Minnesotan’s have seen in the news the loss of a local priest and victim of war injuries from Iraq, Father Tim Vakroc. Father Vakroc was critically wounded in a roadside bomb attack near Mosul in May 2004. Even though he survive the bomb blast he could not survive the poor care and treatment he received in a Minnesota Nursing Home, St. Therese whe he was injured in an improper transfer from his wheel chair to bed. Father Vakroc fell during the transfer and sustained an injury to his head, causing his death.
Unfortunately as an attorney that handles nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Minnesota I see this scenario too often. Most of the cases I see involved a fall from either transfer using less than the required number of people or from old and poorly maintained lift equipment. Both of these causes could be prevented. Nursing Homes need to invest in hiring the necessary numbers of well trained fully vetted staff. Nursing Homes also need to spend the necessary capital to maintain and purchase safe and modern transfer lifts for their residents.
The Father Vakroc case is so tragic and newsworthy due to his personal story and the completely avoidable nature of his accident.
For more information about the death of Father Vakroc at St. Therese see: August 25, 2009, WCCO: Nursing Assistants ‘Devastated’ in Vakroc Death and Star and Tribune: 2 Nursing Assistants Blamed for Priest’s Fall.This website is not to provide legal advice as each situation is different and specific factual information must be obtained before an attorney is able to assess the legal questions relevant to your situation. In addition to providing related information this blog may also be considered an advertisement for legal services.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or abuse in a nursing home or other care facility that serves the elderly in Minnesota , please contact our firm for a free consultation and information regarding the obligations of the facility and your rights as a resident or concerned family member. To contact attorney Kenneth LaBore, directly please send an email to klabore@prslegal.com, or call Ken at 612-767-7503.

One of the most common type of preventable injury to residents of nursing homes and other elder care facilities is pressure ulcers which I have blogged on in the past. One of the ways to ensure proper healing once a wound has appeared is to clean the pressure ulcer and to change the dressing frequently. I came across these YouTube video showing the correct way to change a pressure ulcer or other wound dressing:

This website is not intended to provide legal advice as each situation is different and specific factual information must be obtained before an attorney is able to assess the legal questions relevant to your situation.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or abuse in a nursing home or other care facility that serves the elderly in Minnesota, please contact our firm for a free consultation and information regarding the obligations of the facility and your rights as a resident or concerned family member. To contact attorney Kenneth LaBore, directly please send an email to klabore@prslegal.com, or call Ken at 612-767-7503.

I was researching injuries during transfer and I came across these interesting training videos created for in service training of nursing home staff.  Many preventable injuries occur from improper transfer of nursing home residents.   Usually due to understaffing, lack of training or inadequate equipment.   Falls are one of the leading causes of death of the elderly and every effort should be made to avoid falling.   Falls also lead to other conditions such as bed sores from inactivity and in some cases pneumonia.

 Transfer with Hoyer Lift from Bed to Chair:

From Chair to Toilet:

This website is not intended to provide legal advice as each situation is different and specific factual information must be obtained before an attorney is able to assess the legal questions relevant to your situation.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or abuse in a nursing home or other care facility that serves the elderly in Minnesota , please contact our firm for a free consultation and information regarding the obligations of the facility and your rights as a resident or concerned family member.   To contact attorney Kenneth LaBore, directly please send an email to klabore@prslegal.com, or call Ken at 612-767-7503.

Selecting a Nursing Home in Minnesota
Make Informed Choices. Ask questions and gather information before entering into an agreement with a housing or care provider to help ensure a good fit, such as:
• Assess your health needs now and over the next ten years
• Ask the provider how they will assist you in securing additional services as your health needs progress
• Assess your desired level of autonomy
• Remember that in any facility, you may bring in your own services, if the facility does not offer certain services to meet your needs
• Determine what license or registration the provider holds (often posted at a facility) and investigate any surveys or complaints on the facility (see “TIP” on page 5)
• Ask about the process to give feedback and make complaints and how the provider responds
• Ask whether the provider has a “resident advisory” or “family” council, which allows residents and family members to receive education and discuss concerns (see “TIP” on page 26)
• Determine cost of stay and source of payments, such as Medicare or Medical Assistance, and the implications of receiving certain payments (see “Payment Information” on page 24)
• Ask for a copy of the admissions, housing and/or services contract to review prior to entering into an agreement with the provider or program
• Determine who should be responsible for your financial and health decisions, including whether a health care directive or power of attorney is desired or necessary
• Determine who should sign an admission agreement and what duties arise for the signor
• Consider all factors, including family considerations, geography, special health needs, and the senior’s wishes, including a desire to not have services
Visit the nursing home or provider at feeding and bedtime to see how staff interacts with residents.

This website is not intended to provide legal advice as each situation is different and specific factual information must be obtained before an attorney is able to assess the legal questions relevant to your situation.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or abuse in a nursing home or other care facility that serves the elderly in Minnesota , please contact our firm for a free consultation and information regarding the obligations of the facility and your rights as a resident or concerned family member. To contact attorney Kenneth LaBore, directly please send an email to klabore@prslegal.com, or call Ken at 612-767-7503.

Nursing home worker in Grand Rapids cited for neglect

According to a story by:
By: News Tribune, Duluth News Tribune
A worker at a Grand Rapids nursing home was found to have neglected a resident who fell March 9, causing an elbow fracture and hip bruise.
An employee at Evergreen Terrace was responsible for the neglect by failing to follow proper procedures, a report by the Minnesota Department of Health said. The employee was suspended and then fired, the report said.
The employee was taking the resident to the bathroom without a transfer belt and with only one staff member instead of two, in violation of the resident’s care plan, the report said. The employee had twice been disciplined before, according to the state. For the rest of the story see: Nursing home worker in Grand Rapids cited for neglect

As an attorney that handles abuse and neglect cases, I see many easily prevented injuries, including fall injuries. Most falls occur due to improper interventions of lack of adequate safety interventions. Unfortunately, I also see cases where the care plan is not followed and a resident is transferred with inadequate staff or improper equipment. These falls are more than simple neglect since they often are the result of insufficient staffing levels in the facility and poor training.

This website is not intended to provide legal advice as each situation is different and specific factual information must be obtained before an attorney is able to assess the legal questions relevant to your situation.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or abuse in a nursing home or other care facility that serves the elderly in Minnesota , please contact our firm for a free consultation and information regarding the obligations of the facility and your rights as a resident or concerned family member. To contact attorney Kenneth LaBore, directly please send an email to klabore@prslegal.com, or call Ken at 612-767-7503.

According to a story by MyFox9 reports that the Minnesota Department of Health has determined that Regions Hospital is to blame for the death of one patient and the second degree burns of another, including an event where a nursing home resident was dropped off at the nursing home but never assisted with entering the facility. The resident was apparently left outside from 2:00 am to 5:00 am after a visit to the hospital. For the rest of the story see: MDH Investigates Regions Hospital Neglect Cases.
These are examples of how a lack of supervision, over sight and care in medical facilities is leading to serious preventable injuries and death of vulnerable adults.
This website is not intended to provide legal advice as each situation is different and specific factual information must be obtained before an attorney is able to assess the legal questions relevant to your situation.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or abuse in a nursing home or other care facility that serves the elderly in Minnesota , please contact our firm for a free consultation and information regarding the obligations of the facility and your rights as a resident or concerned family member. To contact attorney Kenneth LaBore, directly please send an email to klabore@prslegal.com, or call Ken at 612-767-7503.