Elder Law

Nursing Home Lawsuit Settles for $3.5 Million

By Levin & Perconti

It is often very difficult for a family to make the decision to place their elder loved one in a nursing home. However, that challenge is often made unbearable when it is discovered that the nursing home has been failing to provide reasonable care.

Herald Net News shared the story of horrific treatment by one nursing home, sparking a lawsuit that was recently settled out of court. Everett nursing home was sued by the family of a 97-year old resident who died because of the woefully inadequate care provided by the facility. The victim developed penile cancer while at the Everett. As a result of the medical problem, the man?s genitals began disintegrating. However, the care at the facility was so poor that the staff members didn?t notify anyone of the problem?not family members, not doctors.

A staff member had discovered a wound on the man?s penis, but her manager forgot about it. It wasn?t until four months later that the victim was rushed to the emergency room for a different reason that ER doctors discovered that the man?s genitals had disintegrated.

A nursing home lawsuit was filed which was recently settled by the facility for $3.5 million.

Understaffing is the likely culprit say those involved in the case. The operators of the facility cut back on nursing assistants, who are usually responsible for changing diapers and cleaning residents.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on January 21, 2011 (boomark / email).