Elder Abuse in Nursing Home Caught on Video Tape
Many families who notice suspicious bruises or sudden changes in the behavior of their loved ones may suspect that nursing home abuse is the cause, yet they are often left with no proof. However, one family in Kentucky recently took matters into their own hands, setting up a hidden camera that caught the elder abuse on video tape.
According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, when the family did not get any rational explanation for the bruises on their loved one, they placed a camera in the room. The video caught nursing home staff physically assaulting, abusing and taunting the 84 year old woman. It also showed that they were neglecting her basic needs, by failing to feed or clean her.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s office has initiated a criminal investigation as a result of the family’s hidden nursing home video, discovering at least 17 other residents who had “injuries of unknown origin” which the nursing home failed to adequately investigate.
The elder abuse occurred at Madison Manor Nursing Home in Kentucky, which is an Extendicare nursing home.
It is often difficult for family members to discover elder abuse in nursing homes, since the loved one may not tell their family members out of fear of punishment by the staff or because they feel shame.
Family members can take steps to help reduce the risk of nursing home abuse by making careful observations during visits at unpredictable times. Suspicious bruises, broken bones and hair loss could be a few of the physical signs of elder abuse in a nursing home. Family members may also start to notice unusual changes in behavior, especially towards certain staff members.
NURSING HOME ABUSE LAWYERS
The nursing home elder abuse lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent families throughout the United States who are investigating potential lawsuits on behalf of loved ones who have suffered severe injuries. Nursing home lawsuits not only help pursue compensation for injuries suffered, but also operate as an important safeguard in our society to help protect the rights of residents and make sure that proper standards are followed in the industry.
To speak with one of our attorneys and review a potential case for elder abuse in a nursing home, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
1 Comment • Add Your Comments
susan says:
my mother is a resident of Oakland Care Center in Oakland.N.J.she has been there for almost 3 yrs. She has rheumatoid arthritis and is confined to this facility.She also has a fused left knee and a very old prosthesis in the right.You can see through the skin the metal prosthesis. She has been informed of what could happen if they do not amputate. Also she may not survive because of her declining health.About a year or so she fractured her tibia while she was in her wheelchair. 10 or so days after this incident she was screaming in pain now in the lower part of the same leg. I asked her did she remember what precipitaded the new severe pain . She said that she was being transferred from the gurney to the bed and the aids dropped her hard with no leg support and she immediately felt a sharp pain in the lower leg below the existing fracture and she and I felt that something else was wrong. I personally called her orthopedist and he repeated a bone scan that revealed a brand new fracture that was not on the first scan that was taken with the original scan taken just days before, Just a note-my father died there as a result of a shattered left hip. He was only there for temporary rehab not as a permanent.resident. My mother has told me about an assault by a CNA. and when she asks for their names she is refused. 2 days ago I walked in the facility at a time I never go. When I was coming down the I could hear a TV (my mom’s) at full volume. An aide was standing there at her door with her arms crossed saying nothing to my mom. My mom was laying in ffilth and pain crying and asked the aide to please help her. The aid had turned the volume to the max so she could could drown my mothers cries for help. I entered the room and immediately turned off the TV and asked the aid what was going on and she replied by saying my mother cries for help a lot and I replied “so you drown her out?’ I felt so bad for my Mom that she was at the mercy of these aids and she was unable to use a phone to call us. She was changed and when i saw the condition of her bottom I saw stage 1 of decubitus ulcers on both cheeks. Earlier in the day she asked to be taken to the hospital because of the pain she was in. The DR. on call said no. 2hrs later they found her on the floor. There was only 2 rails up at the time. No rails up for the end of the bed. She has NEVER fallen before EVER ! Sometimes they ttake her call bell and iput it out of reach so she is unable to call. I recently found a bottle of pills on her over-bed table that were for another resident and my mom was trying to open them. I was outraged to say the least and went to administration. They said that an aggregious error had been made and it too would be investigated internally.
Posted on June 22, 2009 at 2:56 am