In, yet another, shocking case of elder care issues at <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/nursing_home_negligence">nursing home facilities, the owner of the Glencare Home in Mount Olive, North Carolina, has said that five residents have died from hepatitis B, wrote the Washington Post.
Glenn Kornegay, owner, said that public health investigators are looking into a shared blood testing needle that could be the culprit in the spread of the disease, said the Washington Post. The state public health investigators told Kornegay’s staff that five medical technicians allegedly reused diabetes pens when checking blood sugar levels, noted the Washington Post.
According to authorities involved in the case, eight patients at the facility have been diagnosed with hepatitis B, a dangerous blood borne disease transmitted by exposure to bodily fluids, especially blood, explained the Washington Post. Of those who develop hepatitis B, 10 percent develop a chronic form of the disease that can lead to liver damage.
Findings in the case are expected soon.
We recently wrote that in another case of elder care abuse involving a 92-year-old woman, it was discovered that felons are routinely hired to care for the elderly in their homes. Sadly, a relatively easy fix, approved by the state legislature, is largely ignored in California, noted ABC previously.
In that case, the caretaker involved was convicted on drug charges in 1994, was paroled in 1995, and was in and out of prison from 2000 to 2004 on an array of parole violations, said ABC Local. In 2008 a restraining order was issued against the woman to keep her away from her child. Following the restraining order, the caretaker was placed in a home in which she stole tens of thousands of dollars.
We also recently wrote that the Elder Justice Act, a provision of the federal health reform law, is partly responsible for a Department of Justice (DOJ) probe into abuse and neglect in Northern California nursing homes.
President Barack Obama signed the law in March; the Act seeks to prevent “elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation†via collaboration with the U.S. attorney general’s office and other government interests, explained California Watch previously. The DOJ is looking into complaints of negligence and is considering civil or criminal charges, noted California Watch.
Help filing claims and other legal assistance for the victims of elder care abuse is available at <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/nursing_home_negligence">www.yourlawyer.com.
