The Huntington Health and Rehabilitation Center recently faced a nursing home negligence lawsuit from a woman alleging the facility’s neglect caused her mother’s death.

The plaintiff in the nursing home negligence lawsuit contended that the facility staff failed to notice her mother’s deteriorating health and did not perform basic care necessities to ensure a good quality of life.

Plaintiff Brenda B. alleged this constant neglect contributed to her mother’s death, and filed this nursing home negligence lawsuit on the behalf of the late Coralee M.

Brenda stated Huntington also breached professional standards of care and treatment when taking care of her mother, which also contributed to the deterioration of her mother’s health and ultimately her death.

Overview of the Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit

According to the nursing home negligence lawsuit, Coralee was administered to the Huntington Health and Rehabilitation Center on April 12, 2017, to help with daily living activities such as bathing and dressing.

Not long after Coralee went into the facility’s care, the nursing staff allegedly failed to properly check over Coralee to confirm that she was in good health. According to the nursing home negligence lawsuit, Coralee had suffered multiple falls that caused her serious physical injuries and mental anguish.

Coralee’s condition eventually deteriorated, leading to her death on Sept. 17, 2017 — mere months after entering the facility. Before entering the facility, Coralee’s health was in a much better state and she most likely would have lived for a longer period of time, alleges the nursing home negligence lawsuit.

Brenda’s allegations join a growing number of claims involving elder neglect or abuse, including wrongful death, filed against nursing homes. According to statistics, appropriate 5 million elders in the United States are neglected, abused, or exploited and it is estimated that 84 percent of these cases go unreported to authorities.

In addition, 90 percent of nursing homes in the United States are not sufficiently staffed to provide sufficient care to residents. It is also important to note that elders who experience nursing home neglect are reportedly 300 percent more likely succumb to an early death compared to elderly citizens that have not been neglected.

People who have elderly loved ones in nursing home facilities should be on the lookout for any signs of nursing home neglect including, but not limited to:

• The presence of unexplained bed sores, bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, and burns that may have been caused by physical abuse or neglect.
• Bruises on the breasts or genital area, which is a sign of sexual abuse.
• One or multiple falls, along with other signs of neglect like poor hygiene, unattended medical needs, infections, and unexplained weight loss.
• Strained or tense relationships between the elderly resident and caregivers, that may include frequent arguments.

Like hundreds of others whose families suffered abuse, Brenda filed this lawsuit soon after discovering that the facility staff’s neglect allegedly played a role in her mother’s death.

Brenda alleged that the Huntington nursing home failed to provide a safe and healthy environment to its residents, did not have enough staff members, and ultimately failed in its duty to provide sufficient care for Coralee. Brenda sought multiple damages against the Huntington nursing home, including wrongful death, as well as compensation for funeral expenses and loss of companionship of her mother.

This Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuit is Case No. 18-C-116, in the Putnam Circuit Court.