Welcome to the nursing home neglect website for Sacramento, as presented by the Yeroushalmi Law. Our society at large is unaware to the fact that elder abuse can often be an unfortunate reality of the nursing facility environment. In order to fight this lack of knowledge, our office works tirelessly to provide the general public with useful information and clear signs of abuse and neglect that occur in nursing homes. Our team of experienced elder abuse attorneys wishes for you and your loved ones to be properly equipped with the ability to understand and identify if your loved ones are being abused physically or psychologically.
Sacramento, best known as the capital state of California, is located at the junction of the American River and the Sacramento River. It is the sixth-largest city in California, boasting a population of 477,891, and is part of the Sacramento County. In 2002, Sacramento was titled America’s most racially and ethnically integrated city by Time magazine. Sacramento was initially created and protected by the combined efforts of the Sutter family and James W. Marshall. As the California Gold Rush progressed, Sacramento also grew into a commercial and agricultural center that worked as a major distribution and travelling point for the surrounding area. On February 27, 1850, Sacramento was the first city to be incorporated into the state of California. Today, Sacramento functions largely as a base for state bureaucracy. The state government is easily Sacramento’s largest employer, and the city employs a decent amount of effort in order to keep state agencies from moving outside city limits. The city’s neighborhoods are generally grouped into four different areas: Central/Eastern, Southwestern, Southeastern, and north of the American River. There are currently 24 skilled nursing facilities located in the city’s limits.
The use of restraints in nursing home facilities is an unfortunate commonality. While the original intent of a restraint’s use is to protect an elderly patient from causing harm to themselves or others, they are more often used by the nursing staff as a method of convenience in order to compensate for a lack of proper staffing levels. There are two recognized types of restraints, one of which is known as chemical restraints. Chemical restraints are perpetuated by nursing home staff members who claim that they are merely giving their patients drugs and medicine as needed per their condition; these drugs often include numerous antipsychotics that are often prescribed for “agitation” or “depression”. Antipsychotics should only be given to those who suffer from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. However, many nursing facilities include antipsychotics in their elderly patient’s daily medical routine, resulting in the patient being unable to function physically. Studies have also shown that chemical restraints can aggravate dementia-related issues, and can further result in severe weight loss, falls, slurred speech, stroke, and psychosis when simultaneously used with other drugs.
The use of chemical restraints can not be justified as a proper means of treatment, especially in light of the fact that studies have shown that there are non-pharmacological alternatives that actually treat dementia. Chemical restraints are a clear form of elder abuse, and in turn directly violate a patient’s rights. If you believe that your loved ones are being placed in such a situation, please contact Yeroushalmi Law for a free consultation. The elderly deserve compassion and respect, not ill treatment and neglect. Allow us to help you find that peace of mind that comes with ensuring that your loved ones are being properly cared for.