The Yeroushalmi Law would like to welcome you to the elder abuse website for Carmichael, California. We hope to present this community with important facts and information that may help you to determine if your loved ones have become victims of the nursing home neglect that is sadly prevalent in many of America’s skilled nursing facilities. Our knowledgeable elder abuse attorneys have gained much experience in our battle against flagrant elder abuse and neglect, and would love to equip you and your loved ones with the proper tools to better understand and fight against these terrible situations.
Carmichael, an affluent, family friendly suburban area, is located in Sacramento County. In 1909, the city was first developed as Carmichael Colony No. 1 by Daniel W. Carmichael, who came to California in 1885. He later created Carmichael Colony No. 2 on land that he bought adjacent to the first colony, and later combined the two colonies to create the census-designated place of Carmichael. The community center can be found at Carmichael Park, a major 38-acre park in the town. Located within the park is a Veterans’ Memorial Building, the Community Clubhouse, the Daniel Bishop Memorial Pavilion for the Performing Arts, and the Great Wall of Carmichael. As of the 2010 census, the population was at 61,762, and there are currently 9 skilled nursing facilities located within the area.
Many nursing facilities often find themselves understaffed and unable to properly care for their residents. The Patient’s Bill of Rights requires that every skilled nursing facility employ a satisfactory amount of personnel so that all patients may be treated equally and fairly. Nursing homes are required by law to provide a minimum of 3.2 nursing hours per patient per day; however, medical experts believe that the minimum should be at least 4.1 hours per patient per day. A deplorable method that nursing home facilities use to combat their lack of staff is the use of restraints on the patients. One such type, known as physical restraints, is supposed to be used in order to prevent the patient from causing harm to him or herself by restricting the ability to move and potentially fall. More often than not, they are used to prevent patients from moving beyond the confines of their bed or chair. Restraints can be very detrimental to an elderly patient’s physical and mental well-being, and the increased dependency that comes with physical restraints can often have psychological repercussions. Because physical restraints confine the elderly patient’s movements, pressure ulcers, constipation, and incontinence also become issues. The use of physical restraints is reprehensible and unneeded, as studies have shown that the reduced use of physical restraints can even lead to lower mortality rates, decreased chances of medical errors, and less wrongful death situations.
Restraints are usually used in order to reduce the amount of time that nursing staff members have to spend checking on the patients, as they can be assured that the patient will remain in the same place for prolonged periods. This is not only against California’s nursing home regulations, but it also displays a disgusting lack of care for a fellow human being. If you feel that your loved ones might be currently placed in an abusive situation, please contact us for a free consultation. We will work tirelessly to find a solution to your elderly abuse problem.