State officials have slapped a $7,500 fine on the Motion Picture and Television Fund for nursing home neglect in failing to prevent a serious head injury sustained by an 87-year-old resident of the charity's facility. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, California Department of Public Health officials say that the nursing home failed to "follow a comprehensive plan of care" for a patient who was injured while she was being transferred between her bed and wheelchair. A certified nursing assistant was apparently moving the resident, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and identified as someone who was dependent on staff for transfers. The patient was also at risk for falls, according to the report.

Nursing Home with Financial Problems

The incident occurred in May 2009. The nursing home decided in January 2009 to shut down, but was forced to stay open after most residents refused to leave and launched a campaign to keep the facility open. However, nursing home administrators have laid off a number of hospital and nursing home staff members. Currently, there are about 54 long-term residents at the nursing home.

Nursing home administrators are saying that this particular incident occurred because an employee did not follow proper procedure. They have apparently "counseled" the employee with the hope that the mistake will not be repeated. They still insist that residents are receiving the highest quality of care.

Nursing Home Neglect on the Rise

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in 2003 states that deficiencies in the nation’s nursing homes were increasing at an alarming rate even then. One in five nursing homes nationwide – about 3,500 facilities – have serious deficiencies that cause residents serious personal injuries or place them in immediate jeopardy, the report said. The report also found significant understatements of the care problems that should have been treated a lot more seriously – pressure sores, severe weight loss and multiple falls resulting in broken bones and other injuries.

An Experienced Injury Lawyer Can Help

A lot of these problems can be attributed to understaffing and lack of training for nursing home staff. In this particular case, it appears that the nursing home was letting go of staff members because of financial troubles. How could they maintain the same level of care with reduced staffing? A number of nursing homes deliberately keep their facilities understaffed to maintain higher profits.

In this financial tug of war, it is usually the nursing home residents and their families who get shortchanged and tragically affected. If your loved one has been injured in a nursing home, please contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer to find out how you can pursue your legal rights.

Do you have a loved one in a nursing home? What concerns do you have about their care?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

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