To figure out how the nursing home you have chosen for your family is rated and to see if the home has any prior violations, check out our nursing home index. We’ve compiled all of the nursing homes in Arizona as well as their health code reports, including from Advanced Health Care of Scottsdale.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you have significant experience in helping clients who have been a nursing home abuse victim. Our offices are conveniently located in nearby Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person at our nearby offices, over the phone, or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like finding a nearby doctor who can help you or recommending you to temporary or long-term care options. You and your family’s’ safety and health are our top concern, and even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
To figure out how the nursing home you have chosen for your family is rated and to see if the home has any prior violations, check out our nursing home index. We’ve compiled all of the nursing homes in Arizona as well as their health code reports.
Additionally, take a look at our Nursing Home Glossary– an index of important words you need to know in a nursing home abuse case and their definitions.
If you are unsure whether or not you can afford an attorney, don’t worry. We only get paid when you settle. Check out our Attorney Fees Calculator to find out more.
Advanced Health Care of Scottsdale
A May 2019 report outlines the details of a food safety issue at Advanced Health Care of Scottsdale.
The report states that the nursing home failed to “procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.” (F 0812)
According to the report, staff failed to remove expired food from the resident kitchen area despite procedures in place to regularly check for and discard expired food and a policy on food storage and date marking which states that stock is to be rotating to ensure freshness.
Staff claimed that the error probably occurred because the two containers of expired lemon-flavored honey consistency water were mixed in with the bin of regular food when pulled from storage.
Fortunately, this incident didn’t cause actual harm to residents, but the nursing home should make extra efforts to ensure that they rotate and organize stock properly and clearly label dates per the policy on Food Storage and Date Marking.
People Over 65 Face Higher Risks of Contracting Foodborne Illness
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies two key categories of people who are at a higher risk for foodborne illnesses: people over the age of 65, and people with compromised immune systems.
Older populations generally do get sick more easily because they tend to have weaker immune systems, both naturally and as exacerbated by specific illnesses. They are much more likely than (most) other populations to be hospitalized and even die from illnesses like Salmonella, Listeria and E.Coli.
Factors that can make older adults more susceptible to foodborne illnesses:
● Food takes longer to digest
● The liver and kidney aren’t as efficient
● The stomach does not produce as much acid
● If they have Diabetes
● If they have liver or kidney disease (dialysis)
● If they have recently undergone cancer and had chemotherapy / radiation
● If they are taking certain medications which can compromise immune system
● If they suffer from specific autoimmune diseases
● If they are transplant recipients
Food Safety Problems are all too Common in US Nursing Homes
In this particular report, the situation in question posed a relatively low risk to residents. But food safety is generally an under-reported facet of nursing home neglect.
Here’s some data we do have — but bear in mind this is likely just a fraction of the real numbers (from the Nursing Home Abuse Center):
● Food safety is the third most common violation in nursing homes
● There were 230 foodborne illness outbreaks in nursing homes from 1998-2017
● One of the largest (for profit) nursing home chains had food safety citations in almost half of its 400 locations
Examples of citations range from vermin and pests, mishandling of raw meat, lack of cleanliness, and lack of proper food safety (eg: around handling of raw meat).
It is thought that food safety issues are more common in nursing home facilities than other institutions including schools and jails.
A Lack of Food Safety Points to Potential Neglect
Nursing home neglect is any action that fails to offer the goods and services necessary to prevent physical or emotional harm.
Food safety is a real concern and a lack thereof poses serious health risks to residents. Even smaller incidents may be linked to neglect in this form or others.
Our elderly population is at risk of many diseases and illnesses, and nursing homes must meet stringent standards to keep them safe. Any breach in compliance is cause for concern.
Speak With a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
If you’re seeking compensation or legal advice for an incident at an Arizona nursing home, we can help.
Our trusted team can advise you on the next steps and ensure that your loved one, and others, have the care they deserve.
Our team of abuse attorneys is dedicated to seeking damages on behalf of those family members who are being abused and help you find better accommodations for them in the nearby area. We’ve worked on a number of nursing home abuse cases previously in your area and take the time to understand the family’s concerns as well as the situation they believe their loved one is in.
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their and their loved one’s personal injuries, including those from nursing home abuse in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
