Allegations of Abuse at Napa Nursing Home
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer. Following the death of 87-year-old Napa resident Frances Blanton, the Napa Valley Care Center is being sued for elder abuse, negligent hiring practices as well as negligence on the part of staff supervisors. The suit, filed by the daughter of the deceased, alleges that the staff did not provide the necessary care which ultimately resulted in the alleged wrongful death of her mother. Frances had initially been transferred to the residential care facility after falling in her home and fracturing her pelvis. She was admitted to the center for rehabilitation and to prevent further illness including assistance maintaining personal hygiene, proper nutrition and hydration, and frequent repositioning to prevent pressure sores (commonly known as bed sores).
We extended our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Ms. Blanton.
The Case Against the Napa Valley Care Center
The attorney representing the Blanton family has released disturbing details about the care and compassion denied to Ms. Blanton during her stay at the center. Based on her attorneys’ findings, Frances’ “horrific injuries” would have been avoidable if the center had followed applicable laws and regulations. The attorney also stated in a press release that the center had not followed appropriate standards governing the operation of a the nursing facility.
The Blanton family attorney also claims that the center demonstrably ignored the needs of their patient and withheld necessary care. Because of this negligence, Ms. Blanton was allowed to suffer multiple bed sores, dehydration, malnourishment and weight loss. The lack of care, according to her attorneys, was “driven by a culture of putting profits over patients.” The facility’s failures caused Frances further injuries that resulted in excruciating pain and subsequent death.
Nursing Home Abuse, an Emerging Crisis
Recent publications from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General have drawn much needed attention to the growing problem of elder abuse in nursing homes. Unfortunately, the case of Frances Blanton is not uncommon. From the over-medicating of seniors, inadequate training of staff, financial abuse, and failure to report abuse to law enforcement, the news reports paint a terrifying picture of what is happening to our at risk senior citizens. It is estimated that 1 in 5 residents in nursing homes have been given unnecessary and dangerous antipsychotic drugs in a manner unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There are over 250,000 residents of nursing homes in California alone, many of them at risk for potential abuse.
Elder Abuse Statistics in America
Elder abuse- including victims both in nursing homes and in private home settings- is a growing problem throughout the country. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) defines elder abuse as follows:
- Physical abuse;
- Neglect;
- Emotional abuse;
- Sexual abuse;
- Exploitation;
Another type of elder care abuse is passive neglect. This refers to a situation in which a caregiver fails to provide the patient with the basic necessities for well being, such as nutrition, hygiene and medical care.
About 1 in 10 Americans who are over the age of 60 have experienced at least one of the types of abuse listed above. As many as five million older persons requiring care are the victims of abuse each year. This is completely unacceptable.
Related Articles by Sacramento Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer, Ed Smith:
Sacramento Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith and I am a Sacramento Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer. If you or a loved one has suffered nursing home neglect or abuse, please call me for free, friendly advice. I can be reached at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. Or, you can contact me online.
Read some of my past client reviews on these sites: Yelp, Avvo, and Google.
I’m a member of the Million Dollar Forum.
Here are some of the results I have obtained for my clients: verdicts and settlements.
Photo Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons Public Domain Image – by AveryHealthcare
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