Infections in Nursing Homes

Decubitus Ulcers and Nursing Home Negligence

February 14, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As our attorneys have discussed in a related Baltimore nursing home lawyer blog post, pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers, are a rampant nursing home and assisted-living problem plaguing around one million people across the country every year, with nearly 60,000 deaths from complications of the advanced stages of pressure sores. Decubitus ulcers are sores that are entirely preventable, with proper nursing home care.

Pressure sores often develop at nursing home or assisted-living facilities when patients are elderly, or have limited mobility and rest for long periods of time without moving positions, which applies pressure to specific areas of the body and cuts off blood circulation, leading to skin deterioration or breakdown.

With proper nursing home staff attention, pressure sores can be prevented before they develop into the four stages of pressure sore development, often leading to soft tissue loss, deep painful craters, damage of joints and tendons and massive infections like sepsis or osteomyelitis, which can lead to nursing home injury or even death.

Other contributing pressure sore factors include dehydration, poor nutrition and lack of vitamins and minerals, as well as understaffed nurses, and health care staff without proper bed sore prevention and treatment training, which can lead to nursing home negligence—where elderly or immobile residents are left to sit for long periods of time without being moved, without having soiled undergarments changed, or without properly being cared for.

Nursing Home Sued for Wrongful Death After Resident Dies from Sepsis, Dehydration

February 7, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In a recent wrongful death lawsuit development that our Hartford County, Maryland nursing home attorneys have been watching, an Illinois nursing home has been accused of negligence and improper care that reportedly caused the death of a resident living in the home.

According to the complaint, Doris Schaepperkoetter entered The Lincoln Home, a long-term care facility in July of 2008. The executor of the estate, Carol Keifer, claims that from the time she entered the home until her death in January of 2010, she was not given the proper nursing home care that she was expected to receive by law.

While a resident at the home, Schaepperkoetter reportedly suffered from dehydration, hypoxia and sepsis, a dangerous infection of the blood that forms a massive infection in the body, resulting in blood poisoning, and is often associated with nursing home neglect and abuse. Sepsis can be a lethal condition if it progresses rapidly, and can lead to organ failure. According to the complaint, the combination of sepsis, dehydration and hypoxia caused her death.

Keifer is accusing the nursing home of wrongful death and nursing home negligence, and claims that The Lincoln Home Inc. and its owner, Weiss Management Group LLC, violated the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, a law that protects residents in long-term care facilities from abuse and neglect.

Nursing Home Owner Pays Family $3.5M For Neglecting Resident’s Penile Cancer

January 25, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A 3.5 million nursing home negligence settlement has been reached in the lawsuit against Washington-based Everett Care & Rehabilitation, that our Prince George’s County nursing home injury lawyers discussed in a recent blog, where the family of 97-year-old nursing home resident Charles Bradley sued the home for abuse and negligence after the resident tragically suffered from penile cancer that allegedly led to his wrongful death.

According to the lawsuit, in 2007, a nurse told the home’s care manager that Bradley was experiencing skin breakdown on his penis that needed treatment. The care manager allegedly neglected to tell the doctor about Bradley, who had been a resident since 2004. Four months after the initial report, Bradley started to lose weight due to an infection of the wound, yet allegedly continued to receive no care and remained untreated.

By the time Bradley reached the emergency room in March 2008, the doctors reportedly discovered a gaping skin wound and a severe infection that had led to the total disintegration of his genitalia. The court documents claim that Bradley’s skin wound was neglected and went untreated for months in the nursing facility, developing into life threatening penile cancer. Bradley died just over two weeks after entering hospital.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) reportedly began investigating Bradley’s case before his death, and cited the center for failure to provide a federal standard of care for Bradley as required by law.

The owner of Everett nursing home reportedly agreed to pay Bradley’s family $3.5 million, after the family sued Everett Care & Rehabilitation in 2009 for nursing home abuse and neglect for failing to protect and care for the elderly and for failing to provide Bradley with his lawful right to great nursing home care as well as his daily basic nursing home needs—causing serious harm to Bradley that allegedly resulted in his wrongful death.

Caregiver Receives Prison Sentence for Nursing Home Negligence

January 6, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A recent special report entitled “Seniors for Sale,” published by the Seattle Times, uncovered hundreds of cases of nursing home abuse, negligence and wrongful death in adult homes in Washington, where seniors had been injured or died as a result of neglect or substandard care in adult homes, often by receiving care from healthcare providers who were not properly trained.

As nursing home neglect lawyers based in Baltimore, Maryland, we have been following the recent news that in one of the cases, the former owner of an adult family home received a one year prison sentence for her role in the nursing home negligence and wrongful death of an 87-year old at Houghton’s Lakeview adult home.

According to the Seattle Times, 62-year-old Patricia Goodwill pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal mistreatment, for creating a substantial risk of death for resident Jean Rudolph, by failing to protect the elderly woman from developing pressure sores, and for failing to ensure proper care. Rudolph reportedly died of pressure sores that were untreated, and suffered greatly for three weeks prior to her death without proper treatment for her wounds.

As our Maryland nursing home attorneys discussed in a previous blog, elderly or immobile residents are at great risk for pressure sores, and one small inflammation can quickly develop into a deep crater that can be extremely painful, hard to heal, and can cause serious infection. It is important for nursing homes and adult care facilities to practice pressure sore prevention and treatment, to avoid nursing home neglect or wrongful death.

Steps to Prevent Bedsore Development in Nursing Homes

December 30, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In a recent blog, our Maryland nursing home attorneys discussed nursing home negligence and the prevalence of pressure sores plaguing elderly and immobile residents in nursing homes across the country, as well as the importance of pressure sore prevention to avoid nursing home injury or wrongful death.

Pressure ulcers commonly develop on areas of the body that are bony and close to the skin, with less padding by muscle and fat. Common areas include the tailbone, heels, hips, ankles, tailbones, shoulder blades, elbows, backs, shoulders as well as the back of the head. With pressure sores, one small inflammation can quickly develop into a deep crater that can be extremely painful, hard to heal, and can cause infections that are life-threatening.

To prevent bedsores, also called pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers, it is important to avoid lying directly on bony areas, as they are prone to pressure sore development. The Mayo Clinic recommends:

• If lying on your side, try lying at a 30-degree angle.
• When lying on your back, always support your legs with a pillow or soft pad from the middle of the calf to the ankle, to increase blood flow.
• Try to keep bony areas like ankles and knees from touching.
• Try and avoid raising the head of the bed more than 30 degrees, as this could cause the resident to slide down and increase friction. If the bed needs to be raised to a high height, pillows or foam wedges should be placed on hips and shoulders to help maintain proper alignment to reduce any rubbing.
• Patients who are lying down should be moved every two hours, and if in a wheel chair, should be manually moved every 15 minutes.

• Try mattresses and wheelchairs that are pressure-reducing.

For elderly or post-surgery residents who are immobile, diet is an essential part of pressure sore prevention and healing, as balanced meals supply the necessary nutrients needed to keep residents healthy. The Mayo Clinic recommends to:

• Eat smaller meals more frequently, to help ensure that residents are getting enough calories, protein, minerals and vitamins.
• Take advantage of times when residents have a hearty appetite, like when they are rested in the morning.
• Limit the amount of fluids given to residents during mealtime. Liquids can prevent a resident from eating higher calorie foods.
• If swallowing is a challenge, pureed foods, shakes and soups with protein can be easier to ensure calorie intake.

• Never rush a resident’s mealtime.

For families who have loved ones in a nursing home or care facility, it is also important to check the resident’s condition with each visit. The resident’s skin condition, weight, and general healthcare should be monitored with each visit, as well as weight. If there are any signs of nursing home neglect, like pressure sores, the nursing staff and doctor should be contacted immediately.

Nursing Home Sued For Failing to Prevent Resident’s Death from Pressure Sores, Falls

December 27, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In recent news that our nursing home injury attorneys in Baltimore, Maryland have been following, the wife of a nursing home resident who died last year after suffering from multiple nursing home falls as well as an infected pressure sore, has filed a lawsuit against the Illinois nursing home, seeking more than $50,000 in damages for nursing home negligence.

According to the lawsuit, Ralph Shafer was admitted to the nursing home in September of 2007, after suffering from two strokes, with signs of hypertension, dementia, and diabetes, among other health concerns. Shafer, who was 87 at the time, was reportedly at risk for nursing home falls, and according to Shafer’s wife, the nursing home facility failed to prevent his frequent falls. One tragic fall in 2008 led to a massive nursing home injury, where Shafer broke his hip and required surgery.

Shafer’s wife is also accusing the nursing home of failing to prevent the infection of a pressure sore on Shafer’s ankle, that reportedly developed as a result of his diabetes. Shafer died in April of 2009 from gangrene and osteomyelitis at the site of the wound, as well as complications from advanced dementia.

Osteomyelitis is a bacterial inflammation of the bones, that can develop when a Stage IV pressure sore causes severe damage to the skin, muscle and bone. As our Maryland nursing home injury lawyers discussed in a related blog, if a nursing home resident is bedridden, in a wheelchair, immobile with diabetes, has circulation issues or mental disabilities, and incontinence, the residents should be checked daily for pressure sores, and moved every two hours to relieve pressure and prevent skin breakdown that leads to pressure sores. The primary goal of pressure sore treatment is preventing them before they start.

Nursing Home Victim’s Family Hopes Wrongful Death Settlement Will Help to Educate Others

September 30, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In a blog from last week, our Prince George’s nursing home injury attorneys reported on a wrongful death lawsuit, where Cynthia Wilms, a rehabilitation patient died in a nursing and rehabilitation facility from an infection that the lawsuit alleged was due to negligence and chronic understaffing.

In a new article published this week by the Capital Times, the newspaper interviewed Cynthia Wilms’ family, who told their own story of the nursing home abuse and neglect that allegedly lead to Wilms’ wrongful death.

Wilms was 72 when she was admitted to The Willows Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on July 30, 2007 to recover from hip replacement surgery. Wilms’ family claimed that although the surgery went very well, Wilms developed a staph infection at the site of the surgical wound, after being transferred to the facility. While staying at Willows, Wilms’ infection reportedly went untreated, and no important measures were taken to stop the infection. Wilms died from sepsis less than two months later, on September 13, 2007.

Phillip Wilms claimed that his wife’s health problems started the moment she arrived at the facility—her wheelchair was too small and didn’t function properly, the mattress on Wilms’ bed was too long, creating a uncomfortable “hammock” effect, and the wheels on her bed were broken, along with the bed’s ability to go up and down. The wheels on the table by the bed were also not functioning properly, and were reportedly caked with dust, dirt and hair. The were no phones in the room, and only way patients could communicate for help was to press the call button, although Phillip Wilms claimed it would take staff at least an hour to respond to any pleas for help.

The Danger of Sepsis in Nursing Homes

September 27, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In a recent blog, our nursing home abuse and negligence attorneys in Baltimore, Maryland discussed the danger of sepsis in nursing homes, a leading cause of death among elderly residents.

Sepsis is a deadly blood disease that forms a massive infection in the body, resulting in blood poisoning. In nursing homes across the country, sepsis often results from an infection of surgical wounds, surgical drains, intravenous lines, and stage IV pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers, and is often associated with nursing home neglect and abuse.

It is reported that every year, over 200,000 people in this country die from different forms of sepsis. Sepsis usually begins as an infection and spreads quickly, causing tissue damage, organ failure and also death. Sepsis is very dangerous with nursing home residents, as their immune systems are often weak.

Preventative measures for sepsis in nursing homes include early detection and treatment of infected areas, like pressure sores, a leading cause of nursing home injury that affects nearly one million Americans every year. As our Maryland nursing home injury attorneys reported in a blog, pressure sores often develop after a resident stays in one position for too long, which causes a restriction of the resident’s blood supply to the skin, wherein pressure sores form due to the unrelieved pressure.

Nursing home residents who are elderly and have restricted movement are highly susceptible to bed sores, and if the sores go untreated, they can lead to bacterial sepsis. Many cases of advanced pressure sores are often the result of nursing home neglect, and many times lead to a resident’s death. Nursing home staff should pay special attention to elderly residents who are at risk for developing bed sores, or sepsis, in order to prevent nursing home injury or wrongful death. Around 60,000 people are reported to die every year from some form of complication surrounding the more advanced stages of pressure sores.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Settled—Resident’s Family To Receive $2.24 M

September 25, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Our Maryland nursing home negligence attorneys recently discussed a wrongful death settlement of 43.5 million in a blog, after a nursing home operator was found responsible for negligence that allegedly led to a resident’s death.

In another recent wrongful death lawsuit settlement from this week that our attorneys have been following, a Wisconsin nursing home will pay $2.25 million, after a resident died in the home from an infection.

According to the lawsuit, Cynthia Wilms was a patient at the Willows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a 2007 hip replacement surgery. The home is being accused of neglecting Wilms’ surgical wound, which led to sepsis, a blood disease that forms when bacteria enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. Sepsis is a potentially lethal condition that progresses rapidly and can lead to organ failure. Wilms died a few weeks after the surgery.

In nursing homes across the country, sepsis often results from an infection of surgical wounds, surgical drains, intravenous lines, and stage IV pressure sores, and is often associated with nursing home neglect and abuse. Sepsis is very dangerous with nursing home residents, as their immune systems are often weak. Sepsis can cause death, as it is a blood infection that travels through the body rapidly. It is reported that every year, over 200,000 people in the United States die from different forms of sepsis.

The Prevalence of Pressure Sores—Family Sues Assisted Living Home for Negligence

July 30, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In yesterday’s blog, our attorneys discussed the prevalence of pressure sores in nursing homes and assisted living residences, that often result in injury or wrongful death.

In a recent wrongful death lawsuit, the family of Frances Graham, a former 81-year old resident of an assisted living home in San Leandro, California, is suing Graham’s doctor, as well as the assisted living home, after Graham suffered from nursing home violence and devastating pressure sores all over her body, some reportedly as large as a baseballs—that lead to her tragic death. Graham’s family is also suing the nonprofit responsible for her care, the Center for Elders Independence, claiming that they put profits over her nursing home health and safety.

According to the suit, Graham was kept at the Andrew Elijah residential care home even though laws require that Alzheimer’s patients are cared for by a nursing staff that is skilled for such illnesses. Graham reportedly shared a room with a 72-year old dementia patient, who in June of last year, was found attacking Graham with a plastic hair pick. Graham suffered dozens of cuts on her body, and her left eye was bleeding and also bruised. Graham was reportedly treated by a doctor, and sent back to the Andrew Elijah home and put in a room that was private.

Graham’s son claims that soon after, Graham was rushed to the hospital with pneumonia, where a doctor discovered multiple bedsores on her body, so many that the doctors wrote in the notes that they weren’t sure that they even seen them all. The worst sore was allegedly a 4-inch hole that had eaten down to the tendons and smelled horribly. The doctor also found her to be anemic and dehydrated. Graham was moved to another health care center, and died two days later.