[NRSKarenRN]

Video's from CBS News re "grey market" in home care

1. Elder Abuse Getting Worse | August 16, 2007
   A growing number of senior citizens are suffering abuse and neglect from the people being hired to take care of them. Wyatt Andrews has more.
2. Preventing Elderly Abuse | August 16, 2007
   A home health-care worker caught on tape beating a 90-year-old man left in her care has sparked outrage. Bob Blancato of Elder Justice Coalition speaks with Julie Chen about elderly abuse cases.

[VivaLasViejas]

Oh, don't even get me STARTED on this one.............I rank elder abuse right up there with child pornography and animal cruelty as a crime worthy of the most severe punishments. Few things make me as angry as mistreatment of the most defenseless among us---it goes against everything that's moral and correct in my world, and I would gladly see the perpetrators of such crimes strung up by their thumbs!!

I don't care WHAT peoples' parents did to them when they were young---nothing gives them the right to isolate, beat, starve, steal from, physically neglect, or deprive an elderly person of his or her freedom. EVER. 'Nuff said. GRRRRRRRR!!

[earle58]

some people really suck.

leslie

[CHATSDALE]

don't ignore the little things..if these people are caught and punished when they first start being a little rough with the turning and transferring they will not progress to the type of things that are really horrible

[kstec]

This is what happened to someone who either wanted to keep her father at home (possibly cheaper) or couldn't afford to put him into a nursing home. The options for the elderly is disgusting unless you have one hell of a nice nestegg. I think that people who are in jail are treated better then most elderly people, why because they (criminals) have a voice and heaven forbid if they are subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. I hope that when I get old the good lord takes me before I get put into a nursing home, because I know not everyone is going to be a nurse like me and take care of the elderly with dignity and respect that they so much deserve. How anyone can torture someone who is helpless and harmless is beyond me. Take the criminals and beat the crap out of them if you feel the need to hurt another human being, but not the the young, old, defenseless, or innocent. JMO

[grammyr]

I have been involved with two cases in the last two months. One involved neglect and exploitation by the caregivers and the other involved neglect by the caregiver who happened to be the brother of the patient. This kind of thing makes me physically ill and then mad as HE##. The first pair of winners ar hopefully going to jail for skimming an 80ish year old out of tens of thousands of dollars. He is now in the nursing home and absolutely loves it. The other was discharged to the brother after major changes were made at home. He had to install an air conditioner and clean the place up. Unannounced visits are being made to the home to ensure compliance.


Elder Protective Services aren't a whole lot of help here because they won't do anything as long as the patient is in the hospital.

[Loca]

Sad...across the board...Abuser's cloak themselves in many different disguises. Unfortunately I have seen management in licensed homes do fast coverups when issues (reported abuse) comes up. This allows CNA's to continue practicing with license in hand and frequently they wind up doing the "Home care" jobs after terrified nursing homes encourage them to quit. Whether in the system or out all health care workers can do is to continue to advocate for elders and document/submit to state any suspected cases of abuse....and pray to God the powers that be won't alter the facts as reported.

[softstorms]

untill the state raises the minimim of cna's to care for people in a nursing home, this will not end. right now it is one for every 11 pts on an average evening shift. less on night shift. Think about one person to toliet and care of 11 people! Every hour on the hour! How many people can you take to the toilet or change in an hour? !! or 12 or more!. It is not the fault of the nursing homes, the state has said this is all we need to do this. Talk to the people who can change this, your state!