Before Kenneth Bryan Holcomb shot and killed a homeless man in San Mateo County in 1992, he had been in prison for burglary and drug dealing. While he was serving a 22-years-to-life sentence for the murder, he fractured his spine during a fight, which left him a quadriplegic, unable to walk, dress or bathe himself. Mr. Holcomb speaks with some difficulty, although he is able to see and hear, Patrick Sparks, his lawyer, said during a medical parole hearing last September. Yet Mr.

Before Kenneth Bryan Holcomb shot and killed a homeless man in San Mateo County in 1992, he had been in prison for burglary and drug dealing. While he was serving a 22-years-to-life sentence for the murder, he fractured his spine during a fight, which left him a quadriplegic, unable to walk, dress or bathe himself.

Topics: Health Costs, Marketplace

Dec 08, 2011

California Healthline: What a Waste: Why We Can't Rein In Extra Health Spending

The Ombudsman program is actively recruiting dedicated volunteers to become certified Long Term Care Ombudsman. The 40 hour certification class starts January 18th and runs through February 2nd, 2012.

Your mission, (should you accept it) is to ensure dignity, quality of life and care for the 4000+ residents in Sonoma County’s skilled nursing facilities, residential care homes and assisted living facilities by empowering residents and advocating on behalf of those unable to advocate for themselves.

October 21, 2011

Petaluma Nursing Facility Sued for Elder Abuse, Neglect
By Karina Joffee
The family of a 90-year-old Petaluma woman is suing a local nursing care facility on charges of that she was denied appropriate care and neglected on a repeated basis, so much so that just month later she was sent to the emergency room with an infection she developed while at the facility.

The new health care law also provides better tools to help fight waste, fraud and abuse to help protect Medicare.

CMS offers tips to help beneficiaries protect themselves against fraud and identity theft during the Open Enrollment period.

Medicare recommends that people treat their Medicare number as they do their social security number and credit card information. 

January 1 –February 14.

The new health care law also provides better tools to help fight waste, fraud and abuse to help protect Medicare.

CMS offers tips to help beneficiaries protect themselves against fraud and identity theft during the Open Enrollment period.

Medicare recommends that people treat their Medicare number as they do their social security number and credit card information. 

Taking a Stand against Elder Abuse
Posted by Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Department of Health and Human Services on June 13, 2011 at 06:45 PM EDT

June 15th, 2011 marks the 6th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.  This is an important opportunity for Americans and people around the world to recommit ourselves to ending elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

This week, the AARP Public Policy Institute released a preliminary study of a survey they conducted in October 2010 with 5,027 men and woman 50 and older.

ITEM: 24.7 percent of exhausted their savings

ITEM: 19.4 percent fell behind in credit card payments or accumulated more card debt

ITEM: 12.4 percent lost health insurance

ITEM: 49.5 percent put off medical or dental care or were not taking their medication on schedule