Family Sues Fountain Valley Nursing Home For Abuse And Neglect
Family Sues Fountain Valley Nursing Home For Abuse And Neglect
The family of a Fountain Valley nursing home patient has filed a lawsuit against the facility alleging that the woman died from abuse and neglect.
According to a report in The Orange County Register, 73-year-old Arlayne Hoover was admitted to ManorCare Health Services in Fountain Valley in November after being diagnosed with leg cancer.
The lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court claims that Hoover required round-the-clock care and supervision, but the staff neglected her.
The plaintiffs claim that at least on two occasions they ignored her pleas for assistance to use the restroom.
As a result, the suit alleges, Hoover fell and broke her leg, which eventually led to her death.
ManorCare not only failed to perform neurological checks, but also did not inform Hoover’s doctor, which was a “blatant disregard for their own policies and protocol.”
The suit also claims that staff left Hoover in a soiled bed with feces on her hands. Hoover was placed on hospice care January 9 and died just six days later.
Nursing Home Abuse
The data when it comes to nursing home abuse and neglect is fuzzy because not all incidents are reported.
A 2010 study conducted by Cornell University and the New York City Department for the Aging found that the incidence of elder abuse is nearly 24 times greater than the number of cases referred to social services, law enforcement or legal authorities.
Psychological abuse is the most common form of elder abuse, the study found.
Protecting Victims’ Rights
Based on this news report, the lawsuit alleges that Hoover was severely neglected at the ManorCare facility. The lawsuit also states that in addition to not being cared for properly the facility failed to inform Hoover’s doctor about a key change her medical condition and left her in lying in her own filth.
As Orange County nursing home abuse attorneys who represent victims and their families, we’ve seen that these instances of neglect occur because nursing homes are understaffed and are simply not capable to provide quality care.
They keep staffing levels low so they can increase their profits.
Putting profits before the well-being of their ill, vulnerable and elderly residents is simply not unacceptable.
Negligent nursing homes should be held accountable.
We offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.
