New York Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

Robert Knowles, a quadriplegic from East Yaphank, New York, was left with severe brain damage and a propensity for seizures after nurses at Medford Multicare Center on Long Island allegedly ignored an alarm that his ventilator had dislodged. A lawsuit filed by Knowles' family alleges the injuries occurred after nurses waited for approximately 24 minutes to assist as the alarm sounded. According to those who have seen surveillance video, the nurses failed to respond as a flashing light on the computer monitor flashed, indicating that the ventilator had dislodged.

The Attorney General's office is currently investigating the incident.

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LI nurses 'ignored' gasp man, New York Post, Reuven Blau, November 28, 2010

A Kentucky jury has awarded $42.75 million to the family of an elderly man who was allegedly neglected in a Madisonville nursing home. The decedent, Joseph Clint Offutt, 92, was reportedly only a resident at the facility, Harborside of Madisonville, for nine days before he died. Wilkes & McHugh represented the family.

The trial lasted three weeks. The family alleged that nursing home staff members neglected Offutt, causing him to suffer severe dehydration, malnutrition, bedsores (pressure sores, decubitus ulcers), infections and, ultimately, death. Adult Protective Services officials of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services reportedly substantiated the allegations of neglect of Offutt. In particular the Cabinet found cited the nursing home for failing to prevent bedsores that developed during the decedent's admission.

Offutt served in World War II and was still planting crops at age 88. A stroke weakened him in 2007, and his wife of 58 years, Pearline, cared for him at home for eight months before the family realized he needed professional care. The jury awarded $1 million for Offutt's pain and suffering, $1.75 million for his wife's loss and $40 million for punitive damages, according to court documents.

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Family awarded $42.75 million in nursing home case, Lexington-Herald-Leader, Valarie Honeycutt Spears, November 19, 2010.

Northern Riverview Health Care, a nursing home in Haverstraw, NY, recently received the lowest rating possible (one star out of a possible five) from the Centers For Medicare Services (CMS). In evaluating the facility, CMS found poor results in annual health inspections and low levels of staffing. Summit Park Nursing Home in Pomona, NY received two out of five stars. Summit Park has done poorly on inspections over the last three years.

Each year, a team of trained health inspectors conduct onsite health inspections at each nursing home in New York. Inspectors look at the care of residents, the process of care, staff and resident interactions, and the nursing home environment. The data from the last three standard health inspections and all complaint inspections that have been conducted in the last three years were used to calculate the rating.

Many violations found at both facilities over the last three inspection cycles stem from failures in preventing falls or bedsores, as well as failing to implement appropriate care plans for residents.