Thursday, January 30, 2020

Patient Abuse in Nursing Facilities Essay Example for Free

Patient Abuse in Nursing Facilities Essay Patient abuse in nursing facilities is becoming more prominent. Abuse is not only physical, but emotional, sexual, neglect and financial exploitations. The elderly are the most vulnerable and least likely to complain, so unfortunately they are the targets. Most families research in depth about the nursing facility that they will place their loved one, in hopes that abuse doesn’t occur. Although the research is done, families should still look for signs and symptoms of abuse since they are leaving their loved one in stranger’s hands. According to (Center), A recent investigation concluded that employment checks do not always provide adequate protection against elder mistreatment. For instance, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services prohibit nursing homes from hiring persons with a prior history of committing abuse in a nursing home setting, but those who have been convicted of other forms of abuse like child abuse may still be hired. Some states require a criminal background check, while others do not. Even so, these checks usually do not uncover convictions in another state. Furthermore, in some states, non-caregiving staff such as maintenance workers and others without a direct patient care role do not undergo criminal checks even though they may have direct access to patients and patient areas. Understaffing is a common cause of nursing home abuse. When staff members become overworked, they may begin to lose their patience with the nursing home residents. In addition, understaffing leaves many workers unsupervised or untrained, which can lead to nursing home abuse. Still, physical abuse in nursing homes is illegal, and the owners of the assisted living facility can be held liable if a resident is subject to nursing home abuse or neglect. Sometimes, it is difficult to identify nursing home residents who have been physically abused. Very often, members of the nursing home staff will state that the residents injuries were the result of a fall rather than the actual causenursing home abuse. In addition, the staff member may bully the resident into agreeing with their story. Because detecting signs of physical nursing home abuse can be difficult, loved ones should pay careful attention when visiting the nursing home. Be aware of the common signs of physical nursing home abuse, including: unexplained bruising, cuts, sprains, fractures and broken bones and open wounds. In addition to physical signs, nursing home patients who have been physically abused may also show changes in their behavior. If the resident appears withdrawn, fearful, nervous or depressed, they may be suffering from physical nursing home abuse. The most common type of physical abuse is battery, which can include forcing the resident into restraints for no valid reason. Other forms of physical abuse in nursing homes include: overmedication, use of excessive restraints, chemical or physical, for no reason, burning, pushing, shoving, force feeding, hitting the resident with the hand or an object, pulling the residents hair and mishandling the resident when transporting them from beds, bathrooms etc ( (Morgan). According to (Emotional Abuse in Nursing Homes), Emotional abuse in nursing homes is not as overt as other forms of abuse. Regardless, the effects that emotional abuse in nursing homes can result in are damaging to the happiness, health, and other areas of that resident’s life. Not knowing what signs to look for can allow emotional abuse in nursing homes to continue. Often times, a resident thinks that telling someone about abuse suffered, including emotional abuse in nursing homes, will make them a burden to the family or they feel afraid of enduring an increased amount of abuse. If emotional abuse in nursing homes is occurring the family members should immediately notify the facility. The facility should amend the situation at once but if the emotional abuse in nursing homes persists, the family should take further action. The chances of the emotional abuse in nursing homes occurring to just one resident are very slim so other residents are probably suffering as well. Emotional abuse in nursing homes can include humiliation, harassment, threat of punishment, deprivation, and intimidation, as well as other behaviors. One of the most pervasive forms of nursing home abuse today is that of neglect. Nursing home neglect is too frequently overlooked and results all too often in a decline in general health and eventually the death of those elderly people entrusted to nursing home care facilities. The problem can occur anywhere and can take many shapes. What makes this particularly sinister is that it can be overlooked or ignored for so long. Even upon repeated visits to a nursing home, the signs of nursing home neglect can remain hidden. In order to understand the scope of the problem, it is important to know the different types of nursing home neglect and nursing home abuse. The most obvious, most egregious, and the first that comes to mind for many people is physical neglect. Unfortunately common in nursing homes today, neglect takes many forms, however, all of which are disturbing in their own right. Any of the following forms of neglect warrant contacting a nursing home abuse lawyer to bring justice to the victim of neglect, as well as make conditions safer for other residents (Center). According to (Financial Exploitation of Nursing Home Residents), Financial exploitation of the elderly occurs when an individual takes or uses the money or property of a senior for any wrongful use, or with the intent to defraud the elder. Senior citizens who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities can be victims of financial abuse by their direct caregivers or by the administrators of the nursing homes. Financial exploitation is defined as the wrongful use of an individual’s finances or property for another’s advantage. This can occur when residents personal or financial resources are taken from them without their consent, either because the residents were incapacitated and unable to give consent or because they were subjected to threats, intimidation, manipulation, and deception. Examples of financial exploitation include cashing an elderly person’s checks without authorization, forging a senior’s signature, stealing an older person’s money or possessions, or deceiving an older person into signing any contract, will, or other document. According to (Nursing Home Abuse), It is critical for every resident to understand their nursing home patient rights in order to successfully acclimate to the very different living environment of a skilled nursing facility. Patients and their families should become well versed in the policies and procedures inherent to life in the facility and must know exactly what they can and should expect when it comes to care and safety. In the US, the federal government and each state government have written legislation which guarantees each nursing home resident specific and general rights while under professional care. Most foreign counties have similar laws enacted to protect elders from abuse and neglect in nursing facilities, as well. When your loved one is placed in a nursing home, it is required that they are given a written bill of patient’s rights. It is recommended that the family and loved one go over this bill of rights in detail so they are familiar with the rights of their loved one. Most often, nursing home patients cannot defend themselves, due to several different reasons: physical health, mental health, social isolation or dependency issues. Unless someone comes forward for these patients, they won’t get help and no one is penalized for their actions. Many do not know how to report nursing home abuse, so they remain silent and struggle with their disturbing knowledge of the abuse or neglect. Once the repost is filed, the organization that is responsible, will investigate thoroughly and will hold the person/persons responsible for their actions. If you are a family member and suspect any minor abuse or neglect, it is always wise to report the activity to the nursing home administrator directly. Tell them that you have evidence of the abuse and that you intend to take this matter as far as it will go. Do not back down. If the infraction is minor and resulted in no real damage, then you may consider allowing them to discipline the staff member internally. Just be sure to watch out for any retribution which may come back to your loved one if the staff member is not fired. If the infraction is more serious or you do not feel completely confident that the matter will be settled in the best interest of your loved one, then take the concern one step further. Immediately call police and report the incident. Additionally, contact adult protective services, your ombudsman, your local nursing home regulatory agency and Medicare, if applicable. You might also consider consulting with a nursing home abuse attorney and filing a civil lawsuit (Nursing Home Abuse). Although abuse in nursing facilities is becoming more prominent, there are several things that family members can do to protect their loved one from being a victim from this horrible crime. The elderly are very vulnerable, but they do not deserve the abuse that the under paid, aggravated staff member may give them. If someone suspects abuse in a nursing facility, they should report it immediately. If not, this makes you just as guilty.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Linking Brain and Behavior: Reflections on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Fetal Neural Transplantat :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Linking Brain and Behavior: Reflections on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Fetal Neural Transplantation Neurodegenerative diseases are caused by malfunctions within the motor sector of the nervous system. These malfunctions, which are caused by the presence or absence of hormones, are a direct result of neural cell deterioration within the brain. Thus, biological problems of the brain, or rather predicaments arising between cellular connections within the brain, and the treatment of such conditions, illustrate how the brain organizes movement and behavior (11). The brain is the body's communication headquarters. It obtains a myriad of information from various parts of the sensory system and processes this information in an organized fashion. It then relays sensory input to different parts of the motor system. Such messages from the brain dictate specific muscular and behavioral patterns. Thus, this neural system is highly depended on a cause and effect system, where the slightest offset to the assembly-line fashion of cellular interaction results in major behavioral abnormalities(11). Moreover, there are two particular areas of the brain that are specifically related to motor malfunctions: the substania nigra and the striatum (the caudate nucleus and the putamen). The cells of the nigra synapse with cells of the striatum, which serves as the controller of motor functions such as walking, balance, and muscular movement. Information from the nigra cells passes through the synapses with the aid of a specific hormone, dopamine, which is a signi ficant chemical transmitter in the brain. Because the existence of dopamine is essential to the function of the substania nigra, it is also essential for the various muscular activities controlled by the striatum, such as walking, balance, etc (9). Neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's disease, thus, illustrate two very different behavioral patterns that are subsequently caused by two opposite and extreme biological abnormalities, where the nigra-striatum neural communication assemblage is hampered. Parkinson's disease (PD) results from a depletion in the amount of dopamine produced by the brain. At the onset of the disease, dopamine-secreting cells of the substania nigra, either because of genetic factors or environmental toxins, experience mass cell death. Thus, the nigra cells are unable to form synapses through which they secrete and relay dopamine to the striatum in a neural circuit within the basal ganglia (11). The striatum is also a coordination center for chemical messengers. When there is a decrease in dopamine levels, the striatum experiences a chemical imbalance (2). Linking Brain and Behavior: Reflections on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Fetal Neural Transplantat :: Biology Essays Research Papers Linking Brain and Behavior: Reflections on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Fetal Neural Transplantation Neurodegenerative diseases are caused by malfunctions within the motor sector of the nervous system. These malfunctions, which are caused by the presence or absence of hormones, are a direct result of neural cell deterioration within the brain. Thus, biological problems of the brain, or rather predicaments arising between cellular connections within the brain, and the treatment of such conditions, illustrate how the brain organizes movement and behavior (11). The brain is the body's communication headquarters. It obtains a myriad of information from various parts of the sensory system and processes this information in an organized fashion. It then relays sensory input to different parts of the motor system. Such messages from the brain dictate specific muscular and behavioral patterns. Thus, this neural system is highly depended on a cause and effect system, where the slightest offset to the assembly-line fashion of cellular interaction results in major behavioral abnormalities(11). Moreover, there are two particular areas of the brain that are specifically related to motor malfunctions: the substania nigra and the striatum (the caudate nucleus and the putamen). The cells of the nigra synapse with cells of the striatum, which serves as the controller of motor functions such as walking, balance, and muscular movement. Information from the nigra cells passes through the synapses with the aid of a specific hormone, dopamine, which is a signi ficant chemical transmitter in the brain. Because the existence of dopamine is essential to the function of the substania nigra, it is also essential for the various muscular activities controlled by the striatum, such as walking, balance, etc (9). Neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's disease, thus, illustrate two very different behavioral patterns that are subsequently caused by two opposite and extreme biological abnormalities, where the nigra-striatum neural communication assemblage is hampered. Parkinson's disease (PD) results from a depletion in the amount of dopamine produced by the brain. At the onset of the disease, dopamine-secreting cells of the substania nigra, either because of genetic factors or environmental toxins, experience mass cell death. Thus, the nigra cells are unable to form synapses through which they secrete and relay dopamine to the striatum in a neural circuit within the basal ganglia (11). The striatum is also a coordination center for chemical messengers. When there is a decrease in dopamine levels, the striatum experiences a chemical imbalance (2).

Monday, January 13, 2020

The Controversies in Home Schooling Education

Public schooling has been the predominate form of education in the United States for many decades; however, recent statistics demonstrate a rise in the number of home schooling participants. On the other hand, the majority of these participants eventually return to public school systems once they reach the high school level. The reasons for this movement are based on the opportunities for socialization and academic competition provided by public schools. Public education also provides superior classroom interaction directed by a more qualified faculty. Although home schooling has become an appealing educational alternative, public schools continue to provide better opportunities resulting in a more well rounded citizen. Despite the increasing number of home schooled students due to overprotective parents, public schools continue to offer the best form of education in our country today. To begin, public schools provide a more satisfactory and effective form of education. In home schooling, no competition is attainable to push the child to achieve a higher level of education; however, public schools offer a sophisticated classroom setting in which the students are constantly competing with each other. Many of the children attending public school work hard to earn the most efficient grade in the classroom, but a child learning at home probably will not care for his or her grade. What parent would give a low grade or even fail their child? Every parent feels that his or her student must obtain the most adequate grade. Next, in public school, a student can receive help from several different people within a classroom. To explain, one may ask another student or the teacher for assistance on an assignment (Hawkins 57). Such a variety of help is not attainable in the antisocial home schooling society. Another vital reasonon for a child to go to public school rather than home school would be that of the child's outlook on society. William Martin, Director of communications for the National Education Association, the nation's largest teacher's union explains: If, say, a fifth-grader goes through a book at an accelerated pace, It's good for him to see other kids who struggle with the same material, so when he goes into the work force, he will know that not everyone learns at the same pace,† (Hawkins 58). Furthermore, a student that is taught at home by parents will grow up acting and thinking the same as the parents do. It is important for a child to find his or her own personality with their own visions and outlooks, not just mimic that of their parents. Public schools offer a plethora of different opinions and views concerning world issues and people. A child that understands that everyone thinks differently is a child who will succeed in the real world. Along with these ideas, one more plausible reason is public schools help to provide for a more well rounded citizen. Many participants in the public/home school controversy argue whether or not home schooling impedes the development of social skills in a student. â€Å"In a survey of 115 educators, more than 80 percent believed home schoolers were at a disadvantage in the social development of the child,† (Hawkins 57). Activities may be available to home schoolers, such as church activities, sports leagues, and scouting; however, home schooling deprives the child of important social experiences. These â€Å"social experiences† create an inspirational part in a students' life. Public schoolers have this opportunity with the involvement of school sports, clubs, dances, and other social activities. With out these didactic experiences, a student could result in a socially immature young adult. Along with social skills comes the topic of friends or acquaintances. The majority of children under the age of 18 rely on school as the primary source of social interaction. Friends are easily made at public school because of the many opportunities to interact with other students in class, on the bus, or at school functions. Being home schooled until third grade, it was hard for me to make friends at a young age. The other children that lived on my street would often poke fun at and would not play with me. They did not understand why every morning when left for school I would just be waking up or why when they would return home from school I was in the front yard playing with my dog. One of the little boys who lived at the end of my street thought that it was cool my mom was my teacher, but most of the others child were still cruel to me. Later when did attend public school for the first time, I remember being so nervous and shy. Bathroom breaks, raising your hand to speak, and walking in a line, all seemed foreign to me. My mom had not covered all the new rules and regulations that accompanied public school. It took a while to get used to. While I did enjoy getting to sleep in and work at my own pace, home school was an experience I will never force on my own children. In another instance, arguments arise over the consequences once home schoolers reach the adult working level. Gary Marx, senior associate executive director at the American Association of School Administrators, comments that â€Å"while the parents may seem to be saving their children from confronting diversity in thinking, race, economic status and social skills, in the long run, these young people will still have to go into the world. And these kids later will feel deprived,† (Hawkins 58). In the real world, business people need the skills to work well with others. Deprived home schoolers will find it difficult to interact in the work place because of their lack of contact with other children during their previous years. These students will find that adapting to a more social atmosphere is difficult at an adult level. In one instance, a girl, Teren Williams, was searching for a job. The job for which Teren applied almost did not hire her because they felt that her home school education would cause her social skills to not be â€Å"strong enough,† (Kennedy 50). Teren shows only one example of difficulty faced by home schoolers. Many other instances occur where they overcome problems due to their social standings. A controversial argument has also occurred over the issue of UIL activities in public schools. Many home schoolers, to help advance their social skills, want to participate in these activities. The concerned parents of these students feel that because they pay school taxes, their children have the right to participate in UIL extracurricular activities. However, many public schoolers feel that giving home school students UIL rights would be unethical. Allowing home schoolers to be involved in a public school's UIL program would cause a school district to lose money in the long run. Also, a concern that affects public schoolers involves the no-pass, no-play rules. Grades are really not determined at the home school level; therefore, distinguishing a passing or failing home-schooled student would produce a difficult task for a parent. Another reason that home schoolers should not be allowed to participate involves the fact that they do not have the competitive advantage that a public school student is subject to. Through the opportunity of being in school and training at the same time for that UIL activity, public schoolers can create a stronger UIL organization than if a home school student just came to play. For these reasons, â€Å"most states resist the idea of home schoolers taking courses or participating in extracurricular activities† at a public school (Hawkins 58). Many believe that the involvement process for home schoolers would cheat the public school students who actually work hard to achieve their goals in a more social setting. Even though home school is on the rise, public school still provides a more adequate form of education. More over public education advances the ideals of and preserves the democracy in the youth as it equalizes the opportunities among the different races and classes. In conclusion public school offers an effective form of education that produces well-rounded individuals ready to enter the world.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Levi Coffin Essay - 1556 Words

Levi Coffin was a well-known abolitionist, and a very important individual to the success of the Underground Railroad. Dictionary.com describes an abolitionist as a person who tries to stop or get rid of any law or practice that is harmful to the society (â€Å"Abolitionist†). Levi Coffin was that and much more. He and most of the people involved in the Quaker religion believed that all men were equal and it was his divine purpose to do everything in his power to help. Levi took it a bit further than most. He was exposed to slavery at a young age and was taught by his family not to support it; he took those teachings and applied them to various stages of his life; including his young adulthood, marriage and retirement (Ludwig). Levi Coffin†¦show more content†¦Later the masters of the slaves, that were attending, began to oppose the school and it was then liquidated (Powell). Shortly after in 1822 Levi followed his brother-in-law Benjamin White to Indiana. The persecu tion of Quakers had become unbearable in the Southern Territories. He lived with Mr. White for about a year and then returned to North Carolina. â€Å"He was convinced that Quakers and slavery could not coexist and decided that he himself would move to Indiana† (â€Å"Levi Coffin†, Wikipedia). Fig. 1. â€Å"Levi Coffin.† Wikipedia Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. 8 Dec 2011. Web. 16 Jan 2012. In 1824, Coffin married Catherine White at the Hopewell Church in Guildford County. Four years later in 1826 they moved to Newport, Indiana, which is now Fountain city (Powell). The couple’s move to Indiana was postponed when Catherine became pregnant with their first child, Jesse, the first of six children to come. The Coffins opened a general store and Levi became a prosperous business man. Soon after the family had relocated in Newport, they discovered they were on the path of the Underground Railroad. The fugitives using the Underground Railroad generally stayed with those colored people of the community and they more often than not did not reach their destination. (Coffin) Levi Coffin was quoted in his book,Show MoreRelated The Underground Railroad in North Carolina Essay1277 Words   |  6 PagesUnderground Railroad in North Carolina The Underground Railroad was perhaps the most active and dramatic protest action against slavery in United States history and as we look at the Underground Railroad in North Carolina we will focus on the Quakers, Levi Coffin’s early years, and the accounts of escaped slaves from North Carolina. The unique blend of southern slave holder and northern abolitionist influences in the formation of North Carolina served to make the state an important link in the effortsRead MoreThe Underground Railroad1145 Words   |  5 Pagesfamous was Levi Coffin. A source I found very helpful was Documenting The American South. What I learned from this source was that Levi Coffin was better known as the President of the Underground Railroad because of his involvement in the abolitionist movement. As Hoskins notes in this source Coffin and his wife Catherine moved to Wayne County, Indiana where they opened up a store and were first introduced to the Underground Railroad (Hoskins). In 1847 the c ouple moved to Ohio because Coffin didn’t feelRead MoreThe Underground Railroad And Its Impact On American Culture1608 Words   |  7 Pages The Underground Railroad was an innovated organization whose main goal was to free slaves. This amazing system was founded in the 18th century, by a man names Levi Coffin. It used as an escape for any slaves in the South. . The courageous people within the organization help to shape a new America. The course of this organization ultimately changed the course of American history. This legendary organization was known for many things, but in retrospect it help spark the civil war. To have a fullRead MoreEssay about History of Slavery in America1731 Words   |  7 PagesWest Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kentucky. The people who worked in the Underground Railroad were anti-slavery and were either white families or free slaves. Some people who worked in the Underground Railroad were in their teens. Levi Coffin was known as the president of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was kept in secret. Only slaves and the people who helped knew about the Underground Railroad. If it was kept in secret then how do we know about it? We know aboutRead MoreThe Underground Railroad And The Civil War1709 Words   |  7 Pagesher train off the track and never lost a passenger on the Underground Railroad. Levi Coffin, devoted his life helping men and women flee from slavery. He and his wife Catherine White affirmed that they helped some 3,000 men and women escape from captivity. The title, â€Å"the President of the Underground Railroad† was given to him for providing shelter to over 3,000 slaves over the years. On October 28, 1798, Levi Coffin was born in New Garden, in Guilford County. He was the descendant of a family whoRead MoreAmerican History: UnderGround RailRoad Provided a Scape to Slaves1359 Words   |  6 Pageswith the letters S.S (slave stealer), be imprisoned or put to death. In a letter between Levi Coffin and William Still, where Coffin described Seth Concklin’s fatal fate as a result of his involvement in the Underground Railroad, â€Å"I seriously doubt that he had made his escape. Language would fail to express my feelings†¦ his heart is full of the milk of humanity; one of our best Anti-Slavery spirits,† (Levi Coffin to William Still, Ma y 11, 1851). Another encumbering danger they faced was the threat ofRead MoreThe Underground Railroad Is Not Like The Railroad1387 Words   |  6 Pageswho helped them on their journey, which I will discuss later throughout this paper. There over 3000 people who helped the runaway slaves to freedom. (The Underground Railroad). There are a few that stand out in history: Harriett Tubman, Levi and Catharine Coffin, William Still, John and Jean Rankin, and Captain John Brown. Each of these people has great stories to tell about their journeys and helping the black folk to freedom. Let’s talk about a couple of these famous people for a minute and howRead MoreThe Underground Railroad : The Secret System Of Escape During Slavery1107 Words   |  5 Pagesused by the African slaves to escape the slave states and travel to the northern states, such as Canada (â€Å"Underground Railroad Where History†) . The Underground Railroad also had many prominent figures including Harriet Tubman, John Fairfield, and Levi Coffin (â€Å"People and Events†). The Underground Railroad is known as one of the most secret systems of escape during slavery. The history of the Underground Railroad began in the mid 1800’s and was aided by people involved in the Abolition movement. ByRead MoreThe Underground Railroad1073 Words   |  5 Pagesthe routes of the Underground Railroad (â€Å"John Fairfield Forgotten Hero of the UGRR†). Also there was Levi Coffin, a Quaker, who helped and aided over 3000 slaves in her lifetime. She was often referred to as the President of the Underground Railroad. She used her an eight-room Federal style brick home in Newport, Indiana, as a resting house and safe haven on the slaves’ journey to Canada (â€Å"Levi Coffin House†). The journey through Underground Railroad was not a day trip, it was however an all nightRead MoreThe Underground Railroad And The American Civil War1203 Words   |  5 PagesSmith Haviland). Quakers Levi and Catherine Coffin were instrumental in helping as many as 2,000 slaves over a period of 20 years. Their house in Newport, Indiana was modified to create hiding places between the walls. A secret indoor well was used to accommodate the large amount of water needed for slaves that passed through their doors. In addition, most rooms contained at least two exits. Catherine also provided home-made clothing for the fugitives. In 1843, Levi and Catherine were expelled