Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Traumatic Brain Injury in Hollywood and South Florida Nursing Homes

Published on: November 17, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Traumatic brain injuries can occur in Hollywood nursing homes for a number of reasons. They are most common due to falls, such as slip and fall or trip and fall incidents in hallways, when getting in and out of bed, or in the washroom. Staff are expected to take reasonable precautions to prevent traumatic brain injury. These precautions may include installing better lighting, offering adequate supervision and assistance to residents, installing grab bars along hallways, on stairs, and in bathrooms and taking additional precautions as well.

Traumatic brain injury can be especially dangerous for elderly person who may already be fragile or may have pre-existing medical conditions. For these patients, concussions and other closed brain injuries can be fatal or can lead to long-term cognition problems, physical problems, mobility challenges and more.

Continue reading →

Sepsis in Nursing Homes in Hollywood and South Florida

Published on: November 15, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Sepsis is caused by a complication to an injury. In this condition, the body fights an infection by releasing chemicals into the blood, only to have those chemicals cause an inflammatory reaction and then potential damage to organs or even organ failure. Often, sepsis begins with a rapid heart rate and high fever and can lead to septic shock or extremely low blood pressure which does not respond to treatment.

Sepsis can be very serious or even fatal. It is especially dangerous for those who are already ill or who are elderly. Unfortunately, this type of complication can occur after medical treatment, especially surgeries, and in the cases of some infections. It is a serious cause of injuries in nursing homes in Hollywood and South Florida.

Continue reading →

Femur Breaks Among Residents of Hollywood Nursing Homes

Published on: November 10, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

The femur is the longest bone in the body, located in the thigh. Femur fractures are extremely serious. They can affect the entire lower part of the body. For seniors for living in Hollywood nursing homes, femur breaks are a concern, particularly in situations where a senior has osteoporosis or another condition which can make bones more fragile. In these instances, femur breaks can occur due to even simple falls.

Femur fractures are dangerous for a few reasons. They can cause severe complications in an elderly patient. In addition, long-term fatality rates for patients who have had a femur breaks are higher. Someone who has had this type of fracture faces an increased risk of fatalities within a few years.

Continue reading →

Seizures in Hollywood Nursing Homes

Published on: November 8, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Seizures occur when electrical impulses in the brain function incorrectly or when the wrong impulses fire in the brain. Seizures are terrifying to witness. A patient who experiences seizures loses control of their body and may shake uncontrollably, fall to the floor, and more.

For residents of Hollywood and South Florida nursing homes, seizures can be especially dangerous. A nursing home resident can suffer a severe head injury while falling during a seizure or may hit against objects in a room during the seizure, which can lead to lacerations, fractures, head injuries and more. If seniors already have pre-existing conditions, a seizure can be life-threatening and can lead to serious complications.

Continue reading →

Hip Fractures Are Especially Dangerous for Seniors

Published on: November 3, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Seniors are especially vulnerable to hip fractures, which can be a life-threatening injury. Hip injuries, including fractures, are most commonly caused by falls and by slip and fall accidents. Nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are expected to take extra precautions to reduce the risk of falls to ensure that these types of injuries do not happen.

If you have a family member who has suffered a hip fracture in a nursing home or other care environment, it is imperative that you ask questions. You want to ensure that your loved one gets proper medical attention which can save their life. You also want to ensure that it wasn’t negligence which caused the fracture. If recklessness played a role in the injury, you may wish to seek compensation to help your loved one get proper medical treatment.

Continue reading →

Concussions are a Serious Risk for Hollywood and South Florida Nursing Home Residents

Published on: November 1, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Concussions occur when the brain moves forward and backward rapidly inside the skull, which can cause damage to cells and chemical changes. While serious traumatic brain injuries may have significant symptoms, concussions do not always have noticeable symptoms and may be more subtle. This type of condition also doesn’t present external symptoms such as wounds or bleeding.

Nevertheless, concussions can be extremely dangerous for seniors in nursing homes. Concussions can increase the risk of later head injuries and can mean a secondary head injury can prove fatal or extremely serious. Concussions can also increase the risk of dementia and can lead to severe symptoms over time.

Continue reading →

Collar Bone Fractures in Nursing Homes in Hollywood and South Florida

Published on: October 25, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Collar bone fractures, also known as clavicle breaks, are quite rare in adults, and any collar bone break in a nursing home resident should be scrutinized carefully. It can be a red flag sign of abuse or physical assault. It can also indicate negligence or other wrongdoing which requires your immediate attention.

Collar bone breaks also need immediate attention in any nursing home in Hollywood or southern Florida. These types of injuries take a long time to heal in residents who are 65 years of age or older. These types of fractures also have a high mortality rate and a high rate of complications. Seniors, especially those who are already ill due to other conditions, simply have a hard time recovering from this type of injury.

Continue reading →

Why a Broken Hand Injury in any Hollywood or South Florida Nursing Home Can be Serious News

Published on: October 19, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

A broken hand, for a resident of a nursing home in Hollywood or South Florida, represents a serious problem. Broken hands can affect a senior’s ability to dress themselves and to enjoy independence. A broken hand can also dramatically affect quality of life. For seniors, it can take longer to recover from a fracture in the hand and this type of injury can cause significant pain.

For patients who have osteoporosis, a broken hand can occur due to a number of reasons. Even simple activities can lead to fractures. Nevertheless, it is important to evaluate whether the fracture was caused by the osteoporosis or by a preventable incident. Even if a senior has osteoporosis, they should be carefully supervised; it’s important to minimize the risk of fractures.

Continue reading →

Nuedexta and Overmedication in Nursing Homes

Published on: October 16, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

A recent investigation by CNN has unveiled a number of questions surrounding the use of Nuedexta in nursing homes. Nuedexta is a drug approved by the FDA to treat PBA (pseudobulbar affect), a condition which causes sufferers to experience uncontrolled laughing or crying. Nuedexta use has increased 400% in the past four years in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, even though only about 1% of the overall population is affected by PBA, according to researchers.

At one facility CNN investigated, about a quarter of residents were given Nuedexta. In that and other nursing homes, CNN investigators found that staff had been speaking to doctors and psychiatrists who were funded by Nuedexta’s manufacturer. In some cases, the psychiatrists and doctors issuing the medication were linked with Nuedexta’s manufacturer. Investigators suggested that the drug could be used to help control patients who were a challenge due to dementia and other disorders, but pointed out that there is no research suggesting how Nuedexta might impact the elderly or how it might work with patients who have dementia but not PBA. The drug has not been approved for those uses.

Continue reading →

Lack of Proper Climate Control in Hollywood Nursing Homes

Published on: September 22, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

There are many forms of nursing home neglect and abuse which can be seen in nursing homes in Hollywood and other parts of Florida. Unfortunately, over the past month we have seen the unfolding tragic events at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, where eleven residents have passed away after being left without air conditioning following Hurricane Irma.

That matter is now under criminal investigation and it has left many families in Florida wondering whether their loved ones are safe in nursing homes. In Florida heat, air conditioning and cooling systems are a necessity, especially in nursing homes. Elderly residents may not have the mobility or ability to seek cooler temperatures for themselves. Some may not have the mobility to get cool glasses of water. At the same time, pre-existing medical conditions or medication side effects may make them more susceptible to heat-related conditions.

Continue reading →