Covina, California

Welcome to the Covina website for Los Angeles elder abuse lawyer Ben Yeroushalmi. Here at the Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi, it is our mission to improve the quality of life for the elderly community. All too often, skilled nursing facilities take advantage of and abuse these vulnerable members of our community, and we are dedicated to fighting against such egregious crimes.

The city of Covina was instated into the County of Los Angeles in 1901. The city was originally only one square mile in size, and at the time was the smallest city in Los Angeles County. Often confused with its much larger counterpart, West Covina, the city is located east of Downtown Los Angeles. It was named by Frederick Eaton, a young engineer, who combined the word "cove," signifying the natural cove formed by the valleys of the adjacent San Gabriel Mountains and "vine," signifying the vineyards planted by the original settlers of the area. As of the 2010 Census, Covina's population was 47,796. Covina has 10 Skilled Nursing Facilities. A city with such an abundance of nursing homes provides a good opportunity to compare before you choose one for yourself or your loved one. Here is one of the many things we hope you will consider in your selection process.

When a visit to a skilled nursing facility for post-injury or post-surgery rehabilitative services, intended to last for just a few weeks turns into an extended stay, it becomes important that you ensure that this new, semi-permanent home is suitable for your needs. Specifically, patients with cognitive disabilities face an even greater risk for lengthy stays at nursing homes because they are not always able to completely adhere to every step of the rehabilitation program. But recent studies show that specifically tailored rehabilitation programs play a crucial role in the post injury recovery of such patients. Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart B, section 483.45 outlines the responsibilities of skilled nursing facilities in regard to specialized rehabilitative services such as physical therapy, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and mental health rehabilitative services. Nonverbal expressions, environmental adaptations, and tailored tone of voice are just a few of the techniques that can be used to maximize the benefits of a rehabilitation program for the cognitively impaired.

In order for any of these treatments to even be implemented, however, the facility must have an adequate staff that is knowledgeable and well-trained. Often, skilled nursing facilities trim down their staffing levels, in an attempt to save money. Although nursing homes are inherently business operations that need to carefully manage their budgets, it is completely unacceptable, as well as illegal, for them to cut staffing levels. Inadequate staffing has serious consequences. Often, instead of providing individualized care and rehabilitation plans for residents who are cognitively impaired, nurses instead use drugs to chemically restrain patients. Nurses who work in short-staffed facilities often use antipsychotic drugs, known for their sedative effects, for purposes of convenience.

The use of chemical restraints as a consequence of understaffing is a direct violation of Patients' Rights. At the Law Offices of Ben Yeroushalmi, we stand to fight against elder abuse and nursing home neglect. Contact us today for a free consultation. If you cannot come to us, we will travel to you.