By: Kelley Riedel, LLP, Partner; San Diego Nursing Home Attorneys Berman & Riedel, LLP
YES, SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED IN CALIFORNIA ELDER CARE FACILITIES …
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – Australian officials have demanded an investigation into a state-run nursing home where elderly residents were badly bitten amid a plague of mice. One of those badly bitten was an 89-year-old bedridden war veteran who was found with bites on his ears, hands, face, and neck.
Federal officials have stated that such reports “are extremely disturbing and traumatic for residents and their families.” Officials are demanding an investigation that would entail a full review of all possible actions the nursing home should have implemented. Initial reports by the Australian government suggest that the nursing home was understaffed and nursing home residents were not being checked on regularly by staff.
While troubling, these incidents are not all that uncommon. Indeed, the facts of this case are similar to a case handled by Berman & Riedel, LLP, Managing Partner William M. Berman, Esq., who represented the family of a 92-year-old elderly man who was plagued by insects while residing in a San Diego County Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (“RCFE”).
In that case, 92-year-old Angelo George had been admitted into a RCFE by his elderly wife so that his daily needs could be properly taken care of by qualified care givers. Yet within three months of being admitted into the RCFE, Mr. George was rushed to the hospital in the most grave condition; the circumstances of his condition almost too much to believe.
Upon his admission to the hospital’s emergency room, attending physicians observed that Mr. George’s hair, face, eyes and mouth were covered with ants; some were living while others that had died were still lodged in his mouth, underneath his eyelids and in his hair. In addition to the live insect activity, Mr. George was also noted as being severely malnourished and dehydrated with signs of obvious muscle wasting. The physicial observations confirmed that Mr. George was not be propoerly fed or cared for, and was the subject of severe neglect by facility adminstration and staff. Unfortunately, Mr. George died at the hospital shortly following his admission. After litigating the case for several months, attorney Berman settled the case on behalf of Mr. George’s surviving family for over $1 million dollars. More information about this case can be found at www.preventelderabuse.com/2002/12/30/residential-care-facility-settles-elder-neglect-lawsuit-doctors-found-ants-in-92-year-old%e2%80%99s-face/.
Berman & Riedel, LLP, is a California nursing home abuse and neglect law firm, with its main offices located in San Diego, California. The elder abuse lawyers at Berman & Riedel, LLP, handle cases throughout the entire State of California, and have extensive litigation experience in handling a variety of the most serious and complex personal injury and wrongful death claims brought under California’s Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (“EADACPA”) which is otherwise known as California’s Elder Abuse Act. The elder abuse lawyers at Berman & Riedel, LLP, only represent individuals and family members of those who have been seriously injured or killed through the wrongful acts of those charged with providing custodial care to elders and dependent adults. The nursing home elder abuse lawyers at the firm have built a reputation for constantly achieving tremendous results in undertaking the handling of the most complex and serious cases; many of the results obtained by the firm have been unprecedented and have in such cases garnered the attention of the media. To contact an elder abuse attorney at Berman & Riedel, LLP, you can contact us by e-mail or call the firm anytime at (858) 350-8855; initial consultations are always free of charge.
