Due to the spread of the coronavirus, nursing homes around the country have limited family’s access to their loved ones. Another case of nursing home abuse has been uncovered and unfortunately discovered too late due to the family being unable to see their loved one in person.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently reported on charges being brought against former employees at a Sandy Springs nursing home in the Atlanta area. One of the elder abuse charges stem from the facility not notifying the paramedics or family members after a resident was found after falling in their room. Since the family was not allowed to visit him due to COVID-19 restrictions, they were unaware of the victim’s health decline due to the fall injuries.
The family was only made aware of the problems when a third-party nurse was brought in by the center to look at severe pressure ulcers (also known as bed sores) caused by staff members not properly turning the patient. This third-party nurse informed the family about the ulcers and the family decided to remove the resident from the home.
Unfortunately, on the day the man was to leave the facility, one of the staff members gave him a doughnut without first checking his swallowing ability. The man ended up dying from asphyxia.
As we have reported in a previous blog post, Coronavirus Rules May Hide Nursing Home Abuse, when family members and friends cannot visit, there is limited opportunity to make sure your loved one is safe. The situation in unsettling due to the ongoing pandemic rules and the vulnerabilities residents face in this type of environment.
If your loved one resides in a nursing home, and you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse, please contact us for further information.