#case: we are unsuper

[ikilledmyocs]

THE WRITEBLR GARDEN'S ADVENT CALENDAR / day 1. holidays

for today's prompt i decided to go with the holidays in the unsuperverse! mostly the history ones bc i love unsuper history and also bc a lot of these happen during the story so i might as well talk about them once.

THE BURNING OF 2168 - AUGUST 15

referred to as the burnings, this was the four month period the selected destroyed the earth. the anniversary used to be a three month period in the bunkers where they mourned and celebrated the past. since it's been 580 years in unsuper, it's now just an annual day of resentfully remembering what has led their world to what it is.

BUNKER FREEDOM DAY - MAY 7

for 464 years the remnants of humanity were either ◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾ or underground. as soon as the world realized the selected was truly going to destroy the world, they immediately began evacuating as many as they could into whatever bunkers they knew of. whether or not they'd survive was a problem they'd have to face later. the survivors were made up of a majority of government, military, and of course- those who paid their way in and those who earned it. despite their struggles in the bunkers, one day in may 2632, the survivors of a bunker in france came out and discovered the world was not the same, but it was livable. their survivors began exploring the new ruined land, unsure if they'd be able to find other bunkers with the new formations and destruction. bunker freedom day is celebrated with parties, drinking, and feasts.

SAVIORS DAY - NOVEMBER 21

the first sector, central, was built promptly later in 2632 and was originally just a small city in the remnants of what they assumed was france. it would later be called ground france, after the floating city was formed a couple decades later. central was only possible thanks to the ideas of the saviors, a group of charismatic scientists, architects, and rich men, who discovered the earth was likely habitable. their group was the one responsible for humanity moving forward again. saviors day is celebrated with parades, parties, and the savior's ball in the governor's mansion.

THE END OF FLOOD SEASON - JUNE 20*

flood season begins in late march and ends in the middle of june. the end is an unofficial holiday where once the final storms have ended and the waves have passed, flood season is over. there is no real celebration except a collective sigh of relief as everything goes back to normal.

SECTOR COALITION DAY - FEBRUARY 1

each sector in union is made up of whatever countries were remaining in europe after the burnings. many of them did not want to join with france and the saviors at first, until they showed what they could do by building the first sector. the first three floors came the quickest, which is why they are currently the richest and most exclusive floors. the next two floors were a bit more difficult to get to join, so when they finally did they commemorated it with sector coalition day. every year since, each new sector in every city is celebrated.

FLOOD PLAGUE REMEMBRANCE DAY - JULY 27

at least four million people worldwide have died from the flood plague, which continues to be a problem in current unsuper. remembrance day is celebrated with mourning and visiting the tomb sector- a dedicated graveyard in each city. some bodies are kept elsewhere, but plague related deaths must either be brought to the tombs, burned, or thrown out of the city.

#writeblrgarden #twgcalendar #case: we are unsuper #evidence: wip #evidence: edit

[enemywasp]

Alright so someone on tiktok sent me a link to a compiled list of arguments against proshippers and so I wanted to put a sort of brief response of my own thoughts of each point.

Long post warning!

"Proshippers are non-offending minor attracted people in a fresh paint of coat"

What a start, am I right? Okay so first off this is a huge generalisation, not every proshipper engages with or is even comfortable with anything that sexualises fictional children, or ships them with adults. And of those that do ship adult/minor ships, it doesn't always mean they're attracted to the character themselves or gains any sexual pleasure from that.

They then went on to say that although they might be non-offending, they still fantasise about and romanticise children- in the case of proshippers by creating art and stories. And I am not personally educated enough on how people's minds works to go in depth here, but I do know a lot of pedophilic thoughts can be intrusive and unwanted. And I would much rather people engage in this and deal with their thoughts through fiction where no actual children are harmed, than actually go touch a real child or engage is any form of CSEM.

“People can draw and ship whatever they want!”

Here they went on to say that surely to ship and create content you must justify these things in some capacity regardless of them being fictional. And immediately I'd argue, the justification it that they're fictional. And that sometimes you want to read about things you'd never approve of in real life, it's a natural curiosity. And again, regardless of what the dark content is I would take someone engaging in fiction over harming a real person any day.

They compared this to alt-right groups and dark humour justifying racism and transphobia, etc. And whilst I think something we should always be aware of in fiction is stereotypes and how we may be representing people. Youtube videos like this are usually a type of propaganda that AIM to change people's mindsets and turn them against groups. Whereas fiction tells a story, some may have meanings and connections to real life, be a political piece, etc. Not everything is that serious and has a clear distinction from reality.

Think for example, reading/watching about murder and gore. More on that in a second.

"Fiction doesn't affect reality!"

I'm going to be honest I rolled my eyes at this as their main example was slenderman. If you don't know about that, those girls were schizophrenic. Anything could of set off and caused delusions, it just so happened to be fiction. Those girls needed help- not to just read purer content. They also basically brought up propaganda again, which is again deliberate and designed to warp peoples perceptions. Its based of lying and spreading misinformation and passing it as facts. The only thing I strongly believe can be directly harmful is stereotypes if not handled with care. But I think that's something for anyone who writes and consumes content should be aware of regardless of their stances.

Again here they implied that all proshippers are peodophiles. And that they normalise abuse of children. I'd also like to point out that most proshippers I've interacted with online have age boundaries to avoid interacting with minors depending on how graphic or sexual their content is.

"What do you think all stories about murder should stop existing?"

Here they basically argued that killing in media isn't the same as its not romanticised or condoned. YA Novels disagree- mafia stories being the most immediate example to spring to mind. Furthermore, morally grey villains. One of my favourite films is Mr Right. It's about a hitman killing people. Anna kendrick falls in love with him and its framed as a romantic comedy. Funny how its only fanfiction that's criticised like this? I actually have more thoughts on this if anyones interested.

Again they bring up kids not knowing adults pursuing children is wrong, and I'm questioning why children this young are unsupervised on the Internet. How young were you when you were allowed to watch anything with graphic blood or violence? This content isn't made for kids! Especially not anyone so young they can't seperate fiction from reality as most sites have a specific age you have to be to join. And I'm sorry to say it, but on websites and social media where adults can interact with kids, anything can be used to groom kids. (The real thing you should be mad about here is how there's no websites aimed just for children and safe spaces on the Internet anymore cause it can't be monetised as easily)

"Artists are allowed to draw and write about dark people"

They basically said, yes but it's not the same as promoting. Writing something under a romantic light and not saying "Don't do at home!" Isn't promoting. No ones encouraging these things in real life. Or rather, if they are its not because they're a proshipper but rather who they are as a person and their intentions.

The trans example they used is very extreme and honestly something I agree with a little more, fiction can definitely be used as an excuse to say and act out hateful and discriminatory things. Whilst I do think it's something we should discuss and unpack more, I'm not certain of my view on how I would fix this without risking silencing people talking about their experiences.

"Its not my responsibility to look after other people, just block me and the tags"

Here they threw all kinds of accusations. And says that we're making traumatised people jump through hoops to avoid getting retraumatised. I hate this argument, you know people have actual triggers they may not be able to avoid in real life? The world can't bend around you. And I am very sorry if any content online is traumatising to you, but someone could also be traumatised by a certain breed of dog and not want to see it. Should no one post dogs online ever again? A bald man reminds you of an abusive ex? Bald men get off the Internet! You see how this thing can just keep escalating? The tags and warnings are important because they're the best you can get. You can't control the world to protect everyone from everything ever. No ones forcing you to interact, and if you're on any algorithm based content that will encourage that content on your for your page more.

The only thing I think we should take from this is the reminder that warnings and tags are always important.

"You only care about censoring creativity"

Here they defend themselves that oh wouldn't you want freaks out the community! Which again immediately makes me lose respect for you, if you're just going to brand us all as freaks as an argument and generalize us.

No comment on that first line when you can easily argue antishipper do the same.

"Proshippers are not remotely innocent of targeted harrasement" Neither are antis. There's people who take things too far both sides and I'm not going to defend either for that.

"Real kids get assaulted and all you care about is censoring people online!"

Here they shout "oh I can care about both!" But what I don't think they realise is censorship can make it difficult for kids and to learn about how to speak up and to look for signs, or to speak up about their experiences. How do you plan on removing the topic from the Internet whilst also letting victims speak up? And people may want to write fiction based off their experiences. Who are you to go through it and proclaim what is too far, what romanticises it too much? More on this later.

"Antis are reducing my trauma"

They compared this to saying "date rape victims are reducing my trauma because they weren't taken advantage of in the same way as me" which is a disgusting parallel?? Date rape is still rape. Someone writing about something isn't the same as it happening. Although it can be used as harrasment, grooming, etc if directly addressed to you or being constantly sent to you, written about you. But the content existing in general? No.

"I'm coping"

Compared it to self harm, and such. Poetry and diaries are also used to write about your experiences and unpack trauma. Some of which may write it in an unrealistically positive light cause that's how they want to unpack it or explain those thoughts. And yes these things get posted online.

I can't imagine a single therapist or professional psychiatrist of any kind disapproving of creative writing because, again, it's much better than any alternatives of doing real harm to yourself or people around you. Although I do agree that if something is traumatising for you to read about and just upsets you further, be aware of your own boundaries but not everyone is the same so how are you going to police people's own thoughts and emotions.

Also I can't remember who or where as it was years ago now, but I have heard of people who actually realised they were being groomed or abused and just how bad it was through reading about it in a fanfic and seeing it in an outside perspective.

They also say to do it in private, but doesn't everyone on the Internet now have an understanding of finding a community and looking out for eachother and sharing experiences?

"There's more nuance here than just calling proshippers peodophiles"

Here they say no matter what it still comes down to whether it's ever okay to sexualise minors in certain contexts. And again, not every proshipper does this or is even comfortable with engaging in this kind of content. And further, no one is sexualising real minors in this context.

"I'm a proshipper and a minor tho!"

I'd agree minors should be wary of the spaces they're in but proship spaces aren't always necessarily sexual, graphic or 18+. Saying they're being groomed feels like you're watering down that term. I was a proshipper at age 13, I didn't interact with anyone online about it though, I didn't even know that was the term. I just came to the conclusion that it's just fiction all on my own. Minors aren't idiots.

At then end they talk about their own experience being groomed and I'm obviously not going to nitpick or criticise their experiences. I will point out that one person being bad and taking advantage of you and using content to do so doesn't mean everyone is like that. I am sorry to anyone who has been taken advantage of by someone who claims they're a proshipper though. There are people who have turned out to be horrible on both sides.

I am ill and it's late but I want to get this up sooner rather than later so please ask for clarification on anything. I'm always up for a discussion on this topic as I do believe some of these points do have merits at times and that this whole topic is not black and white

#proshipper #profiction #proship #anti anti #proship positivity #ship discourse #ship discussion #tw grooming #tw harrassment #tw trauma #anti censorship #anti harassment

[bayoucurse]

hello isa i am here to infiltrate the family: dani, she/her, ikilledmyocs, case: we are unsuper, um im basic so i think my fav is r+j don't kill me pwease, and 'you never burned for me'

MWAH added!

join my writeblr family!

#castle residents

[94mkd]

The Unsuper Californian Skatepark Tour

The story is simple, Conner wanted to move to California for a year and I was unemployed and I wasn’t feeling the cold Missouri weather anymore so I tagged along. We drove cross country with very few pit stops, a decent amount of weed and The Nine Club podcast blasting of the speakers of his Honda Accord. Within 28 hours, we made it to Costa Mesa, California. 

For the next eleven days, we had a somewhat set schedule of hitting skatepark to skatepark then hitting a spot before the sun went down. In some cases, the session got better after dark and we kept going. The tape I had was half used going out there but it didn’t stop me from making magic with the remaining Hi8 film I had. 

#videos #Conner Demko #chaz jones

[chayscribbles-archive]

Find the word

thanks @donovyn–nox for the tag!

i’m assuming the rules are to search in my WIP for my assigned words and post the instances in which they occur.

my assigned words are: fight, help, strong, case, and think.

WIP: UnSuper Squad, as always.

i had to comb through 10 different files because of my dumb TV show format, also i had trouble choosing just one for each word so i put 2 or 3

Fight

When that first cloud of the drug hit him, it was like getting a taste of that darkness once again. But he was familiar with it, and he had learned how to fight it. The only thing that mattered in that moment was that his tiny ray of sunshine wasn’t extinguished.

from Episode 1x08: Rose

“What, you don’t know how to fight without your powers?” Maeve turns around with a smirk. “Didn’t you grow up with four older brothers?”

“Mom didn’t let them touch me,” Ryan admits. “I mostly fought with my voice.”

“Ah, so that’s why you never shut up.”

from Episode 1x10: The Head (part II)

Help

With the help of an overturned recycling bin, a paint can opener, and a resolve of steel, she was inside in a moment. She failed to suppress a snort of contempt at the absurd lavishness of the room. The man had not one, not two, but three Himalayan salt lamps.

from Episode 1x01: Squad

Kitty takes a sip of her coffee and frowns at the computer screen. She reads the sentence she has just written in her report. She reads it again. She takes another sip of her coffee—the last sip in her cup, to her dismay—and reads the sentence a third time. Something is bothering her about that sentence, but she can’t seem to put her finger on what. 

Maybe more coffee will help.

from Episode 1x04: Blink also can we agree that this is the Biggest Writing Mood

Having also reached for her face to remove her fogged up glasses, Kitty’s hand brushes against Maeve’s plastic one. Kitty sharply draws her hand back, dropping the glasses. 

“Sorry,” Kitty apologizes, scrambling to pick them up as Maeve watches, amused. “Uh, you don’t have to help me undress. I mean—” Her face grows even hotter as Maeve bursts out laughing. 

“You’re so weird,” Maeve tells her. “I’ll just get back in there and you can join me when you’re done…undressing.” 

With a smirk, Maeve whirls around, whipping her ponytail in the process, and heads back to the living room. Kitty pulls her scarf up to hide the rest of her face and sinks against the door, internally screaming at her blunder.

from Episode 1x07: Mind Sower aka the one where Kitty realizes she’s like really really gay

this is getting long so i’m doing the rest under the cut~

Strong

The next thing Maeve felt was a sharp, stabbing pain running along her entire right arm. When she had turned her head to investigate, she was appalled to find nothing but a bandaged up stump. The doctors had to be called in to put an end to her screaming and thrashing with a strong dose of sedative. 

from Episode 1x03: Lynx

Case

“It must have been the smoke making you hallucinate things,” Jack says quickly, “and in this case it’s your subconscious telling you that you shouldn’t have been a dick.”

from Episode 1x06 - Blaze

 Think

“It’s ‘UnSuper Squad’, and I think we did a pretty good job for a bunch of disasters,” Jack protests, annoyed at being dragged by a fifteen-year-old, but Naseem is already gone. 

from Episode 1x04: Blink

“I don’t sing and dance,” Will retorts. “I just enjoy watching other people do it. It takes a lot of skill, you know.”

“Hm. I do recall hearing you singing along to the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. theme song more than once,” Jack taunts. “You sure you don’t sing?”

“I think we’ve shared enough deep, dark secrets about ourselves for one day,” Will announces. “Let’s never speak of this again and go back to hating each other. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” Jack replies.

from Episode 1x05: Stranger

well that was fun! i sure use the words “help” and “think” a lot

tagging: @zaequeenoflazy @heyabella @rajuthepanda and like anyone else who wants to bite. should you choose to accept, your words are: yell, perfect, blue, free, and forever. have fun!

#tag game #there were some better ones for fight and think but they were too spoilery #one included the ever elusive Paige i still haven't introduced ;)

[emilypaul09]

Conrad House

If you have been abused or neglected at Conrad House, read about your rights below, and then contact Agruss Law Firm, LLC, for a free case evaluation.

Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems.  With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of everything, so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal.

Who is Conrad House?

Conrad House is an Illinois nursing home. Conrad House is also known as Misericordia Home. Conrad House is located at 6300 N Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL 60660 with telephone number 773-273-2038. Conrad House has 12 beds and 12 staff members. The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act governs Conrad House.

Conrad House’s Address, Phone Number, and Contact Information

Conrad House 6300 N Ridge Ave Chicago, IL 60660 Tel: [phone] https://www.misericordia.com/

Conrad House Overview

Conrad House is a nursing home. Conrad House is also a for-profit corporation. Conrad House participates in Medicare and Medicaid. Conrad House is not in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (“CCRC”).  A CCRC offers multiple housing options and levels of care.  Typically, a CCRC offers the most service-intensive options for residents.  At a CCRC, residents may freely move from one level of care to another. Conrad House is also not in a hospital.  Some residents require more intensive care that can only be provided at a hospital.  Because Conrad House is not located at a hospital, residents cannot be easily and quickly transferred to an acute care setting, if necessary.

According to Medicare’s Nursing Home Care, Conrad House has no overall rating.  Altogether, Medicare gives Conrad House no star ratings.  We all know the more stars, the better.

Overall rating: not reported.  Medicare assigns the overall star rating based on a nursing home’s performance on three separate categories: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.  Each of these categories have their own star ratings, with more stars meaning better quality of care.

Health inspections: not reported.   More stars means fewer health risks.  

Fire safety inspections: not reported.   More stars means the facility is aimed at preventing fires, or protecting residents in the event of an emergency like a fire, hurricane, tornado, flood, power failure, or gas leak, etc.

Staffing: not reported.   More stars means a better level of staffing per nursing home resident.

Quality of resident care: not reported.   Once again, more stars are better.  Nursing homes that are certified by Medicare and Medicaid frequently report clinical information about their residents to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  CMS then assigns nursing homes a quality of resident care star rating based on their performance on 16 measures. These, and other measures reflect how well nursing homes care for their residents

Signs of Abuse and Neglect

If you notice that your loved one exhibits any of the following, you should act immediately:

Broken bones,

Bed sores,

Bruises,

Head injuries,

Medication overdose,

Dehydration or malnutrition,

Poor hygiene,

Soiled bedding,

Rapid weight loss,

Sudden agitation or emotional withdrawal,

Frequent crying, or

Complaints of poor treatment.

Illinois Nursing Home Statistics

When a loved can no longer live independently, a tough decision must be made about the best option for care.  Such a decision often must be made during a time of crisis, frequently when your loved one is ready to leave the hospital after a serious illness or operation. Illinois has approximately 1,400 long-term care facilities, or nursing homes, serving more than 100,000 residents, from the young to the elderly.  Sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect, also known as elder abuse, is far too common. The Illinois Department of Public Health’s 24-hour a day Nursing Home Hotline receives nearly 19,000 calls a year, and as a result, staff respond to more than 5,000 complaints per year.

Nursing Home Profits Over Patients

Elderly care is a complex and a delicate issue. We are dealing with one of the most vulnerable sections of the population ­some would argue than even more so than children.  So how are non- and for-profit facilities dealing with mounting costs and infamous mishaps, ranging from filthy conditions to negligent deaths?

There is need for 24/7 specialized attention, which can become quite expensive, depending on the extent of every individual requirement. For-profit nursing homes claim to deal with scant resources, with many stating meager or non-existent earnings. This allegation has been used to explain chronic staff shortage, among other shortcomings.  Medicare and Medicaid funds channeled into nursing homes have been increasingly redirected towards multi-million expenses, and most of the time, the recipients of these expenditures are subsidiaries of the same corporation running the centers.

Research conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago highlighted an increase in for-profit nursing home earnings, with quality of service diminishing simultaneously. The researchers, who were led by Lee Friedman of UIC’s School of Public Health, concluded that “patients receiving care in for-profit institutions were diagnosed with substantially more clinical signs of neglect than patients residing in not-for-profit facilities”. This trend appears to be worsening over time, raising concerns within officials and organizations in charge of regulating elderly care services.

There is a case for alarm, and suggestions to break this cycle within nursing homes range from implementing better financial controls in order to check how money is spent, to expanding requirements, tougher punishments and more rigorous scrutiny when it comes to giving out licenses.

Nursing Home Staffing Problems

Problems due to understaffing in senior citizen home centers have reached such alarming levels throughout the U.S., it is now considered a crime to undercut personnel.  The consequences of chronic staff shortage for patients in elderly care installations range from painful and uncomfortable conditions on a day-to-day basis, to wrongful deaths in extreme situations.

Many patients in these facilities cannot fend for themselves –physically, mentally, or both. Less staff means less help to set senior citizens in motion. This specific measure is essential, in order to limit or eliminate the chance of developing pressure ulcers –those terrible painful bed sores many geriatric patients disclose. Also, restrained patients are not moved that often; there is simply not enough help available to accompany them around.

Centers are faced with difficulties even to tackle simple tasks, like adequate hygiene procedures. Cases involving maggot-infested feeding tubes and insect-ridden installations have rocked the public conscience in recent years. Authorities need to place special focus on chronic staff shortage in nursing homes. The examples of how this situation causes pain, anguish, and death are undeniable.

Types of Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms. Know the warning signs, so you can better protect your loved ones. If you notice that your loved one exhibits any of the following, you should take action immediately.

Bed Rail Entrapment: Bed rails are commonly used to assist patients who may have limited mobility or a high risk of falling out of bed at night, and “bed rail entrapment” occurs when a patient becomes stuck between the mattress and bed rail, which can result in serious injury or even death. There are four main ways that bed rail entrapment occurs: in-between split bed rails; in-between a single bed rail’s bars; between the bed rail and mattress; and between the bed rail, mattress, headboard, or footboard. When bed rails are not properly implemented by the nursing home or particular employees, they may be legally liable if their negligence directly results in bed rail entrapment and injuries.

Bed Rail Injuries: Portable bed rails which are commonly used in medical facilities can be dangerous for elderly patients, and one study found over 150 fatalities involving these devices between 2003 and 2012; nearly 30% of these deaths occurred in nursing homes and similar facilities, and over 80% of victims were 60 years of age or older. The FDA identifies the main risks of bed rails as: suffocation or strangulation when the head or neck is entrapped; bruising, lacerations, or fractures in trapped limbs; severe agitation and/or confusion when entrapped in the bed rail; and death, in serious cases. When a nursing home resident suffers a bed rail injury, the nursing home, a particular staff member, the bed rail’s manufacturer, or a combination of these may be legally liable due to negligence.

Bed Sores: Bed sores are often called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. These sores originate at points of pressure. They develop inside-out, so that once the wound opens through the outer layer of skin, it is a full-blown ulcer and very susceptible to infection. These wounds range in severity from mild such as skin reddening to severe which are deep craters that go down through the muscle to the bone.  Bedsores can develop quickly, and treatment is often difficult – especially among elderly patients. These ulcers tend to be very difficult to heal, requiring a continuous effort to relieve the pressure between the bone and the exterior of the body. Unfortunately, nursing home residents with limited mobility, who are confined to the bed or chair, are uniquely at risk for suffering these injuries.

Burns: While burn accidents in nursing homes are entirely preventable, nursing home patients are unfortunately at greater risk of injury when these accidents occur due to decreased mobility or diminished hearing or eyesight, which can potentially result in delayed reaction-times. Common causes of burn accidents include: smoking hazards, such as when a facility allows indoor smoking; unsupervised candles, which can increase the risk of a fire; flammable medical hazards related to electrical equipment, flammable gases, or pressurized oxygen; or even faulty or exposed electrical wiring in the facility itself. The nursing home and/or particular staff members should be held accountable when negligence directly results in a burn accident and injuries.

Choking: Choking accidents can occur with medications, especially larger pills, but occur primarily during meals when nursing home patients and/or their food intake are not properly supervised by professionals. Some patients require restricted diets due to difficulty swallowing, which can result from neurological damage or disorders, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and other conditions, and are at greater risk of choking when eating unsupervised, while choking can also be a general risk for many elderly patients regardless of particular conditions. The nursing home may be considered negligent when lack of supervision or proper restriction of a patient’s diet directly results in a choking incident.

Clogged Breathing Tubes: Nursing home patients who need assistance with ventilation typically use an “endotracheal tube,” which is inserted through the nose or mouth and connects to a mechanical ventilator. Maintaining these tubes requires quality nursing care, and negligence can result in clogged breathing tubes, which can have serious and even fatal complications. These include clogging by secretions or mucus plugs, which can potentially result in respiratory distress, arrest, or complete or partial collapse of the lung; hypoxia, meaning a lack of oxygen from limited airflow; and sudden death. As such, these cases can be serious and result in medical malpractice or wrongful death claims to hold the nursing home and/or particular employees accountable for their negligence.

Dehydration and Malnutrition: Between 1999 and 2002 alone, over 10,000 nursing home patients lost their lives due to dehydration and/or malnutrition. Nursing homes must ensure that all residents have proper access to food and water, and negligence can occur when nursing homes have insufficient staffing to address each resident’s needs in a timely manner, while deliberate withholding of food and water from a resident is considered abuse and also grounds for a lawsuit. Elderly residents are especially prone to dehydration and malnutrition, which can result in serious health complications and even death, and nursing homes should be held accountable when their negligence results in starving or thirsty residents.

Dropped Patients: Some nursing home residents need assistance when standing or walking, and accidents and serious injuries can occur when staff members use bad judgement or do not follow the facility’s protocols. These drops can occur due to negligence when transferring a patient from a wheelchair to the shower, bath, or bed (or vice-versa) or from one chair to another, and resulting injuries may include fractured bones, traumatic brain injury (TBI), damage to internal organs, or even death. In addition to not following protocols, other risk factors for drops include poor training, understaffing, lack of equipment, or faulty equipment, and the most common root causes are the negligence of one or more particular employees and/or the facility’s failure to properly assess the patient’s needs.

Elopement: Wandering in a nursing home is a common risk for patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other psychological disorders, and “elopement” occurs when a wandering patient leaves the facility entirely. This can be very dangerous for patients who aren’t physically and/or psychologically fit to be by themselves, especially when unsupervised and out in public, and patients who have eloped due to a nursing home’s negligence have suffered serious injuries and even death. If a patient leaves his/her nursing home due to inadequate supervision, the nursing home and/or particular staff members may be legally responsible if an injury occurs.

Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse of nursing home patients can come in many forms, including insults, harassment, threats/intimidation, yelling/screaming, and other behaviors. While emotional abuse is often the fault of one or more particular employees rather than the nursing home itself, the facility may also be legally liable for this abuse if inadequate background screening resulted in the hiring of an abusive employee who shouldn’t have received the position. Unfortunately, patients who are more vulnerable and/or require more care than others may be at greater risk of emotional abuse, and in all cases nursing home employees should be held legally accountable for their negligence.

Falls: Falls in nursing homes result in more than 1,800 deaths and many more injuries per year - among elderly patients, an estimated 10 - 20% of falls result in serious injury. Although nursing homes generally have “fall prevention programs” in place to mitigate these accidents, the negligence of nursing home staff can increase these risks in many ways. Common examples include: physical hazards, such as wet floors, inadequate lighting or security, obstructed stairways or walkways, or defective equipment; improper prescription or dosage of sedatives, depressants, or similar medications which affect the central nervous system; improperly-fitted shoes or walking aids; inadequate supervision; and failure to provide necessary assistance.

Fractures: Elderly nursing home residents - especially those suffering from osteoporosis - are more prone to suffering broken bones or fractures in accidents, and residents aged 75 years and older are at the greatest risk of any age group. These injuries include spontaneous fractures, stress fractures, and traumatic fractures, and common causes include improperly moving or lifting a patient, inadequate supervision for patients in wheelchairs, inadequate training for handling a patient’s mobility requirements, and hazardous conditions within the facility which can result in slip-and-fall accidents. Fractures can require months of physical and psychological recovery, even when treated as soon as possible, and the nursing home may be legally liable when its negligence directly results in an accident and injury.

Infections: There is an unfortunate epidemic of infections acquired not outside of medical facilities, but within them, resulting in over 1.7 million cases per year for infections acquired within hospitals alone. Nursing homes are also vulnerable to these infections, which often come from blood transfusions, catheters, patient-rooms, surgical incisions or hardware, ventilators, and other medical equipment. Nursing homes must have comprehensive infection-control policies to protect everyone within the facility, including patients, staff, and visitors, and these policies cover hand-hygiene, personal protective equipment, quarantine protocols, environmental cleanliness, and other factors. The nursing home may be legally liable for an infection acquired within the facility due to negligence.

Inadequate Supervision: Inadequate supervision in nursing homes is often caused by understaffing and/or improper training of staff and can result in a wide range of problems for patients, from dehydration/malnutrition and bed sores to medication errors, mobility accidents, bed-related injuries, and even infections or medical complications. Nursing homes must always be properly staffed to address patients’ needs and respond to emergencies in a timely manner, and serious injuries and even death can result when patients aren’t properly supervised by staff members. If a patient suffers an injury or illness as a direct result of inadequate supervision, the nursing home may be legally liable.

Medication Errors: Preventable medication errors result in hundreds of thousands of adverse drug events (ADEs) per year, and in nursing homes they can result in serious injuries/illnesses and even death. These errors include prescribing the wrong medications or dosages, mislabeling medications, failure to take a patient’s complete medical history, and failure to note patients’ reactions to particular medications. Adverse drug events cost our society an estimated 98,000 lives and $3.5 billion per year, and nursing home residents are especially prone to irreversible damage or death from medication errors: about 800,000 adverse drug events occur per year in long-term care facilities.

Overmedication: Overmedication refers to a medication error in which a nursing home patient is prescribed too much of a medication, either in quantity or dosage. Unintentional overmedication can occur due to understaffing or inexperienced improperly-trained staff, and intentional overmedication can occur when a facility wrongfully intends to sedate a patient for extended periods of time - also known as a “chemical restraint” - rather than address the root of the patient’s problem, which often results from a flawed caretaking philosophy which regularly resorts to overmedication. This practice can result in serious injury, illness, or death whether intentional or not and nursing homes should be held legally accountable for these errors.

Physical Abuse: Physical abuse in nursing homes involves violence or physical force and can come in many forms. Common signs of abuse of a patient include scratches, bites, bruises, burns, or even inappropriate restraints. Statistics show that citizens over 80 years of age are at the highest risk of physical abuse in nursing homes, and unfortunately much of this abuse goes unreported: only one out of every six patients who are physically abused report the incident afterward, according to some estimates, resulting in organizations such as the CDC and NCPEA labelling elder abuse an “invisible problem.” As such, it’s important to understand both the physical and behavioral signs that abuse may be taking place.

Physical Assault: Assault and battery is the most blatant form of physical abuse in nursing homes and is among the most egregious violations of patients’ rights. Physical assault may include punching, slapping, kicking, shaking, and other forms of force, and while most victims in nursing homes were assaulted by staff members, assault among residents of the facility can also occur due to the staff’s negligence, particularly inadequate supervision. There are many risk factors for physical assault in nursing homes: some facilities do not properly screen their employees and may hire individuals who are unstable or have violent tendencies; inadequate staffing can place great stress on employees who then act irrationally; and some residents’ physical or psychological limitations make them unfortunate targets for violence.

Physical or Chemical Restraints: Patients’ dignity and ability to move freely in nursing homes must be respected. Sometimes, nursing home employees may utilize physical or chemical restraints to handle an agitated individual, but this should only be a last-resort option that is absolutely necessary. Unnecessary or excessive use of restraints not only violates a patient’s rights, but can also result in injuries to the patient, ranging from head injuries to bone fractures and internal bleeding. Patients who have a history of falls, low cognitive performance, or are taking antipsychotic medications may be at greater risk of negligent use of restraints, and the employee and/or facility should be held accountable for the resulting physical and/or psychological pain and suffering.

Sepsis: Sepsis can occur when bacteria infect the bloodstream and often develops from bedsores and similar medical complications. Severe sepsis, also known as “septic shock,” can be fatal if not treated as soon as possible, so it’s important that these conditions are closely monitored, and the root causes are identified. A nursing home may be legally liable if negligence resulted in the condition which led to sepsis, such as bedsores, or if negligence directly resulted in sepsis or septic shock. If a patient passes away from septic shock resulting directly from negligence, the nursing home or employees may be liable in a wrongful death claim.

Sexual Assault: Sexual assault in nursing homes is a widespread and often-underreported problem. Common signs of sexual abuse of a patient include bleeding or bruising in the genital area; stained or ripped clothing, linens, or bed sheets; unusual fear or anxiety, especially in the presence of a particular staff member; and depression or changes in mood. While nursing homes and their employees are fully legally obligated to ensure that residents are safe, and their rights are protected, it’s important to maintain open communication with your loved one to determine as soon as possible if such horrendous abuse is taking place.

Wandering: Adequate staffing and supervision for patients is essential in nursing homes, and some patients suffering from psychological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, may be prone to wandering when left unsupervised. This can be dangerous, as unassisted patients may be at risk of falling, which can result in serious injury or even death. Other risk factors include unfamiliarity with a new environment, recent changes in medication, and unmet physical needs related to hunger or hygiene. If a patient wanders in a nursing home without proper supervision and suffers an injury, the facility and/or particular staff members may be legally responsible for the injury due to negligence.

Wheelchair Accidents: While almost all wheelchair accidents are entirely preventable, they typically occur when a patient is being transported from a wheelchair to a chair or bed (or vice-versa) and can result in serious injuries or even death. These accidents can occur when staff members are inexperienced, improperly trained, or in violation of the facility’s standard protocols for transporting patients, each of which may be considered negligence on behalf of the employee and/or nursing home itself. Other common causes include inadequate supervision, failure to apply brakes when the wheelchair is not in motion, or improper securement of the wheelchair in a vehicle.

Wrongful Death: Wrongful death in a nursing home is the ultimate negligence for which no compensation is ever fully sufficient. The most common causes in these cases are dehydration and malnutrition, which can also make patients more susceptible to infections and illnesses; and medication errors, which typically consist of prescribing the wrong medication, improper dosage, or multiple medications which should not be mixed, all of which can be fatal in certain cases. When a patient’s wrongful death was a direct result of the negligence of a nursing home or particular employees within it, the surviving family has a legal right to pursue compensation and hold the negligent party accountable for their wrongdoing.

Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Can Help You

If you believe a loved one has been abused or neglected at a nursing home, contact us for a free consultation. Agruss Law Firm, LLC, represents victims of nursing home abuse and neglect throughout Illinois. We will handle your case quickly, advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. This litigation strategy will provide you with the best possible compensation. Plus, we do not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire our firm—just the opportunity to seek justice. Protect your rights by contacting us today.

See More Here: Conrad House

Agruss Law Firm LLC 4809 N Ravenswood Ave #419, Chicago, IL 60640 https://goo.gl/maps/5g8VjKMDr3k

from https://www.agrusspersonalinjury.com/conrad-house/ from https://agrusslawfirm1.tumblr.com/post/184081436402

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Conrad House

If you have been abused or neglected at Conrad House, read about your rights below, and then contact Agruss Law Firm, LLC, for a free case evaluation.

Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems.  With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of everything, so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal.

Who is Conrad House?

Conrad House is an Illinois nursing home. Conrad House is also known as Misericordia Home. Conrad House is located at 6300 N Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL 60660 with telephone number 773-273-2038. Conrad House has 12 beds and 12 staff members. The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act governs Conrad House.

Conrad House’s Address, Phone Number, and Contact Information

Conrad House 6300 N Ridge Ave Chicago, IL 60660 Tel: [phone] https://www.misericordia.com/

Conrad House Overview

Conrad House is a nursing home. Conrad House is also a for-profit corporation. Conrad House participates in Medicare and Medicaid. Conrad House is not in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (“CCRC”).  A CCRC offers multiple housing options and levels of care.  Typically, a CCRC offers the most service-intensive options for residents.  At a CCRC, residents may freely move from one level of care to another. Conrad House is also not in a hospital.  Some residents require more intensive care that can only be provided at a hospital.  Because Conrad House is not located at a hospital, residents cannot be easily and quickly transferred to an acute care setting, if necessary.

According to Medicare’s Nursing Home Care, Conrad House has no overall rating.  Altogether, Medicare gives Conrad House no star ratings.  We all know the more stars, the better.

Overall rating: not reported.  Medicare assigns the overall star rating based on a nursing home’s performance on three separate categories: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.  Each of these categories have their own star ratings, with more stars meaning better quality of care.

Health inspections: not reported.   More stars means fewer health risks.  

Fire safety inspections: not reported.   More stars means the facility is aimed at preventing fires, or protecting residents in the event of an emergency like a fire, hurricane, tornado, flood, power failure, or gas leak, etc.

Staffing: not reported.   More stars means a better level of staffing per nursing home resident.

Quality of resident care: not reported.   Once again, more stars are better.  Nursing homes that are certified by Medicare and Medicaid frequently report clinical information about their residents to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  CMS then assigns nursing homes a quality of resident care star rating based on their performance on 16 measures. These, and other measures reflect how well nursing homes care for their residents

Signs of Abuse and Neglect

If you notice that your loved one exhibits any of the following, you should act immediately:

Broken bones,

Bed sores,

Bruises,

Head injuries,

Medication overdose,

Dehydration or malnutrition,

Poor hygiene,

Soiled bedding,

Rapid weight loss,

Sudden agitation or emotional withdrawal,

Frequent crying, or

Complaints of poor treatment.

Illinois Nursing Home Statistics

When a loved can no longer live independently, a tough decision must be made about the best option for care.  Such a decision often must be made during a time of crisis, frequently when your loved one is ready to leave the hospital after a serious illness or operation. Illinois has approximately 1,400 long-term care facilities, or nursing homes, serving more than 100,000 residents, from the young to the elderly.  Sadly, nursing home abuse and neglect, also known as elder abuse, is far too common. The Illinois Department of Public Health’s 24-hour a day Nursing Home Hotline receives nearly 19,000 calls a year, and as a result, staff respond to more than 5,000 complaints per year.

Nursing Home Profits Over Patients

Elderly care is a complex and a delicate issue. We are dealing with one of the most vulnerable sections of the population ­some would argue than even more so than children.  So how are non- and for-profit facilities dealing with mounting costs and infamous mishaps, ranging from filthy conditions to negligent deaths?

There is need for 24/7 specialized attention, which can become quite expensive, depending on the extent of every individual requirement. For-profit nursing homes claim to deal with scant resources, with many stating meager or non-existent earnings. This allegation has been used to explain chronic staff shortage, among other shortcomings.  Medicare and Medicaid funds channeled into nursing homes have been increasingly redirected towards multi-million expenses, and most of the time, the recipients of these expenditures are subsidiaries of the same corporation running the centers.

Research conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago highlighted an increase in for-profit nursing home earnings, with quality of service diminishing simultaneously. The researchers, who were led by Lee Friedman of UIC’s School of Public Health, concluded that “patients receiving care in for-profit institutions were diagnosed with substantially more clinical signs of neglect than patients residing in not-for-profit facilities”. This trend appears to be worsening over time, raising concerns within officials and organizations in charge of regulating elderly care services.

There is a case for alarm, and suggestions to break this cycle within nursing homes range from implementing better financial controls in order to check how money is spent, to expanding requirements, tougher punishments and more rigorous scrutiny when it comes to giving out licenses.

Nursing Home Staffing Problems

Problems due to understaffing in senior citizen home centers have reached such alarming levels throughout the U.S., it is now considered a crime to undercut personnel.  The consequences of chronic staff shortage for patients in elderly care installations range from painful and uncomfortable conditions on a day-to-day basis, to wrongful deaths in extreme situations.

Many patients in these facilities cannot fend for themselves –physically, mentally, or both. Less staff means less help to set senior citizens in motion. This specific measure is essential, in order to limit or eliminate the chance of developing pressure ulcers –those terrible painful bed sores many geriatric patients disclose. Also, restrained patients are not moved that often; there is simply not enough help available to accompany them around.

Centers are faced with difficulties even to tackle simple tasks, like adequate hygiene procedures. Cases involving maggot-infested feeding tubes and insect-ridden installations have rocked the public conscience in recent years. Authorities need to place special focus on chronic staff shortage in nursing homes. The examples of how this situation causes pain, anguish, and death are undeniable.

Types of Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms. Know the warning signs, so you can better protect your loved ones. If you notice that your loved one exhibits any of the following, you should take action immediately.

Bed Rail Entrapment: Bed rails are commonly used to assist patients who may have limited mobility or a high risk of falling out of bed at night, and “bed rail entrapment” occurs when a patient becomes stuck between the mattress and bed rail, which can result in serious injury or even death. There are four main ways that bed rail entrapment occurs: in-between split bed rails; in-between a single bed rail’s bars; between the bed rail and mattress; and between the bed rail, mattress, headboard, or footboard. When bed rails are not properly implemented by the nursing home or particular employees, they may be legally liable if their negligence directly results in bed rail entrapment and injuries.

Bed Rail Injuries: Portable bed rails which are commonly used in medical facilities can be dangerous for elderly patients, and one study found over 150 fatalities involving these devices between 2003 and 2012; nearly 30% of these deaths occurred in nursing homes and similar facilities, and over 80% of victims were 60 years of age or older. The FDA identifies the main risks of bed rails as: suffocation or strangulation when the head or neck is entrapped; bruising, lacerations, or fractures in trapped limbs; severe agitation and/or confusion when entrapped in the bed rail; and death, in serious cases. When a nursing home resident suffers a bed rail injury, the nursing home, a particular staff member, the bed rail’s manufacturer, or a combination of these may be legally liable due to negligence.

Bed Sores: Bed sores are often called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. These sores originate at points of pressure. They develop inside-out, so that once the wound opens through the outer layer of skin, it is a full-blown ulcer and very susceptible to infection. These wounds range in severity from mild such as skin reddening to severe which are deep craters that go down through the muscle to the bone.  Bedsores can develop quickly, and treatment is often difficult – especially among elderly patients. These ulcers tend to be very difficult to heal, requiring a continuous effort to relieve the pressure between the bone and the exterior of the body. Unfortunately, nursing home residents with limited mobility, who are confined to the bed or chair, are uniquely at risk for suffering these injuries.

Burns: While burn accidents in nursing homes are entirely preventable, nursing home patients are unfortunately at greater risk of injury when these accidents occur due to decreased mobility or diminished hearing or eyesight, which can potentially result in delayed reaction-times. Common causes of burn accidents include: smoking hazards, such as when a facility allows indoor smoking; unsupervised candles, which can increase the risk of a fire; flammable medical hazards related to electrical equipment, flammable gases, or pressurized oxygen; or even faulty or exposed electrical wiring in the facility itself. The nursing home and/or particular staff members should be held accountable when negligence directly results in a burn accident and injuries.

Choking: Choking accidents can occur with medications, especially larger pills, but occur primarily during meals when nursing home patients and/or their food intake are not properly supervised by professionals. Some patients require restricted diets due to difficulty swallowing, which can result from neurological damage or disorders, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and other conditions, and are at greater risk of choking when eating unsupervised, while choking can also be a general risk for many elderly patients regardless of particular conditions. The nursing home may be considered negligent when lack of supervision or proper restriction of a patient’s diet directly results in a choking incident.

Clogged Breathing Tubes: Nursing home patients who need assistance with ventilation typically use an “endotracheal tube,” which is inserted through the nose or mouth and connects to a mechanical ventilator. Maintaining these tubes requires quality nursing care, and negligence can result in clogged breathing tubes, which can have serious and even fatal complications. These include clogging by secretions or mucus plugs, which can potentially result in respiratory distress, arrest, or complete or partial collapse of the lung; hypoxia, meaning a lack of oxygen from limited airflow; and sudden death. As such, these cases can be serious and result in medical malpractice or wrongful death claims to hold the nursing home and/or particular employees accountable for their negligence.

Dehydration and Malnutrition: Between 1999 and 2002 alone, over 10,000 nursing home patients lost their lives due to dehydration and/or malnutrition. Nursing homes must ensure that all residents have proper access to food and water, and negligence can occur when nursing homes have insufficient staffing to address each resident’s needs in a timely manner, while deliberate withholding of food and water from a resident is considered abuse and also grounds for a lawsuit. Elderly residents are especially prone to dehydration and malnutrition, which can result in serious health complications and even death, and nursing homes should be held accountable when their negligence results in starving or thirsty residents.

Dropped Patients: Some nursing home residents need assistance when standing or walking, and accidents and serious injuries can occur when staff members use bad judgement or do not follow the facility’s protocols. These drops can occur due to negligence when transferring a patient from a wheelchair to the shower, bath, or bed (or vice-versa) or from one chair to another, and resulting injuries may include fractured bones, traumatic brain injury (TBI), damage to internal organs, or even death. In addition to not following protocols, other risk factors for drops include poor training, understaffing, lack of equipment, or faulty equipment, and the most common root causes are the negligence of one or more particular employees and/or the facility’s failure to properly assess the patient’s needs.

Elopement: Wandering in a nursing home is a common risk for patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other psychological disorders, and “elopement” occurs when a wandering patient leaves the facility entirely. This can be very dangerous for patients who aren’t physically and/or psychologically fit to be by themselves, especially when unsupervised and out in public, and patients who have eloped due to a nursing home’s negligence have suffered serious injuries and even death. If a patient leaves his/her nursing home due to inadequate supervision, the nursing home and/or particular staff members may be legally responsible if an injury occurs.

Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse of nursing home patients can come in many forms, including insults, harassment, threats/intimidation, yelling/screaming, and other behaviors. While emotional abuse is often the fault of one or more particular employees rather than the nursing home itself, the facility may also be legally liable for this abuse if inadequate background screening resulted in the hiring of an abusive employee who shouldn’t have received the position. Unfortunately, patients who are more vulnerable and/or require more care than others may be at greater risk of emotional abuse, and in all cases nursing home employees should be held legally accountable for their negligence.

Falls: Falls in nursing homes result in more than 1,800 deaths and many more injuries per year - among elderly patients, an estimated 10 - 20% of falls result in serious injury. Although nursing homes generally have “fall prevention programs” in place to mitigate these accidents, the negligence of nursing home staff can increase these risks in many ways. Common examples include: physical hazards, such as wet floors, inadequate lighting or security, obstructed stairways or walkways, or defective equipment; improper prescription or dosage of sedatives, depressants, or similar medications which affect the central nervous system; improperly-fitted shoes or walking aids; inadequate supervision; and failure to provide necessary assistance.

Fractures: Elderly nursing home residents - especially those suffering from osteoporosis - are more prone to suffering broken bones or fractures in accidents, and residents aged 75 years and older are at the greatest risk of any age group. These injuries include spontaneous fractures, stress fractures, and traumatic fractures, and common causes include improperly moving or lifting a patient, inadequate supervision for patients in wheelchairs, inadequate training for handling a patient’s mobility requirements, and hazardous conditions within the facility which can result in slip-and-fall accidents. Fractures can require months of physical and psychological recovery, even when treated as soon as possible, and the nursing home may be legally liable when its negligence directly results in an accident and injury.

Infections: There is an unfortunate epidemic of infections acquired not outside of medical facilities, but within them, resulting in over 1.7 million cases per year for infections acquired within hospitals alone. Nursing homes are also vulnerable to these infections, which often come from blood transfusions, catheters, patient-rooms, surgical incisions or hardware, ventilators, and other medical equipment. Nursing homes must have comprehensive infection-control policies to protect everyone within the facility, including patients, staff, and visitors, and these policies cover hand-hygiene, personal protective equipment, quarantine protocols, environmental cleanliness, and other factors. The nursing home may be legally liable for an infection acquired within the facility due to negligence.

Inadequate Supervision: Inadequate supervision in nursing homes is often caused by understaffing and/or improper training of staff and can result in a wide range of problems for patients, from dehydration/malnutrition and bed sores to medication errors, mobility accidents, bed-related injuries, and even infections or medical complications. Nursing homes must always be properly staffed to address patients’ needs and respond to emergencies in a timely manner, and serious injuries and even death can result when patients aren’t properly supervised by staff members. If a patient suffers an injury or illness as a direct result of inadequate supervision, the nursing home may be legally liable.

Medication Errors: Preventable medication errors result in hundreds of thousands of adverse drug events (ADEs) per year, and in nursing homes they can result in serious injuries/illnesses and even death. These errors include prescribing the wrong medications or dosages, mislabeling medications, failure to take a patient’s complete medical history, and failure to note patients’ reactions to particular medications. Adverse drug events cost our society an estimated 98,000 lives and $3.5 billion per year, and nursing home residents are especially prone to irreversible damage or death from medication errors: about 800,000 adverse drug events occur per year in long-term care facilities.

Overmedication: Overmedication refers to a medication error in which a nursing home patient is prescribed too much of a medication, either in quantity or dosage. Unintentional overmedication can occur due to understaffing or inexperienced improperly-trained staff, and intentional overmedication can occur when a facility wrongfully intends to sedate a patient for extended periods of time - also known as a “chemical restraint” - rather than address the root of the patient’s problem, which often results from a flawed caretaking philosophy which regularly resorts to overmedication. This practice can result in serious injury, illness, or death whether intentional or not and nursing homes should be held legally accountable for these errors.

Physical Abuse: Physical abuse in nursing homes involves violence or physical force and can come in many forms. Common signs of abuse of a patient include scratches, bites, bruises, burns, or even inappropriate restraints. Statistics show that citizens over 80 years of age are at the highest risk of physical abuse in nursing homes, and unfortunately much of this abuse goes unreported: only one out of every six patients who are physically abused report the incident afterward, according to some estimates, resulting in organizations such as the CDC and NCPEA labelling elder abuse an “invisible problem.” As such, it’s important to understand both the physical and behavioral signs that abuse may be taking place.

Physical Assault: Assault and battery is the most blatant form of physical abuse in nursing homes and is among the most egregious violations of patients’ rights. Physical assault may include punching, slapping, kicking, shaking, and other forms of force, and while most victims in nursing homes were assaulted by staff members, assault among residents of the facility can also occur due to the staff’s negligence, particularly inadequate supervision. There are many risk factors for physical assault in nursing homes: some facilities do not properly screen their employees and may hire individuals who are unstable or have violent tendencies; inadequate staffing can place great stress on employees who then act irrationally; and some residents’ physical or psychological limitations make them unfortunate targets for violence.

Physical or Chemical Restraints: Patients’ dignity and ability to move freely in nursing homes must be respected. Sometimes, nursing home employees may utilize physical or chemical restraints to handle an agitated individual, but this should only be a last-resort option that is absolutely necessary. Unnecessary or excessive use of restraints not only violates a patient’s rights, but can also result in injuries to the patient, ranging from head injuries to bone fractures and internal bleeding. Patients who have a history of falls, low cognitive performance, or are taking antipsychotic medications may be at greater risk of negligent use of restraints, and the employee and/or facility should be held accountable for the resulting physical and/or psychological pain and suffering.

Sepsis: Sepsis can occur when bacteria infect the bloodstream and often develops from bedsores and similar medical complications. Severe sepsis, also known as “septic shock,” can be fatal if not treated as soon as possible, so it’s important that these conditions are closely monitored, and the root causes are identified. A nursing home may be legally liable if negligence resulted in the condition which led to sepsis, such as bedsores, or if negligence directly resulted in sepsis or septic shock. If a patient passes away from septic shock resulting directly from negligence, the nursing home or employees may be liable in a wrongful death claim.

Sexual Assault: Sexual assault in nursing homes is a widespread and often-underreported problem. Common signs of sexual abuse of a patient include bleeding or bruising in the genital area; stained or ripped clothing, linens, or bed sheets; unusual fear or anxiety, especially in the presence of a particular staff member; and depression or changes in mood. While nursing homes and their employees are fully legally obligated to ensure that residents are safe, and their rights are protected, it’s important to maintain open communication with your loved one to determine as soon as possible if such horrendous abuse is taking place.

Wandering: Adequate staffing and supervision for patients is essential in nursing homes, and some patients suffering from psychological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, may be prone to wandering when left unsupervised. This can be dangerous, as unassisted patients may be at risk of falling, which can result in serious injury or even death. Other risk factors include unfamiliarity with a new environment, recent changes in medication, and unmet physical needs related to hunger or hygiene. If a patient wanders in a nursing home without proper supervision and suffers an injury, the facility and/or particular staff members may be legally responsible for the injury due to negligence.

Wheelchair Accidents: While almost all wheelchair accidents are entirely preventable, they typically occur when a patient is being transported from a wheelchair to a chair or bed (or vice-versa) and can result in serious injuries or even death. These accidents can occur when staff members are inexperienced, improperly trained, or in violation of the facility’s standard protocols for transporting patients, each of which may be considered negligence on behalf of the employee and/or nursing home itself. Other common causes include inadequate supervision, failure to apply brakes when the wheelchair is not in motion, or improper securement of the wheelchair in a vehicle.

Wrongful Death: Wrongful death in a nursing home is the ultimate negligence for which no compensation is ever fully sufficient. The most common causes in these cases are dehydration and malnutrition, which can also make patients more susceptible to infections and illnesses; and medication errors, which typically consist of prescribing the wrong medication, improper dosage, or multiple medications which should not be mixed, all of which can be fatal in certain cases. When a patient’s wrongful death was a direct result of the negligence of a nursing home or particular employees within it, the surviving family has a legal right to pursue compensation and hold the negligent party accountable for their wrongdoing.

Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Can Help You

If you believe a loved one has been abused or neglected at a nursing home, contact us for a free consultation. Agruss Law Firm, LLC, represents victims of nursing home abuse and neglect throughout Illinois. We will handle your case quickly, advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. This litigation strategy will provide you with the best possible compensation. Plus, we do not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire our firm—just the opportunity to seek justice. Protect your rights by contacting us today.

See More Here: Conrad House

Agruss Law Firm LLC 4809 N Ravenswood Ave #419, Chicago, IL 60640 https://goo.gl/maps/5g8VjKMDr3k

from https://www.agrusspersonalinjury.com/conrad-house/

[ikilledmyocs]

WE ARE UNSUPER / an introduction

⭐ new adult, science fiction, fantasy, dystopian ❄ implied & actual abuse, substance abuse, violence & gore, and more ⚡ currently 42k/90k, writing book 1/3 💧 superhumans, rebellion, enemies to lovers, betrayal, plagues 🔥 pinterest / spotify / @unsuperhq

The floating city of Union only runs because of superhumans. Without them, everyone would still be stuck on the ground battling the floods and the sickness coming with it. It's all thanks to the last remaining Savior, Governor Sarseroza, for keeping superhumans in place. But a man like him doesn't live this long without some terrible secrets. Callista Sarseroza just returned to Union after spending the last four years in the mysterious United Academy. She comes back to friends she doesn't know, paths she doesn't want to get trapped in, and a father watching her every move. While the world has been rapidly changing, Callista has no idea who she is anymore. She wants nothing more than to decide her own fate and escape from everything. Britta Kvale is a respected member of Unsuper, the superhuman rebel group working to take down the Governor and his army. An Icier the group rescued not long ago from the Flood Floors; she quickly rose through the ranks thanks to her brutality. She’s ready to turn the entire place upside-down to get her revenge. But Unsuper doesn’t want that. They want to take the city for themselves and turn it into their vision of a superhuman haven where they can make their own choices. In a normal world, these two would never cross paths if they had anything to do with it. But this is not a normal world, it is one on the brink of falling apart. When Callista is taken as a bartering chip by Unsuper, Britta begins to see a side of Unsuper she’d never seen before. She throws herself down the path of learning the truth about the group, trying to understand how they got here and where they’re going. Meanwhile, Callista discovers things about herself she’d never imagined, things she had buried deep to forget. And she doesn’t like where she’s headed. The only thing these two have in common is that they’ve had every choice ripped away from them. Yet, when they come together, they find that they can finally make their own path. But there is a price to this, and it will cost them everything.

#writeblr #wip intro #wip introduction #wtwcommunity #case: we are unsuper #evidence: wip #evidence: edit #blank blog means introducing unsuper for the 50th time #but ive actually made progress :D turns out. outlining helps. who wouldve thought.

[ikilledmyocs]

WE ARE UNSUPER / the leaders

picrew credit

i've been meaning to introduce the leaders of unsuper properly but have never gotten around to it since there's so many and i am #lazy. here we are though! i'll introduce each leader and their location along with their advisors in the least spoilery way i can. continued under the cut cause it's pretty long!

LEADER OF UNSUPER - KAE MULLER - ABILITY: BLOODBATH

kae is the current leader and one of the founders of unsuper. because of how large the group has become, most leaders generally make their own decisions. however, when it comes to larger operations that are extremely risky— such as prison break-outs—they have to be approved by her. kae is currently in astiana due to unsuper having the most struggles there. kae is extremely well-respected around the world by superhumans, and disliked by everyone else.

ADVISED BY: VIENNA THOMPSON-MULLER, TEDDY, NADZIA, [REDACTED], [REDACTED]

MOON [REDACTED] - LED BY [REDACTED] - ABILITY: TRAVELLER

she's from the moon prisons. that's all i can really say.

ADVISED BY: [REDACTED], [REDACTED], [REDACTED]

THE [REDACTED] - LED BY [REDACTED] - ABILITY: SKINSTEAL

not sure how to explain this one, but he does have to do with the grounders.

ADVISED BY: [REDACTED]

UNION CITY - LED BY ELIJAH REY - ABILITY: CONTROLLER

elijah is one of the founders of unsuper, and was officially appointed the leader of union city when he was 19 (2741). elijah has been trying to take kae's place in unsuper for years after having the most successful streak of missions and having the majority of unsuper already in union. he believes he can lead better, but many fear elijah is too violent and will destroy unsuper.

ADVISED BY: XANDER REY, KENNA CARIDEO

ASTIANA CITY - LED BY SHIVANI - ABILITY: FLYER

shivani is the newest leader of astiana in their rotating door of leaders. astiana has been struggling with a lack of construction superhumans due to the flood plague striking the city, leading to many floors and sectors collapsing to the ground. unsuper's numbers have been dwindling, and their focus is on evacuating as many as they can back to union.

ADVISED BY: NO ONE

UNDER ISLANDS - LED BY ANDRES KRUUS - ABILITY: WINDMILL

andres is another founder of unsuper, who left union after the assassination of savior romano in 2738. andres fled to the independent under cities where superhumans have more control due to the scattered islands rather than floating cities, along with smaller numbers. andres' focus is on building a city where superhumans can live freely and everyone works to keep the place running.

ADVISED BY: DAVI AGUILAR

DRY SUN CITIES - LED BY ZAHAVI - ABILITY: LUNG STEALER

zahavi is the leader of the dry sun cities, who founded his own superhuman rebel group during the first outbreak of the flood plague. the dsc had only recently began building their cities and was still very small and cramped. they had the largest amount of deaths from the plague in the shortest amount of time, and superhumans were being worked at a rapid pace to build new sectors. zahavi was approached by kae to work together after the plague cooled down, expanding his forces and creating unity for superhumans around the world.

ADVISED BY: IMANI, SAMUEL, NASRIYA

SPRING POWERS - LED BY ESTEBAN - ABILITY: GRAVITIER

esteban is the leader of the 'spring' powers, he joined unsuper after being approached by a recruiter during a job. esteban worked on the lowest sector building the structures that keep the city floating. esteban is closest to britta and often just goes with whatever her decision is.

SUMMER POWERS - LED BY MANAL - ABILITY: FLOODER

manal is the leader of the 'summer' powers. she joined unsuper two years ago after being rescued from the flood floors. elijah offered her the position after hearing about her objections to many of his plans, as her thoughts offer him different perspectives that help unsuper look better.

AUTUMN POWERS - LED BY DIANA - ABILITY: INCINERATOR

diana is the leader of 'autumn' powers, she joined unsuper on her own after discovering an undercover member on the street. she's been in the position the longest compared to the other three and holds the most respect from all of unsuper. diana is extremely close to kenna.

WINTER POWERS - LED BY BRITTA - ABILITY: ICIER

britta is the leader of the 'winter' powers. she joined unsuper at the same time as manal— they were from the same sector of the flood floors. she rose quickly through the ranks of unsuper as a raider and fighter, and was offered the position as leader a few months before. britta is not well-liked around unsuper because she's very unapproachable and mean.

#case: we are unsuper #evidence: wip #evidence: edit #suspect: britta kvale #suspect: elijah rey #suspect: kae muller #IVE HAD THIS IN MY DRAFTS FOR 7 MONTHS #and finally cracked it all out in an hour