Nursing Home Law News

They might seem common and a mere trifle but if they take hold bed sores can become a serious and even deadly problem. Maryland nursing home residents contract bed sores at an alarming rate (they are also referred to as decubitus ulcers or pressure sores).

Generally, residents develop them through sustained periods of sitting or laying down because the pressure impacts and breaks the skin. Then, if left untreated, they can affect muscles, bones as well as other body parts close by and even your entire life if the area becomes infected.

To help you understand the topic of bed sores in greater detail, we have assembled some Maryland nursing home lawsuit summaries below:

It really doesn’t come as a surprise to most people to learn that seniors are representing a growing segment of the overall population. Current figures suggest that the number of elderly people living in the country may climb by about 50% in the next 15 years, however, and that by 2030; seniors will make up almost 20% of the total population across the United States. In response to this data, many private investors have seen a lucrative opportunity in the chance to jump into the nursing care industry as for profit corporations become nearly ubiquitous. Our nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys view this news with trepidation, on the other hand.

Retirement of Baby Boomers Due to Shake the Nursing Care Sector to its Core

Right now, the senior population comprises 13% of the populace, and this is already a large segment when considering the distribution of the population among all other age groups. Millions of Baby Boomers have either retired very recently or are on the cusp of doing so, which means they are entering a period of their lives where they will experience a steady decline in their health. Even despite persistent efforts by many seniors to continue to live their lives independently, it is often an inevitability that they will eventually require care and supervision through their family members or the services of an assisted living center.

For over 40 years, Extendicare has built its network of nursing homes and assisted living care into one of the largest of its kind in North America. With a total of over 244 facilities in Canada and in the U.S., they have over 26,000 residents in their care. While primarily specializing in nursing care and assisted living, they also have other types of care facilities as well.

Locations

In the U.S., Extendicare is its own indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Canadian born company. Under the name Extendicare Health Services, Inc. (EHSI), they operate 160 senior care facilities in the U.S. with over 15,000 available beds. They have facilities in 12 states including Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The majority of nursing homes are in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

When nursing abuse victims fear for their safety due to threats and repeated abuse; their anonymity can be the difference between reporting their plight to authorities and choosing to suffer in silence. Illinois has indicated in the past that it takes abuse very seriously and is one of the states in the country that still allows unlimited damage limits for those who sue because of mistreatment. For profit nursing corporations are seeking to insulate themselves by backing an Illinois bill that would remove the ability of those who complain to remain anonymous and our Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys agree with many opposed to the measure that the bill would only scare abuse victims into silence.

Ways the Bill Would Benefit Large Nursing Care Companies

Republican lawmakers are overwhelmingly in support of the nursing industry backed bill, which would require anyone who complains about nursing concerns to provide contact information. They would also be presented with a warning that they could be fined for submitting false complaints or deceptive claims. Considering all of the disadvantages for complainants, it is important also to understand the advantages that nursing homes would have if this measure ever became law.