Study Shows Doctors Are Unlikely to Report Incompetent Colleagues
The Study, which appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that many doctors will not report their colleagues who are clearly unfit to practice medicine. In the study, 17% of the doctors surveyed had DIRECT knowledge of…
Cameras in Nursing Homes
We are frequently asked by the families of nursing home residents if it is acceptable to place a surveillance camera in the resident’s room to help monitor the care. The answer is normally no to that question. Nursing homes are…
Stabenow Introduces Senate Resolution to Recognize a “Seniors Bill of Rights”
On June 15, 2010, United States Senator Debbie Stabenow from Michigan introduced a Senate resolution urging Congress to adopt a “Seniors’ Bill of Rights.” The resolution mirrors a House resolution introduced earlier this year. It calls on Congress to ensure our…
Choosing a Nursing Home Checklist
One of the toughest decisions that a family faces arises when we need to care for those relatives whom are older and unable to care for themselves. As our relatives get older, they may not need as much room as…
Falling Out A 3rd Floor Window
We recently filed suit against an assisted living facility in Battle Creek claiming negligence in the case of a 72-year-old individual with severe dementia, who while living in a “locked down unit” eloped through a third floor window. The doors…
Dog Bites and Seniors
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 4.7 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs every year. As a group, seniors suffer the second largest number of dog bites (2nd only to children). It is important…
DIABETES (part IV)
Normal blood sugars range from 70mg/dl -100mg/dl before eating and no higher than 140mg/dl after eating. When a person has untreated diabetes, the blood sugar level can get much higher and does not come down after eating a meal. …