Alabama Nursing Home Neglect

Time to give

Pickens County Community Action Committee welcomes volunteers 18 and older for several activities. Call 205-367-1287.

Prevent Teen Pregnancy

The Tuscaloosa Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy needs volunteer speakers who have experienced being teen parents, or who are choosing abstinence until marriage. Volunteers must have transportation. Young adults preferred. Call 205-366-0207.

Children of the Village Network

The Children of the Village Network Inc., the children’s policy council of Sumter County, needs a grant writer to identify and apply for grants that will sustain existing programs and help the organization with expansion. Call Vanessa at 205-652-7364.

DHR

The Tuscaloosa County Department of Human Resources is recruiting people to serve as foster or adoptive parents for children in need. Call 205-554-1100 or visit www.dhr.alabama.gov .

Phoenix House

Phoenix House needs workers (older than 12) to run the cash register and sort clothes at its volunteer-run Mustard Seed thrift store. Call 205-758-3806.

Teen Moms

Teen Moms, a division of Youth for Christ, needs mentors and volunteers to work with teenage mothers in various club settings as well as volunteer in the office, provide snacks for school meetings and prepare and deliver meal for outside school events. Volunteers are also needed for the monthly newsletter mailing. Call 205-752-3361.

Foster Care

Brewer-Porch Children’s Center Therapeutic Foster Care Program needs families interested in caring for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children ages 5-18. Potential parents must be at least 25 and be willing to complete training. Call 205-348-0876.

Theatre Tuscaloosa

Theatre Tuscaloosa accepts volunteers 16 and older, who can see the shows for free, for ushering, concessions and handing out programs. Call 205-391-2277.

Ability Alliance

Ability Alliance, a nonprofit case management agency for individuals with intellectual disabilities, is looking for volunteers for fundraising and grant writing, as well as volunteers to be receptionists or to teach driver’s education classes. Call 205-333-1577, ext. 211. The alliance provides services to individuals with mental retardation living in Tuscaloosa, Bibb and Pickens counties. Call 205-333-1577, ext. 211.

Car Nut Museum

The Car Nut Museum, a tax-exempt, charitable organization in Winfield, needs volunteers for advertising and public relations, exhibit and collections management, and gift shop operations. Call Skip Addison at 205-495-8604 or e-mail carnutclub@gmail.com .

Common Nursing Home Neglect « Alabama Injury Attorney

In 1987, the U.S. Congress passed an Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, known as OBRA. Part of that act contained laws that require states to maintain minimum standards in nursing homes and other care facilities. Those minimum requirements are to be kept or the facility may be in violation of the law.

Most care givers and facilities have plans in place to ensure those standards are maintained with all residents. However, nursing homes, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities are usually privately owned and operated. They operate for profit. The pursuit of profit can sometimes lead to poor staffing. Poor or inadequate staffing may lead to neglect. Loved ones in such facilities should be closely observed to ensure that no neglect is taking place. Below are some common signs that may indicate resident neglect.

Physical Signs of Possible Neglect

Pressure ulcers or bedsores, which may occur at bony prominences such as shoulders, hips, buttocks, elbows, knees and ankles. The cause is having the resident lie too long in a fixed position. Blood circulation becomes poor and skin begins to breakdown causing ulcers or sores in these areas.

Common procedures require the resident be moved often to prevent these from occurring. If these are seen on a loved one in a nursing home, bring it to the attention of staff. If they continue to be observed after several visits, neglect of the person may be taking place.

The strong odor of urine or feces in the resident’s room or on the resident may be a sign of neglect. Incontinence is common in the elderly. When it comes to incontinence, undergarments should be changed frequently and the resident cleaned. If such odors are prominent at each visit to the loved one, this could be an indication of poor care.

Unexplained bruises on the person are possible signs of moving or handling the resident in an improper manner. Food stains consistently found on the clothing after meals should not be tolerated. Everyone has accidents but if there are stained clothes on the person time after time, something is wrong.

Observe Staff

Watch quietly when staff enters the loved one’s room. Are they wearing gloves when they come in and touch the resident? Where were they before entering the room? They could be transmitting germs and bacteria to the resident. Clean gloves should be worn with each resident and put on only after entering the room.

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