Nursing Home Abuse Threatens Vulnerable Patients

Seattle, WAAlthough senior citizens are among the most vulnerable of our population, or maybe because of it, nursing home abuse continues to be a major concern for those who know elderly people living in nursing homes. Elder care neglect still occurs far too frequently, often having serious consequences for the victims. There are laws designed to protect victims of nursing home injury, but it may require the aid of a lawyer.

Nursing home abuse can take many forms. It can occur in the form of aggressive abuse, where the caretakers or the nursing home employees physically, mentally or emotionally abuse residents.

However, nursing home abuse can also take more passive forms. It can involve something as simple, but still abusive, as not properly treating a resident's physical problems. The staff at an Everett, Washington, nursing home currently faces a lawsuit alleging their failure to act on an elderly resident's health problem resulted in the disintegration of his genitals and, ultimately, his death on March 31, 2008.

The lawsuit alleges that the elderly man suffered from an untreated wound for months. That wound, which was reportedly caused by an undiagnosed penile cancer, may have played a role in his death. The complaint notes that staff noticed problems with his skin in November, 2007. However, although staff notified a care manager, the manager did not notify the patient's doctor.

According to an article in Seattle PI (October 26, 2009), the man's wound festered for four months, during which he lost weight and his genitals "broke apart." The patient was finally taken to the hospital on March 13, 2008, where he was finally diagnosed with penile cancer. An investigation into the nursing home's actions found that the home did not meet quality of care requirements as set out in federal law. Furthermore, the investigation found no evidence that the home had contacted the patient's physician, the patient's family or the home's the social services department.

Meanwhile, a report has cited a Minnesota nursing home and an assistant at the home as being responsible for the death of a resident. According to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune (October 9, 2009), the resident was dropped several feet while she was being moved in a sling from her bed to a wheelchair. The drop resulted in broken bones that ultimately contributed to the resident's death.

The report noted that the staff member had tried to move the resident on her own while at least two staff members are required for such movement. However, investigators said that the resident's care plan was not clearly worded and the employee was not adequately trained.