Lawsuit Centered on Bed Sores Demonstrates Importance of Watching for Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home neglect or abuse is rarely limited to a single patient, and sometimes it takes a lawsuit on behalf of one resident to affect systemic change to improve the quality of life for all residents in a nursing home.
The Phoenix nursing home abuse attorneys at Cullan & Cullan, are dedicated to protecting the rights of Arizona nursing home residents. If you suspect a loved one is a victim of neglect or abuse in a nursing home, please call us at (602) 786-8860 to learn how we can help.
The recent article “Can Bedsore Lawsuit Settlement Stop Care Center Abuse?” on the legal news source LawyersandSettlements.com detailed the plight of a 77-year-old woman who was admitted to a nursing home after suffering a stroke. On multiple visits, her family members noted signs of neglect including soiled sheets, lack of repositioning and a loose feeding tube.
The last straw for the woman’s family was a visit in which they noticed she was covered in bed sores; the woman later died. Also known as decubitis ulcers or pressure sores, bed sores pose a serious health risk to nursing home residents who are immobile or have limited mobility; they are also preventable with proper attention from nursing home staff.
The family filed a lawsuit against the care center, and it was discovered that this particular nursing home had been cited for previous health code violations and faced prior reports of patient neglect. The family and nursing home eventually settled the lawsuit, which was accompanied by sweeping changes at the care center in question. In this particular case, the nursing home was put under new management and added a number of registered nurses to its staff.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, it’s important to be vigilant for signs of elder neglect or abuse, such as bed sores. For additional information on how to deal with potential neglect or abuse, please see our What to Do if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse page.
If you believe a family member is suffering from negligence or abuse in a nursing home, please contact Cullan & Cullan, today. Our experienced team of attorneys welcomes clients from the greater Phoenix area and across Arizona.