Lauren Ellerman

There is a federal law that basically prohibits attorneys from telling families how to prepare for Medicaid. Medicaid in most states, is a state-sponsored program that provides health coverage for those without assets…The catch 22 is that nursing homes are so expensive, that almsot everyone who enters private pay, will…

I was at an event this week when conversation turned to a local, large, “non-profit” hospital. A Friend told me he suffered a post-surgical hematoma, he knew what it was, and went to the local ER for treatment. Two hours into the treatment, when he had not yet been seen…

Heard of Eli Lilly? That huge pharmaceutical company? Bad news – they expect to take an accounting charge in the 2nd quarter this year (according to the Wallstreet Journal) and are therefore planning on staff reduction of 500. Sad I think. Staff reduction of 500 manufacturing jobs in Indianapolis, before…

I will begin by stating my office is entirely Hokies (but for me)….. and on this day last year, I witnessed my close friends and colleagues experience a terrible loss. No one in our community remains untouched by this tragedy, but as we specialize in wrongful death law suits, we…

We write about this issue frequently – being asked to waive your access to the local court system, in a nursing home contract. I would venture to say that at least 75% of Virginia Nursing Home contracts have arbitration agreements in them today.It isn’t just a Virginia issue however –…

This is the trend: FDA approves your drug, stock sales go up and up, shareholders are happy, company is happy. Few thousand cardiologists stop prescribing your drug because a recent study shows it doesn’t help cholesterol as expected, and severe side effects exist, stock prices go down, company is not…

Ok, so the defense in nursing home cases often will say “we can’t watch your loved one every minute of every day” – “falls happen, pressure sores are unpreventable, some elderly people just refuse medicine and treatment” but how do you defend this?DEATH BY FIRE ANTS in a NURSING HOME……

In Today’s Wallstreet Journal, our local paper, and on the AP – “Late approval of Drugs linked to safety issues.”Hardly a week goes by without new research reflecting certain medications have unknown, serious side effects…At least three major drugs have been pulled from pharmacy shelves in the last four years…

Most families have to make nursing home decisions when something tragic has already occurred – a fall, a stroke, dementia diagnosis, etc.What if all the 65 years olds in Virginia (1) made a will; (2) appointed a health care power of attorney; (3) consulted with a financial planner re: how…

Article in today’s Washington PostSunrise Chief to Step Down as ChairmanSunrise Senior Living chief executive Paul J. Klaassen is stepping down as chairman, one of several governance changes announced yesterday, two years after the company disclosed accounting irregularities and came under fire for management practices.Sunrise, of McLean, also said it…