Recent Articles

Keeping Your Loved One Out Of A Nursing Home

February 08, 2012 15:30

In an article in yesterday's Los Angeles Times, Karen Ravin provides some helpful information for those of us who have aging parents or loved ones. As Ms. Ravin correctly points out: Our desire for our loved ones to be safe (possibly in an assisted living facility or nursing home) must compete...

New Office Location

February 07, 2012 21:43

You may have wondered where we've been. First, please accept my apologies for not posting information in quite a while. I will be here regularly from here on. I wanted to let you know Kormanik Hallam & Sneed, LLP, has relocated. We have purchased an old house on the east side of...

Pre-Litigation Screening - The First Step In The Legal Process

November 14, 2011 15:00

Although I am a lawyer, I do not typically write on "ins-and-outs" of nursing home or assisted facility law. Frankly, the laws can be complicated and do not typically lend themselves to a relatively "short" (for a lawyer, anyway) post on this site. I'm going to change it up...

Green Houses - Putting The "Home" Back Into A Nursing Home

November 01, 2011 15:17

Imagine walking into a traditional nursing home for the first time. There is a reception area at the front door. Turn right and walk down a hallway - there are resident rooms on both sides. There is typically a nurse's station. in amongst the rooms. There may be medication carts in the hallway....

Relocating From A Nursing Home Facility Can Be Harmful To Nursing Home Residents

October 25, 2011 18:25

Did you know: Changing nursing home or assisted living facilities can be hazardous to a resident's health? That would certainly appear to be the case and now there is science to back that fact up. A recent article in the Science Daily, describes the results of a study by the University of...

Dementia And Antipsychotic Medications In Nursing Homes

September 30, 2011 18:53

A recent story by Matt Sedensky, addresses the use of antipsychotic medications in treating dementia in nursing home residents. The story begins with the story of Hazel Eng, a resident of the Ecumen home in North Branch, Minn. "Day after day, Hazel Eng sat on her couch, a blank stare on her ...

September 21 - Today Is World Alzheimer's Day

September 21, 2011 14:19

According to the Center for Disease Control's website, September 21 is World Alzheimer's Day. Here are some disturbing facts about Alzheimer's disease: It is currently estimated that approximately 2.6 million to 5.2 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, depending upon the ...

Therapy Dogs - Does Your Nursing Home Have Them?

September 14, 2011 16:01

I am a dog person. I love dogs. I believe they bring joy into our lives like few other things. That is why over the past 20 or so years, I have owned a dog. Pictured here is my dog Maggie May. As you can see, she is very patient with me. When I first moved to Idaho, I was...

Selecting The Right Nursing Home - Kick The Tires

August 31, 2011 18:59

At one of my previous employers, we had a saying: "It is important to do some 'ground-truthing' before drawing any conclusions." Ground-truthing is, of course, going out into the field and seeing the place with your own eyes because you cannot take as gospel what you are told by others. A...

Can An Assisted Living Facility Kick You Out Because Of Your End Of Life Wishes?

August 25, 2011 15:15

I came across an interesting article by Paula Span in the New York Times about a couple's end-of-life decision and a New Mexico assisted living facility's reaction to it. Honestly, the title says it all: "Deciding to Die, Then Shown the Door. The story is about Armond and Dorothy Rudolph...