Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

My personal experience as a Missouri Nursing Home Lawyer is that far too many nursing home residents are overmedicated by those responsible for providing quality care. In my job I often meet with residents and their families in nursing homes. On some of those occasions, the residents simply could not wake up. Their eyes fluttered as though they were struggling to wake up and participate in the conversation happening around them. Sadly, the government has determined that my experience is not unique.

The U.S. Department of Health and Senior Services recently prepared a report entitled Medicare Atypical Antipsychotic Drug Claims For Elderly Nursing Home Residents that found that too many nursing home institutions failed to comply with regulations designed to prevent overmedication. It is well known that prescribing antipsychotic medication to elderly residents with dementia is potentially lethal, yet 88% of these individuals receive such prescriptions.

Family members must make certain that they know what medications their loved one is receiving. They must educate themselves on the medications and the proper dosages. They must regularly ask questions of the caregivers and insist upon answers. Family members must know what the possible side effects are and should closely monitor their loved one for any signs of side effects.

Why would a nursing home overmedicate a resident? First, to be fair to the nursing home industry, many times the overmedication is completely unintentional. Elderly residents are more much more susceptible to overmedication than are younger people. The second reason is an indictment of the nursing home industry. Overmedicated residents do complain and are, therefore, easier to care for with a reduced staff. Residents who ask to be taken to the restroom, or who need more water or need help walking down the hallway often require assistance from staff members. When a nursing home operates on reduced staff (as most nursing homes do) drugged residents are easier to manage than those who are alert and active.

If you are concerned about the care your loved one is receiving in a nursing home, call our St. Louis personal injury lawyer David Terry for a free consultation at 1-888-317-2525.

We discussed Clifford Ray Holt in a previous blog. In July 2009, Holt took a 62 year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease into a room, told her that "this is my place", and started massaging her shoulders and fondling her breast, bruising her. Although suffering from Alzheimer's disease, his victim was able to report the incident.

Holt was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse in connection with the assault. On October 20, 2009, he plead guilty to a reduced count of Class A misdemeanor sexual battery and was sentenced to one year in jail.

The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home sexual abuse. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at (888) 317-2525 or visit us on our website at www.nursinghomejustice.com.

Clifford Ray Holt, a dishwasher at Hillside Rehabilitation Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, was charged September 16, 2009, with one count of second degree felony forcible sexual abuse after he allegedly fondled a 62 year-old Alzheimer's resident.

Holt allegedly led the woman into a room, told her "this is my place", and closed the door. He began massaging her shoulders and then grabbed the woman's breast hard enough to cause bruising. The woman was able to report the incident and Holt has since been fired.

Holt is not a stranger to the Utah court system. He pleaded guilty to vehicle burglary in March 2006 and was sentenced to one year in prison. He also pleaded guilty to vehicle burglary in 1997 and 1999. It is unclear whether the nursing home facility knew of Holt's criminal past when he was hired.

Holt remains in custody for violating parole while awaiting trial for sexual abuse. His bail is set at $75,000.

The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home sexual abuse. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at (888) 317-2525 or visit our website at www.nursinghomejustice.com.

A Salt Lake City man pled guilty to forcible sex abuse stemming from his July 2007 sexual abuse of an 85 year-old South Salt Lake nursing home resident. Jacob M. Bolith, 31, received the maximum sentence - 15 years in prison - for the second-degree felony. The victim's daughter called Bolith's actions "unconscionable" and believes that Bolith "deserves castration".