Kim Gale  |  February 20, 2018

Category: Consumer News

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Frustrated senior man sitting on bed in bedroomNursing home abuse and neglect continue to make headlines as the family members of victims bring forth allegations.

The Illinois Department of Public Health recently imposed a $25,000 fine upon Pleasant View nursing home in Ottawa, Il. after a woman developed a huge bed sore.

Olivia R. said her mother was a resident of Pleasant View for only four weeks, but developed a bed sore that was three or four inches long. Olivia immediately called state authorities to investigate.

She explained to the Times of Streator, Il. that she understands that bedridden people can develop bed sores, but she didn’t expect to see such a large abrasion on her mother’s skin. Although Olivia moved her mom to a different facility, the 95-year-old woman died in December.

Olivia said she doesn’t blame Pleasant View for her mother’s death, but appreciated the Department of Health taking a closer look at Pleasant View for other signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Pleasant View also was fined in August 2016. The incident involved a nurse’s aide who allegedly abused a resident and pled guilty to misdemeanor battery. The aide paid a $1,500 fine and had to write an apology to the victim’s family members. She no longer works at Pleasant View, which paid a reduced fine of $13,750.

Another incident in October 2017 resulted in an initial $25,000 fine, later reduced to $16,250.

Millions are Victims of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

All across the country, a minimum 5 million elderly Americans are abused, exploited or neglected annually. At least 84 percent of those cases are not reported to authorities.

Not employing enough staff members to take care of the number of residents is a large part of the problem. Research shows 90 percent of America’s nursing homes are insufficiently staffed to properly take care of the number of residents.

The following issues can be signs of nursing home abuse and neglect:

  • Bed sores
  • Bruises
  • Broken bones
  • Abrasions
  • Burns
  • Falls
  • Poor hygiene
  • Chronic infections
  • Unexpected weight loss
  • Lack of medical care

Sometimes, the signs aren’t as easy to see. In one case last year in Minnesota, nursing home residents at Goldfinch Estates stopped responding to their medications.

Men and women who had been outgoing, friendly, and happy to participate in group activities such as card games and potlucks were nearly bedridden. These once-active residents said they had begun to feel overly tired and suffer constant pain.

After several months, a pharmacist uncovered the root cause of all of the residents’ problems. A 28-year-old nurse’s aide had been taking the painkillers out of the pill bottles and replacing them with various over-the-counter pills.

The nurse’s aide was arrested and faced charges of theft, drug possession and mistreatment of the residents, but she allegedly died of a drug overdose before her court appearance.

If you believe your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse and neglect, report your observations to the authorities. If an elderly person is in immediate danger, don’t hesitate to call 911 or the local police department to intervene.

In general, nursing home neglect lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual nursing home neglect lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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