Neglect and nursing home abuse is a problem that affects many of our country’s senior citizens. Pennsylvania Attorney General, Kathleen Kane, filed a lawsuit against the Golden Living Chain, a firm that runs 36 nursing-care facilities across the country. The 14 Golden Living Facilities involved in the nursing home negligence suit include the Golden Living Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa and Golden Living Centers in Philadelphia and Phoenixville. Other facilities involved in the Pennsylvania nursing home neglect suit include Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Clarion, Gettysburg, Altoona, Lansdale, Monroeville, Pittsburg, Tunkhannock, Erie, and Pottsville. The suit alleges that Golden Gate National Senior Care LLC, the operator of the Golden Living facilities, failed to provide basic services to elderly and vulnerable residents.
It was reported that the history of violations at Golden Living nursing homes goes back many years. Alleged violations include:
- Deficiencies and dehydration for residents and late delivery of meals and drinks.
- Failure to implement pressure sore interventions.
- Failure to maintain accurate resident records.
- Staff, under the direction of management, falsifying records.
- Lack of proper hygiene services for residents.
- Residents at risk for bed sores.
- Long wait for a response to bell calls, or no response.
The suit says Golden Living was guilty of deceptive advertising in Pennsylvania, because it promised, but did not deliver, decent care for residents. The suit alleges that residents were denied proper baths and left in soiled diapers and clothing for extended periods of time. According to the suit, an analysis of the Golden Living Facilities’ self-reported staffing numbers confirmed that the nursing home neglect conditions described by resident’s family members, the Department of Health, and certain staff were widespread across the Golden Living chain in Pennsylvania. The suit went on to state that staffing practices cost residents their dignity and comfort, and jeopardized their health and safety.
ELDER ABUSE IN NURSING HOMES
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) reported that there are approximately 3.2 million Americans living in nursing homes and more than 900,000 living in assisted living centers. The NCEA reported that nearly 1 in 3 U.S. nursing homes were cited for violations. Types of abuse in nursing homes and elder abuse can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, financial exploitation, gross neglect and resident-to-resident abuse.
NURSING HOME ABUSE ATTORNEY ENCOURAGES RECOGNIZING NURSING HOME ABUSE OR NEGLECT SIGNS
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Rapid Weight Loss
- Bed Injuries/Bed Sores
- Falls
- Fractures or head injuries
- Infections
- Withdrawn or emotionally upset
- Instances of wandering
- Unexplained Injuries
- Fear of speaking to staff
- A sudden change in behavior
- Unsanitary conditions
- Unexplained death of a resident
Abuse and neglect in nursing homes are often much more prevalent than we realize because it is not always reported. If you have a loved one residing in a nursing home, assisted living center, or senior living center, it is important that you understand and recognize these signs of nursing home neglect and abuse. The nursing home lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli encourage you to report nursing home abuse as soon as you suspect it. You can file a complaint in Pennsylvania on the Health Care helpline at 877-888-4877.
Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer in Wilkes-Barre or Philadelphia today if you have a loved one that has been a victim of nursing home abuse, neglect or nursing home medical malpractice at a Golden Living facility or another nursing facility. Nursing home neglect cases or nursing home negligence cases can bring justice to patients and residents of nursing homes or other senior centers, as well as to their families.
The nursing home neglect lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli are here to fight for justice for the victims of nursing home neglect. For a free lawyer consultation, call our Philadelphia nursing home negligence attorneys at 215-575-9237 or our Wilkes-Barre nursing home abuse lawyers at 570-714-HURT.