When it becomes necessary for Connecticut residents to place an elderly or infirm loved one in a nursing home, it is not a decision they come to lightly. The goal is to provide sound, expert care. Unfortunately, there are times when a nursing home does not provide the care that is required. It can even reach the level of nursing home abuse. The state authorities regulate these facilities and issue sanctions if there are violations. Families should particularly pay attention to their loved ones to see if there are any issues that might warrant a legal filing.
Three nursing homes in Connecticut received fines for committing violations. They included nursing home abuse, bedsores and mistakes with medications. One incident occurred in 2012 when a patient suffering from dementia was forced into a wheelchair when he tried to get up. The facility was fined $1,160 and the nurse’s aide who committed the act was dismissed. This only recently came to the public’s attention. Another facility was fined $3,000 because of seven separate incidents. One happened in late October of 2016 when a patient had to be hospitalized due to an uncontrollable nosebleed. The patient’s medications were mismanaged when there was a change. First no medication was given; then both medications were given, leading to the medical issue. The person spent several weeks in the hospital.
That same facility had six incidents in which residents developed bedsores. The staff did not adhere to plans to care for the patients and did not take steps to reduce the pressure. Finally, another facility received a fine for $2,330 due to five incidents between 2015 and 2016. A medication error was made when the wrong medicine was given to a family member who took a resident home for the night. The patient needed to be hospitalized. Other reasons for the fines were a patient exiting the facility and allegations of abuse after bruising and a broken finger on a patient that were not fully investigated.
These are just some incidents that were discovered and led to fines. It is a reality that abuse and mistakes made regarding nursing home residents are missed or ignored. People who believe their loved one has been mistreated in a nursing care facility might not know where to turn. If there is any hint of abuse or an error that led to injury or death, they should discuss the matter with an attorney who is experienced in pursuing cases related to nursing home neglect as soon as possible.
Source: nhregister.com, “East Haven nursing home among 3 in Connecticut fined for violations,” Cara Rosner, Feb. 27, 2017
