A woman has filed a nursing home neglect lawsuit on behalf of her mother alleging that North Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center failed to exercise proper care and treatment.

Plaintiff Stephanie A. filed the nursing home neglect lawsuit on behalf of her mother, Patricia H., in Alabama federal court. The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 8, 2018.

According to the nursing home neglect lawsuit, Patricia is an incapacitated woman who was a resident of North Hill. On Sept. 9, 2016, Patricia fell several times as a result of being unattended despite the fact that she was known to be a fall risk. During the fall, she sustained multiple injuries to her face and head requiring hospital admission.

North Hills’ allegedly negligent conduct led Patricia to suffer from permanent injuries including her suffering a skull fracture and lacerations.

According to the lawsuit, Patricia has been led to “suffer a significant decline since her fall and has not returned to her prior level of function putting her at risk for subsequent falls, skin breakdowns, weight loss, contractures, pain, infections, dehydration, and has decreased her quality of life,” the lawsuit purports.

Damages suffered also include incurrence of future medical expenses to cure and heal her injuries.

Stephanie demands a trial by jury.

Nursing Home Neglect

There have been many reports and lawsuits filed against nursing homes alleging of neglect and several other violations.

There is a significant issue in the United States surrounding nursing home neglect, with reports estimating that roughly “1-2 million U.S. citizens 65 years of age or older have been mistreated, exploited or injured by a caregiver,” according to the Nursing Home Abuse Center.

According to the Nursing Home Abuse Center, reports from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs from 2003 also state that “there were more than 20 thousand complaints of exploitation, neglect and abuse coming from nursing homes and assisted living facilities.”

Long-term health care institutions, such as care homes, adult day care centers, residential boards, skilled nursing home facilities, and assisted living facilities, have seen frequent acts of neglect committed.

Reported types of mistretment that may pertain to senior abuse or nursing home neglect can include the following:

• Abandonment: The desertion of the care for a vulnerable person by a responsible party including in the event of a natural disaster is considered abandonment.
• Physical abuse: Physical abuse is the deprivation of necessities or inflicting physical pain.
• Neglect: Neglect is when 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 Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-00217-AKK, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.