Resident Dies from Fall After Staff Ignored Her for Over Two Hours

The death of a 95-year-old resident at a Washington State nursing home is another reminder of the dangers of neglect.

Last November, the resident fell out of bed and staff members ignored her requests for help for two and a half hours. They walked in and out of the room without helping her. The resident was taken to the hospital and died just 11 days later due to complications from her broken leg.

What Led to the Resident’s Death?

The family of the deceased had put a camera in her room out of concern about falls. The deceased asked for help getting out of bed around 4 a.m., but an administrator came in and told the resident to get back into bed.

The resident called for help again and fell out of bed at 4:24 a.m. Several minutes later, someone responded and slapped the resident’s hand away from the curtain she was grabbing to try to get up.

Paramedics were called and arrived at about 7 a.m. to help the resident back into bed. Even though the resident had said multiple times she had broken her leg a few hours earlier, she did not say anything to the EMTs, possibly because of her dementia.

Administrators told the victim’s granddaughter her fall was slow and controlled, but the video directly contradicts that statement. The granddaughter was also told the fall did not cause an injury.

The facility was shut down last month and the husband, wife and daughter who own the facility are facing criminal mistreatment charges from Pierce County prosecutors.

The husband and daughter pled not guilty when they were arraigned. The Superior Court Commissioner ordered them to be held in lieu of $75,000 bail.

How do Families Find Safe Facilities for Their Loved Ones?

When people with aging parents read stories like this, they may wonder how they can prevent their loved ones from suffering this kind of neglect.

The first step is to do your research before deciding where to send your loved one for nursing care. You also need to stay in contact with your loved one and his or her facility to spot any signs of abuse or neglect and report your concerns to the proper authorities. In an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Wisconsin also has specific departments that handle complaints of nursing home abuse or elder abuse. Review our blog on reporting abuse in Wisconsin.

If your loved one was neglected and suffered injuries, contact our Wisconsin nursing home abuse lawyers for a free consultation to discuss possible legal options.

Phone: 414-333-3333. Free consultation and no upfront fees.