LGBT Protections in Long-Term Care Facilities

Last week, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 219 (view here(link is external)) into law – a bill aimed at protecting LGBT seniors from discrimination in long-term care facilities. The bill adds specific protections for LGBT residents of skilled nursing facilities, residential care facilities for the elderly, and intermediate care facilities and enacts a Bill of Rights for LGBT Long-Term Care … Read More

AB 275: Written for Humboldt’s Nursing Homes

February 17, 2017 was the deadline for bills to be introduced in the California legislature. One of those bills was introduced by Assembly Member Jim Wood (from California’s Assembly District 2, which includes Humboldt County).  The bill, AB 275, is the result of Wood’s experience with the attempt by the owner/operator of five Humboldt County nursing homes to shut down … Read More

The Times are A Changing

Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services have reminded all states of its commitment to the privacy of nursing home residents.  In the wake of recent publicity about nursing home employees posting degrading pictures of residents on social media, the federal entity has added a requirement that nursing homes have and enforce social media policies.  In a letter sent this week … Read More

In Fenimore, The Court of Appeals Limits The Scope of Worsham

In Worsham v. O’Connor Hospital (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 331, a patient brought an action against a hospital for elder abuse claiming that, as a result of understaffing and undertraining at the hospital, Worsham suffered a fall, breaking her hip.  In a case nearly devoid of analysis, the Worsham court held that allegations of inadequate staffing were nothing more than allegations of “professional negligence” and … Read More