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Authorities say nursing home negligence led to patient’s death

On behalf of Randall & Stump, PLLC in Nursing Home Negligence/Abuse on Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Nursing Home Patient in Charlotte, NC

Deciding to have an elderly loved one admitted to a nursing home is never easy. However, in most cases, a family would take such steps because they cannot provide the round-the-clock care that the loved one needs. Unfortunately, many families in North Carolina and elsewhere have been disillusioned by nursing home negligence that has killed a beloved parent or grandparent.

According to a report by the Department of Human Services in another state, a 77-year-old nursing home patient who had Alzheimer’s disappeared from a nursing home in August. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that destroys mental functions such as memory. Reportedly, a staff member noticed the patient’s absence, but only reported it about 90 minutes later.

The woman, who was a resident of the nursing home’s dementia unit, had a known history of pushing buttons on the security pads that control access to the facility, and this time she apparently managed to get the doors to open. Tragically, her remains were discovered in a ditch approximately a month later. In conclusion of the investigation, the agency says the nursing home neglected the patient in its failure to find a solution to the known attempts of the patient to exit the dementia unit.

Any North Carolina family who loses a loved one in such a tragic way may want to pursue financial relief to assist with unanticipated expenses related to end-of-life arrangements. When nursing home negligence is alleged in a civil lawsuit, the process can be challenging without legal representation. For that reason, it might help to secure the support and guidance of an attorney who has experience in navigating the legal proceedings to help recover the financial and emotional damages suffered by the surviving family members.

Source: U.S. News, “Nursing Home Loses License After Patient Wanders Away, Dies”, Oct. 10, 2017