Helia Healthcare of Belleville, LLC., Southern Illinois Health Care Foundation, Inc., and John Magner, MD. face a recent pressure sores lawsuit filed by a woman on behalf of a loved one who says that she allegedly suffered from nursing home neglect.

Plaintiff Monique B. files the pressure sores lawsuit on behalf of Roxanne B., in Illinois federal court. The lawsuit was filed on May 10, 2018. According to the pressure sores lawsuit, Roxanne was a resident at Helia Healthcare, also known as Willow Creek Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.

It was on April 7, 2015, that Roxanne was first admitted to Helia Healthcare as a long-term resident. She was admitted due to her complete inability to perform activities. She was also quadriplegic and incontinent.

However, the pressure sores lawsuit states that during her time at Helia Healthcare she “developed multiple decubitus ulcer pressure sores to different areas of her body including but not limited to multiple wounds to her back, pelvis, coccyx and both ears.” Roxanne died on Jan. 14, 2016.

The pressures sores lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including negligence for the lack of effort Helia Healthcare took to exercise proper and ordinary care toward Roxanne, the lawsuit states. Helia Healthcare is accused of failing to act in some of the following ways: to prevent Roxanne’s skin breakdown; to periodically reposition Roxanne to prevent skin breakdown; to diagnose the development of skin lesions and skin breakdowns; and the failure to diagnose developing pressure ulcers.

Southern Illinois also faces similar counts that include negligence for the alleged inability to properly exercise care towards Roxanne.

Monique, as the Independent Administrator of the Estate of Roxanne B. in this pressure sores lawsuit, demands a trial by jury.

Filing a Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit

Many nursing home negligence lawsuits have been filed due to nursing home neglect and other violations. These violations are unfortunately not only violations of the law, but are absolutely heart-wrenching tales as well.

There are several different kinds of mistreatment that pertains to nursing home neglect or senior abuse. In fact, according to the Nursing Home Abuse Center, they report that “1-2 million U.S. citizens 65 years of age or older have been mistreated, exploited or injured by a caregiver.” Some of these include:

• Abandonment- The desertion of the care for a vulnerable person by a responsible party including in the event of a natural disaster.
• Physical abuse- Such as the deprivation of necessities or inflicting physical pain.
• Neglect- A responsible party or individual failing to provide necessities such as health care, protection, food, and shelter.

Signs of nursing home neglect can include fractures from falls, dehydration, chronic infections, urinary tract infection, malnutrition, and pressure sores.

The Pressure Sores Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-01097, in the State of Illinois Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Illinois.