Articles Posted in Nursing Home Resident Bed Sores

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Dorothy Mae Lyles was admitted to Sanatoga Center after a hospitalization. At the time of her admission to the nursing home facility, she was noted to have pressure sores. She was also noted to be a high risk for developing additional pressure sores due to her need for assistance with mobility. Nevertheless, there was no repositioning program in place when she was admitted.

Two months later, she was transferred to a hospital and received treatment for pressure ulcers at a wound healing center. She continued to develop pressure ulcers.

Lyles, 88, subsequently developed septic shock and died from an infected sacral pressure ulcer.  She was survived by her daughter.

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Barbara Ouimette was admitted to Rosewood Care Center in St. Charles, Ill.  At the time, she was at high risk of skin breakdown. She also required assistance with activities of daily living.

Over the next several years, she experienced significant weight loss and developed a right buttock wound and pressure sores on her coccyx and sacrum.  Although she underwent wound care, she passed away.

Ouimette’s estate sued the facility’s owner and operator, alleging that they chose not to assess her skin condition, provide proper nutrition and ensure proper staffing at the nursing home facility where she was living.

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Sam Rios Jr., 86, was admitted to Pine Creek Care Center for a rehabilitation stay after suffering a fractured hip. Over the next two weeks, he developed two pressure sores. One of the pressure sores was diagnosed as being Stage IV. Rios died almost a year later and suffered pain and debilitation until his passing.

Rios’ successor in interest and his children sued Daisy Holdings LLC, Pine Creek’s parent company, and other corporate entities, alleging elder abuse, under-staffing, custodial negligence, constructive fraud, violation of patient rights, wrongful death and alter ego liability.

The lawsuit alleged that these defendants had placed profits over patient care, chose not to prevent Rios from developing the pressure sores and failed to properly care for Rios once the pressure sores were identified.

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Carlos Ruiz, 84, suffered from advanced dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. He was admitted to Palm Garden of Aventura with a diagnosis of “functional decline.” While at the facility, he developed a sacral pressure ulcer, which later became infected.

Ruiz died of this condition. He was survived by his four children.

Ruiz’s personal representative sued Palm Garden of Aventura LLC and Palm Healthcare Management LLC, alleging that the defendants’ staff chose not to develop an adequate care plan or properly monitor him.

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While a resident at Buckingham Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Walter Dendall developed pressure sores, UTIs, pneumonia, enterocolitis, C. difficile, renal failure and septic shock, all which led to his untimely death.

The Riley estate sued the nursing home, alleging negligence, wrongful death and survival claims.

Before trial, the parties settled for $200,000.

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Ida Donaway, 86, was admitted to the Woodview nursing home; she had been living there for four months. At the time of her admission, she suffered from speech issues and left hemiparesis or partial paralysis.

While a resident at this facility, she developed a Stage IV sacral pressure ulcer that required two surgical debridements.

Donaway later developed another pressure ulcer on her heel and was then transferred to another nursing home following a hospitalization. Unfortunately, she died three months later and was survived by her two daughters.

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Shirley Salesky was admitted to Rose Garden Rehabilitation and Nursing at Ann’s Choice to undergo physical therapy. At the time of her admission, the records noted that she had a reddened sacrum but no other skin breakdown.

Salesky was diagnosed as having two Stage II sacral pressure sores five days after that note was written in her chart. The pressure sores deteriorated and progressed to Stage IV. Sadly, Salesky died within two months after her admission to this rehabilitation facility.

Her estate sued Ann’s Choice and others, alleging that the staff there chose not to implement an individualized care plan, provide adequate skin assessments and wound care and properly rotate Salesky to prevent worsening pressure sores.

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Caledonia Dela Pena, 91, suffered a fall at home; she sustained a fractured femur. She was admitted to Bryn Mawr Terrace facility where a skin assessment revealed intact skin with no rashes.

After Dela Pena’s discharge several days later, she was taken to a hospital emergency room where she was diagnosed as having a Stage I sacral pressure sore. Her health unfortunately deteriorated, including a worsening of the pressure sore. She died four months later and was survived by her two adult children.

Dela Pena’s estate sued Bryn Mawr Terrace, alleging that it chose not to timely turn and reposition her during her stay and provide proper wound care. The lawsuit also named the hospital for inadequate wound treatment and charting among other claims.

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Norma Jay Drye, a 65-year-old woman who suffered from dementia and other health problems, lived at Hillcrest Center Nursing Home. One morning, a nursing home assistant attempted to transfer her from a bed to a chair using a sit-to-stand Hoyer lift.

Drye dropped to the floor during the transfer and suffered bilateral femur fractures. She was transferred to a hospital where she was also diagnosed as having multiple pressure sores.

After Drye was returned to the nursing home, she remained bed bound. This led to the worsening of her pressure sores. She developed infection and gangrene, required a partial left leg amputation and died approximately one week later. She was survived by her adult daughter.

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Cecil Smith Sr. was admitted to the Sandpiper Rehab & Nursing facility. Shortly after his admission, he developed a deep sacral pressure ulcer or bed sore that became infected. The opening in the skin caused by the pressure ulcer led to complications that caused Smith’s death less than a year after his admission to the nursing home. He was survived by his wife.

The Smith estate filed a lawsuit against the nursing home facility and other corporate entities, alleging claims under the state’s survival and wrongful death statute. The Smith family claimed that the defendants, the nursing home and its owners, chose not to prevent and treat the pressure ulcer by implementing pressure-relieving measures, providing adequate staff, properly training staff and properly communicating Smith’s needs to the treating nursing home personnel.

The defendants moved to compel arbitration, but the trial court denied the motion.

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