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While anyone can suffer serious injuries or complications after a fall, older populations are especially at risk. Every year, millions of adults who are 65 or older suffer from serious injuries caused by falls. These include hip fractures, traumatic brain injury, and more. 

Falls are especially dangerous for older individuals, and over 20,000 deaths are attributed to falls within this demographic. This number has been on the rise for years, and alarmingly, the CDC has reported that almost 2,000 of these incidents occur within nursing home facilities on a yearly basis. 

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With over 1200 cases across the nation, the CDC agrees: the vape lung diseases and disorders affecting vape users is an epidemic. To date, 26 vape users have died from these complications, and over a thousand have been hospitalized.

What’s especially alarming is that the mystery behind vape lung diseases and disorders has not been solved. No one knows the “why,” but the CDC and plenty of researchers have jumped on the task. Over the last few months, they’ve identified a few potential sources of this epidemic.

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The opioid epidemic is a growing problem that has spread across the entire country. To date, over 30,000 Americans die every year as a result of opioid drug overdose. Furthermore, the monetary toll that the opioid epidemic takes on public services and government agencies is staggering. 

All of this is compounded by one chilling fact: opioid distributors and manufacturers have played an active hand in creating this epidemic. The problem is so pervasive that countless government agencies have mobilized to take legal action against hundreds of distributors and manufacturers for engaging

In the U. S., doctors have the ability and obligation to maintain and edit medical records as needed. But what about alterations or omissions that are done to cover up a medical mistake or protect a medical professional from liability? 

Complete and accurate medical records are a critical part of healthcare services, as they help ensure quality of care and serve as official documentation within financial and legal contexts. Despite this, unauthorized or unnecessary medical record alterations do happen. This has become increasingly apparent with the rise of digital medical records

Robotic surgical procedures have revolutionized the operating room, and nearly 700,000 surgeries are assisted by a robotic system on a yearly basis. This technology has its advantages, as it can help minimize the stress or fatigue that surgeons endure on a daily basis.

No technology is perfect, however, and robot-assisted surgeries can be risky. Certain systems are less reliable than others, and widely used products such as the da Vinci Surgical System have been linked to an alarming number of injuries caused by defects.

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There is never any excuse for elder abuse, whether at the hands of family members, unpaid caregivers, or professional nursing home staff.  However, understanding the reasons behind these abusive behaviors is important, as it can allow family members to spot the signs and intervene if needed.

For this post, we’re discussing caregiver abuse, particularly within nursing homes. Caregiver abuse in the US is a tragically under-reported crime, with recent stats placing 1 in 6 residents as having experienced abuse at the hands of a caregiver in a nursing home, and

While the figure varies annually, there are an average of over 80,000 medical malpractice suits filed every year, and trends show that this number is on the rise. These numbers are alarming, especially because estimates place the number of medical injuries at around one million per year.

Not every case of medical injury or unpleasant experiences at the hospital constitutes medical malpractice, however. Medical malpractice describes when a medical professional breaches his/her duty of care to a patient, either via an omission or negligent act, which leads to injury or death

Every year, millions of Americans trust nursing homes to provide a high level of care and clean facilities for their elderly loved ones. This is critical for this vulnerable population, as older adults are especially susceptible to catching an infection and getting sick. An illness on top of any pre-existing medical condition can quickly spiral out of control, and is a serious threat to any nursing home resident.

Unfortunately, not all nursing home facilities live up to this expectation, and improper sanitation and dirty facilities are the most common causes

Year after year, countless people rely on nursing homes to provide a high level of care for their elderly loved ones. Unfortunately, as we’ve explored in earlier posts, many nursing homes often fall short of these expectations. Worse yet, they frequently place their residents at risk of injury or illness. This month, we’re exploring how poor practices in nursing homes contribute to the spread of germs and infections among patients, and taking a look at just how prevalent these issues are across nursing homes in the U. S.

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Understaffing is a significant problem in many nursing homes and other extended care facilities, particularly those that are trying to squeeze every last penny and maximize profits. Unfortunately, residents are the ones who usually pay the price, as understaffing has been shown to be the biggest cause behind neglect and abuse.

For this post, we’re looking at bedsores, a common type of nursing home injury that is both serious and totally preventable. When it comes to loved ones staying in nursing homes, the best way to protect them is to know