Regulators from the Ohio Department of Health, along with Department of Aging and the Ohio Attorney General’s office, are investigating allegations of nursing home abuse and neglect at a Central Ohio assisted living facility. The investigation centers on The Manor of Whitehall, a long-term care home offering rehabilitation and skilled nursing services in Whitehall, Ohio.
According to state regulators, the investigation began after the family of a resident filed a report with Whitehall Police against the nursing home alleging abuse and neglect. Their love one, a 90-year-old navy veterans who suffers from dementia and recently lost his wife, lived in dirty and “unacceptable” living conditions, they claim, and suffered from bed sores, a staph infection, dehydration, pneumonia, and other health problems that could have been effectively treated with proper care.
Upon a closer look into The Manor at Whitehall, investigative journalists covering the family’s story found the facility had recently received 8 citations from the Ohio Department of Health. That report identified deficiencies in multiple aspects of care, including a lack of background checks for nurse aides, insufficient care planning and failures to develop baseline treatment plans, lack of response to pharmacy recommendations, and recordkeeping errors, among others. The nursing home has submitted plans to address the ODH citations.
Seeking Justice Following Elder Abuse & Neglect
Unfortunately, stories like these are not uncommon. As statistics show, the Ohio Attorney General’s office has received close to 150 complaints about abuse and neglect of Medicaid patients at facilities throughout central Ohio from January 2017 to September 2018. Over 80 investigations spearheaded by the Attorney General’s office have also led to five indictments and five convictions of providers.
While vigilant family members play a valuable role in alerting authorities and regulators to suspected abuse and neglect, investigations can be slow, and may fail to produce any meaningful enforcement actions. Even when investigations are being handled by public officials and / or law enforcement, families should still take steps to explore their options for taking legal action of their own, including civil lawsuits.
At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, our Cleveland-based trial lawyers have extensive experience representing victims and families in civil cases involving nursing home abuse and neglect. This includes injuries, illnesses, and damages suffered by residents which could and should have been prevented. Elder abuse and nursing home cases may involve any number of abusive and negligent actions, including:
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse committed by staff members
- Financial exploitation of elderly residents
- Inadequate staffing or improperly trained / licensed staff
- Medication errors
- Malnutrition and dehydration caused by neglect of basic needs
- Bed and pressure sores
- Failures to provide and abide by proper care plans
- Nursing home falls and related injuries
Families place tremendous trust in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to take care of their loved ones. When these facilities breach their legal duty of providing acceptable care and keeping residents free from preventable abuse, neglect, and nursing home injuries, they can and should be held accountable.
If you have questions about pursuing a nursing home abuse or neglect lawsuit, would like more information about possible signs of abuse or neglect, or would like to discuss a potential case anywhere in the state of Ohio with an award-winning personal injury lawyer from Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, contact us for a free and confidential consultation.
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