Investigating ManorCare for Nursing Home Neglect
understaffing, medication errors, infection, bedsores & falls
With dozens of nursing homes and assisted care facilities in Ohio, ManorCare is one the largest nursing home chains in the region. HCR ManorCare, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, operates the Heartland and Arden Courts facilities in a number of cities throughout Ohio.
Thousands of families have trusted the reputation and management of ManorCare with the important task of caring for elderly patients.
If you are concerned about understaffing, underqualified staff, gross negligence, increased risk for serious illness, incidents of severe bed sores, pressure sores, malnutrition, dehydration, permanent injury and even wrongful death, our Firm can help investigate those concerns.
With a careful investigation, and assistance of medical experts, the Lyon Firm can determine if a patient’s damages are the result of mismanagement or neglect of a hospice center and its personnel.
Liability must be established, and records may show an unacceptable standard of care. If it is determined that a fatal infection or injury was preventable, and nursing home staff were negligent, the family of a victim may have a successful claim.
Nursing homes and assisted care facilities are required to adhere to safe hospice practices. When nursing home staff fails to follow safe procedures, and fails to protect patients, they may be held responsible for their actions.
Nursing home injuries and deaths due to mismanagement are far too prevalent and not only a great burden to families, but also the nation’s health care system. Changes must be made and assisted living centers and staff must be held accountable for the damage caused by poor facility procedure and standards.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Cincinnati, Ohio personal injury attorney with experience in injuries and deaths due to nursing home neglect.
Mr. Lyon has represented plaintiffs nationwide in a wide variety of medical negligence, wrongful death and injury claims.
Ohio ManorCare Claims
When a patient suffers an injury or preventable illness at a nursing home, multiple factors may be at play, and an investigation may be warranted. When a patient falls, develops bed sores, or develops an infection, the underlying problems may boil down to inadequate number of staff, underqualified staff, or blatant abuse and patient neglect. The following conditions are common at assisted care centers in Ohio:
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Asphyxiation
- Head injuries
- Bone fractures
- Bedsores
- Overmedicating injuries
- Other fall-related injuries
- Infections—abdominal infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, respiratory infections
HCR ManorCare Lawsuits
In recent years, nursing homes have been the target of hundreds of lawsuits filed after family members were abused or neglected. HCR ManorCare has absorbed a number of claims along with many other nursing home chains.
The family of one elderly female patient filed an abuse lawsuit against a California ManorCare facility after the patient developed pressure sores and infections, leading to the woman’s death. The lawsuit alleged that the Manor Healthcare Center failed to provide proper care, adequate nutrition and hydration, and other assistance that would have prevented the premature death.
Another recent lawsuit involving ManorCare claimed that the nursing facility failed to provide a patient with the assistance he required and failed to take preventative action when he was noted to be “a high risk for skin breakdown.” A jury found that ManorCare committed nearly 400 violations.
Ohio ManorCare Nursing Homes
- Arden Courts of Anderson Township—Cincinnati, OH
- Arden Courts of Kenwood—Cincinnati, OH
- Arden Courts of Chagrin Falls
- Arden Courts of Parma—Cleveland, OH
- ManorCare Health Services—Mayfield Heights, OH
- ManorCare Health Services—Cleveland, OH
- Heartland Hospice—Cincinnati, OH
- Heartland Hospice—Independence, OH
- Heartland of Centerville
- Heartland of Chillicothe
- Heartland of Columbia
- Heartland of Bellefountaine
- Heartland of Burgrus
- Heartland of Springfield
- Heartland of Marion
- Heartland of Hillsboro
- Heartland of Madeira
- Heartland of Riverview
- Heartland of Portsmouth
- Heartland of Westerville
- Heartland of Miamisburg
- Heartland of Greenville
- Heartland of Jackson
- Heartland of Piqua
- Heartland of Kettering
- Heartland of Marietta
- Heartland of Twinsburg
- Heartland of Mentor
- Heartland of ProMedica
- Heartland of Wauseon
- Heartland of Oregon
- Heartland-Holly Glen
- Heartland of Bucyrus
- Heartland of Dublin
- Heartland of Westerville
- Heartland of Woodridge—Fairfield, OH
- Heartland of Willoughby
CONTACT THE LYON FIRM TODAY
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ABOUT THE LYON FIRM
Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.
The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.
NO COST UNLESS WE WIN
The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.
Nursing Home Lawsuits
The transition into a nursing home is difficult for both patients and their families. It is a sacrifice, and residents rely heavily on the compassion and competence of nursing home staff and management to provide the best care possible. When nursing homes fail to provide the professional care they promise, and injuries and deaths result, they may be held accountable by Ohio law.
CONTACT THE LYON FIRM TODAY
Nursing Home Neglect Case Questions
Nursing home neglect has been a serious issue for decades now, and the management of facilities must be held accountable when instances of negligence affect your family.
If an Ohio nursing home fails to provide the professional care they have advertised, and patient injuries and deaths result, the companies may be held responsible in Ohio courts. Large settlements have resulted from the families of victims filing injury claims against Diversicare, Genesis, ManorCare and Laurel homes.
Nursing home neglect injuries may result from understaffing, underqualified staff, bad management and poor communication. Abuse and neglect can result in dangerous bedsores and other serious infections. Common types of nursing home abuse may include:
- Physical Abuse
- Safety Hazards—slips and falls
- Improper confinement and isolation
- Emotional Abuse
- Intimidation
- Failing to keep patients clean
- Failing to prevent malnutrition
- Sexual Assault & Inappropriate physical contact
- Bedsores and infections
- Identity theft, stealing money & forgery
- Overcharging patients and families
- Overmedicating patients
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates approximately 1,800 nursing home residents die from dangerous falls each year. Residents who survive falls may sustain hip or head injuries which can lead to permanent disabilities.
Because of the new surroundings and staff neglect, many newly admitted nursing home residents will suffer a fall shortly after their arrival. Understaffing is a big factor in these injuries, and the management of nursing homes have a responsibility to prevent falls and accidents.
Bedsores, also known as pressure sores, pressure ulcers, and skin lesions can be very painful and lead to more serious health problems if not treated promptly. Nursing home staff are well aware that patients confined to beds need to be turned regularly to reduce the risk of developing ulcers. However, when nursing homes are understaffed or fail to properly attend to residents, patients suffer the consequences.
Bedsores, also called decubitus ulcers, are injuries to skin and underlying tissue from prolonged skin pressure. Bedsores commonly develop on bony areas of the body, such as the heels, ankles, hips and tailbone. Common Contributing Factors for Bedsores:
- Pressure—bedsores are caused by pressure against the skin that limits blood flow to the skin. Blood flow is essential to delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissue.
- Friction—skin rubbing against clothing or bedding makes skin more vulnerable to injury.
- Immobility
- Overmedicated patients
- Understaffing at nursing homes
- Lack of sensory perception
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Nursing home neglect
- Medical conditions affecting blood flow—diabetes and vascular disease
People most at risk of bedsores have medical conditions that limit their ability to change positions on their own. Bedsores can develop quickly. Most sores heal with treatment, but some are more severe and lead to serious drug resistant infections. Other signs of nursing abuse include:
- Unexplained injuries
- Restraint marks
- Lack of hygiene maintenance
- Untidy living conditions
- Unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts
- Bedsores and poor skin conditions
- Signs of dehydration
- Unusually sedated residents
- Weight loss
- Broken bones & fractures
- Bruising from unknown injuries
- A patient that withdraws socially over time
- Entirely non-communicative patient
- A fear of physical contact
Bedsores are categorized into four stages, based on their depth, severity and other characteristics. They include:
- Stage I—a persistent redness, swelling and tenderness on a patient’s skin.
- Stage II—a loss of some of skin thickness. Appears as a blister, abrasion or shallow crater.
- Stage III—damage to the full thickness of the skin. A deep lesion or crater is present.
- Stage IV—a complete loss of the skin. Muscle or bone is exposed.
A bedsore can advance quickly when patients do not receive proper treatment and care in a nursing home or assisted living center. There are various factors associated with developing bedsores, though most involve neglect, understaffing, overmedicating, a lack of nutritional care and patient immobility.
Common Sites of Pressure Sores
- Tailbone & Buttocks
- Shoulder blades
- Spine
- Backs of arms & legs
- Back or sides of the head
- Hips
- Lower back
- Heels & ankles
- Behind the knees
Complications of Bedsores & Skin Infections
- Cellulitis—an infection of the skin and connected soft tissues.
- Bone and joint infections—Infections from pressure sores can pass into joints and bones, damaging cartilage and tissue. Bone infections may reduce the function of joints and limbs.
- Amputation
- Sepsis
- Cancer—long-term, unhealed wounds can develop into a type of squamous cell carcinoma
Nursing homes tend to settle out of court, but they typically defend the cases and require expert workup. It is critical to hire experienced legal counsel to guide you through the legal process.
Your Right to Safety
Your Loved Ones Should Not Have to Suffer in Their Homes
The elderly population in nursing homes and assisted living facilities around Ohio frequently suffer injuries like bedsores due to understaffing and neglect. Some underlying issues that lead to dangerous skin ulcers include improper medication, a lack of supervision, malnutrition, inadequate wound care, and a delay in sending patients to medical centers and hospitals. These severe injuries are almost always preventable, and nursing homes have a duty to ensure that residents are kept safe and as healthy as possible. Nursing home neglect may lead to severe infection, amputations, and death.
Good quality care in nursing homes includes evaluating medical quality, nurse staff levels, sanitary conditions, and health inspection reports. Overall staffing appears to be a huge factor in the level of care provided. Residents need continual attention and reports aim to monitor the average hours a day a patient receives care from registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses and certified nurse assistants.
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