By Personal Injury Attorney Sean Domnick of Domnick Cunningham & Whalen

Nursing home abuse continues to plague the health care system for elders across the United States. Most Americans are unaware of the risks associated when placing loved ones in the care of a nursing home.

For years, health care for older Americans has been broken due to neglect and ineffective laws. The federal government has worked to tackle abuse by issuing a rule which prevents nursing homes from forcing claims of elder abuse, sexual harassment and wrongful death.

Traditionally, nursing homes disputes are sent to arbitration; however, an agency within the Health and Human Services Agency argues that these cases should be handled in court. Due to this new rule, major new protections are to affect nursing homes with 1.5 million residents.

Previously, a nursing home’s reliance on arbitration kept safety and the quality of care out of public view. The current system has helped the nursing home industry reduce its legal obligations.

Recent cases involving the murder of nursing home residents generated debate on the current system. A 100-year-old woman was found murdered in a nursing home strangled by her roommate and a 94-year-old woman died from a head wound, both cases initially blocked by court.

After officials in 16 states including the District of Columbia complained about the blatant patterns of wrongdoing, funding was cut. The rule is scheduled to go into effect by November, with the final version noting nursing homes that require arbitration clauses as a condition of admission will no longer be funded.

“Although nursing homes argue this new rule could increase costs and force homes to close, abuse cannot continue,” said Sean Domnick, a nursing home abuse lawyer with Domnick Cunningham & Whalen. “The rule requiring nursing home disputes to move from arbitration to court diminishes a loophole in the system, seeking justice for the countless victims and families suffering.”

Due to the vast amount of nursing home abuse cases that have not been held accountable, the federal government is working to prevent such carelessness. If you or a loved one has suffered such neglect, contact a nursing home abuse attorney in your state immediately.


There are over 450 open houses occurring across the District on Saturday and Sunday, so if you’re beginning your next home search, you’ve found the perfect weekend sans thunderstorms. Take a look at our suggestions below and to see the entire DC Open House List, click here.

  • 621 Columbia Road NW — $849,999 — Pleasant Plains
    Open Sat. & Sun. 1-3 p.m. — Fernando Garcia
    Main home has 3 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms with a separate terrace-level 1 bedroom/1 bathroom income unit.
  • 83 Danbury Street SW — $344,990 — Bellevue
    Open Sun. 1-3 p.m. — Daryl Laster
    “Awesome contemporary townhouse configured as 2 bedrooms + large den with 3.5 bathrooms.”
  • 616 Delafield Place NW — $824,900 — Petworth
    Open Sun. 1-3 p.m. — Vanessa Patterson
    This is the third time this home has been listed in the past 2 months, so clearly the homeowner is getting anxious to sell, which could lead to a good deal.
  • 1101 3rd Street SW #112 — $339,000 — Southwest Waterfront
    Open Sun. 2-4 p.m. — Katherine Kranenburg
    1-bedroom with everything you could ever need, including a bevy of community building amenities.
  • 1218 Linden Place NE — $705,000 — Atlas District/H Street
    Open Sun. 12-3 p.m. — Justin Paulhamus
    “Picture perfect old world 2 bed/1.5 bathroom home.”

This home is located at 2120 Vermont Avenue NW #623. This unit hits the market next week on Wednesday, October 3rd and a catered twilight open house will be held at the home on Thursday, October 4th from 6-8 p.m. The description says:

Savor life in this magnificent two level, 2 bedroom/2 bathroom penthouse residence with sweeping views of the city! The second level can serve as a den or 3rd bedroom.

This home boasts shimmering maple floors, stainless steel appliances, floor-to-ceiling windows, two large secured storage rooms, four parking spaces, stone countertops and a private outdoor terrace with access to community roof deck and grills.

Ideally situated in the Shaw/U Street corridor, you will never get bored living at The Rhapsody.

If you want to get out of the house for a bit, head over to one of the numerous restaurants or pubs and then catch a movie at the Atlantic Plumbing Cinema. Or go shopping in the area’s many stores. Need groceries? Trader Joe’s is a stone’s throw away on 14th Street and Whole Foods is expected to debut across the street in the near future.

With excellent proximity to the Shaw and U Street Metro Stations, you can dart anywhere around the city in the blink of an eye! Excitement, luxury and convenience are just a few of the words that come to mind if you call 623 at The Rhapsody home!

Features Include:

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The impact of one’s faith on one’s life is sometimes obvious, but more often mysterious. And few are comfortable to discuss in public how their faith informs their careers and private lives.

Which is why a special event at the Washington National Cathedral at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3, promises to be informative, insightful and quite possibly awe-inspiring.

Three accomplished civic figures — Madeleine Albright, David Saperstein and David Brooks — will reveal the ways in which their lives have been shaped by the practices of their faith in a frank and revealing 90-minute discussion.

The program, tellingly, is called “Honest to God.”

“This is an essential time to focus on how key leaders are influenced by faith,” said Jan Smith, a Cathedral congregant who is active in Cathedral outreach committees. “The Washington National Cathedral brings people of all faiths together in this important new series as we all seek truth and inspiration.”

The inaugural session of the series features three prominent, thought-provoking personalities of diverse religious backgrounds and the occasional political controversy sharing how their faith has influenced their thinking and their actions.

  • Madeleine Albright, the first woman to be named U.S. Secretary of State, has also been the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations as well as a winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • David Saperstein is a lawyer and a rabbi and the first non-Christian to be appointed U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, an appointment made by President Obama.
  • David Brooks is the longtime columnist for the New York Times and a commenter on cultural affairs on PBS’s NewsHour. He is considered a conservative but finds himself in favor of same-sex marriage and recently described himself as “religiously bisexual.”

“Honest to God” is open to the public but registration and a $15 ticket are required. Find more information about reservations here.


Are you thinking about starting a fitness routine or need to take your current program to the next level? Dedicated Strength could be the place for you.

Right in Logan Circle, Dedicated Strength features 1 on 1 personal training with a focus on strength and conditioning.

You won’t find flashing, colorful lights or loud music. Instead, you’ll find a focused, welcoming environment. Whether you are a competitive lifter, athlete or a beginner, Dedicated Strength’s coaches can help you finally reach your goals.

This studio has a unique layout. Train on your own private lifting station with everything you need. You won’t have to work in with others or wait for equipment.

Want more independence? Dedicated Strength offers personalized training programs you can complete on your own at the studio for as low as $20 per session.

Dedicated Strength offers a comprehensive approach to health by offering basic nutrition counseling and health coaching. A certified health coach can help you de-stress, eat better and organize workouts into your schedule. Coaches at the studio are educated professionals with degrees and certifications related to the field so you can rest easy that you are in good hands.

Are you a weightlifter or powerlifter? The studio offers clubs for people who want to improve their techniques, get stronger and prep for competitions. The studio is sending five female powerlifters to a USA Powerlifting Competition this month.

Recently one of the studio’s coaches won a gold and bronze medal at a National Competition in Vegas. Other accomplishments include a 68-year-old woman climbing Mount Everest after training at the studio as well as a client who powers through 600+ mile bike rides raising upwards of $20,000 annually for HIV/AIDS research.

Whatever your goal, Dedicated Strength’s coaches can get you where you want to be. For more information, send an email to [email protected].


Real Estate Fresh Finds is a weekly selection of newly-listed properties in the District, brought to you by Real Living At Home.

Another week of more than 300 new listings in the District telling us we’re in full swing of the Fall Market. Check out some of our suggested Fresh Finds below:


Just in time for for cool autumn weather perfect for enjoying beers with friends, Capital BrewFest Fall Seasonals Beer & Wine Festival is coming to the Navy Yard this weekend on Saturday, September 29th!

The weather forecast for Saturday is cool and clear — come out and enjoy one of our two separate three hour sessions with unlimited sampling of the very best Fall seasonal beers and delicious wines from around the world — more than 125 options will be available for you to try!

Plus we’ll have a huge selection of Oktoberfest beers, college football on the big screen all day, music to keep your feet moving, DC’s best food trucks, and tons of outdoor games!Advance tickets are available for both sessions  — use promo code POPVILLE to take $25 off any ticket — including the VIP options.

Get more details and purchase your tickets at www.brewfestdc.com!


Every car owner has a horror story about a visit to a dealership or car wash. Whether it’s the hours wasted waiting for the work to be done or the mediocre results, we can all agree, this is time that could be better spent.

Getting your car cleaned or serviced can be inconvenient and time consuming. “If you work in D.C., and your dealership is out in the suburbs, that check engine light is going to cost you a whole day,” says Carvoodoo founder Pierce Boisclair. “Similarly, if you work demanding hours and car washes are open 9 a.m.-6 p.m., you’ll have to go on the weekends when they’re at their busiest. There needed to be better way to make car maintenance and cleaning more convenient for customers. So, we created one.”

Carvoodoo provides vehicle cleaning and maintenance delivered at the click of a button. It is a convenient, transparent and friendly vehicle concierge service that deals with the hassles of car ownership so you don’t have to. Carvoodoo’s mission is to make sure you never have to visit a car wash, dealership or service station again.

To use the service, customers login into their personalized account at carvoodoo.com, choose the service they want and a pick-up time and location. Carvoodoo handles the rest.

Their crew members make the appointments, pick up the vehicle, take it to be serviced, check the work and keep you updated on your vehicle’s status. When the work is complete, a crew member returns it to the location of your choosing.

All you have to do is hand over then collect the keys. It’s that simple.

They also provide subscription services for customers who want routine cleaning and maintenance.

Book now and get 15% off your first order with promo code POPVILLE15.


Happy Tuesday! The following is a list of featured events for the upcoming week, as submitted to our event calendar.

Lights Out Gym Wear Party!
Friday, September 21 from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
L8 Lounge, 727 15th Street NW

Join us for our first Ball with our Special Guest Mother Elektra from the hit show “POSE” and DJ’s Dani Toro & X Gonzalez. Are you fierce enough to snatch a trophy for your house? Assemble your squad, grab your gear and get ready turn up!

Restore Rock Creek for National Public Lands Day
Saturday, September 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Piney Branch Tributary at Ingleside Terrace NW

Celebrate National Public Lands Day, a day to connect people to public lands in their community, inspire environmental stewardship, and encourage the use of public lands for education, recreation, and general health. Volunteers will continue a summer-long restoration project at the Piney Branch tributary.


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