North Carolina Nursing Home Resident Found With Unexplained Injuries
Della Jarrett, 88, was a long-time resident of Sunnybrook Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Raleigh, North Carolina. On May 18, 2009, Ms. Jarrett was taken to the hospital for a gastric problem. Following protocol, facility staff called her daughter, Doris Weaver, to advise of the transfer. No one ever mentioned injuries.
When Doris Weaver walked into the Emergency Room at WakeMed, she saw dark bruises on her mother's face - from her temple down to her lower earlobe. Upset, Weaver demanded to know what happened. No one could tell her. Weaver had seen her mother last during the morning on May 16 and her face was fine. The injury occurred later that day and went unnoticed until 11:00 p.m. on May 16, when a nurse notated in the chart that Ms. Jarrett had facial bruising.
Suffering from dementia since her late 70s, Jarrett has been unable for years to roll over or walk. Weaver finds it unlikely that her mother injured herself in a fall. She thinks her mother was abused and reported it to the Raleigh Police Department. The incident continues to be investigated.
Sunnybrook officials have suspended an employee but deny any abuse occurred. The employee's suspension was information that had not been shared with Ms. Jarrett's family or the police. In fact, officials at the facility told state investigators that they could not determine the cause of the bruising.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us at 1 (888) 317-2525 or visit us at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
