Neglect Cited in Minnesota Nursing Home Resident's Fall
The Minnesota Department of Health determined that neglect caused a resident's fall and subsequent injury at Benedictine Health Center. We have discussed problems at the facility in previous blogs.
According to a January 26, 2011 investigative report by the Office of Health Facility Complaints, a resident who had left-side paralysis and required extensive assistance was to be moved between her bed and the bathroom on August 27, 2010. The woman's care plan called for a transfer between the wheelchair and toilet using a mechanical lift. Use of the lift including the use of a vest, buttock strap, and straps for the lower legs. The employee assisting the woman admitted that she failed to use the buttock strap during her transfer. The results were tragic.
During the transfer, the resident fell or was dropped. She suffered head injuries and left hip contusions. In the ensuing hours after the fall, the woman "continued to have pain in her left hip, her ability to move declined, and her appetite decreased". She was placed on hospice six days after the fall and died three days later.
According to the facility's Executive Director, Mark Broman, the facility's investigation found that their employee failed to follow the resident's care plan and facility policies and was terminated.
This is a sad case and yet another illustration of how vulnerable elderly residents are. It is good that the employee involved was terminated, but why did this happen in the first place? Where was the supervision? Was the person adequately trained? Sure, she cut corners, but why? Is the facility insufficiently staffed?
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, don't be shy about asking pointed questions regarding staffing levels, policies, supervision, etc. Regardless of what promises a nursing home makes, they will never care about your loved one as much as you do.
