Two Nursing Home Assistants Face Negligence Charges After Elderly Patient Falls and Sleeps on Floor Covered in Vomit and Urine
Two certified nursing home assistants are each facing a misdemeanor charge of negligence related to an incident at assisted living facility The Retreat at Palisade, where an elderly woman fell from her chair and slept for hours on the floor covered in her vomit and urine. Nursing home assistants Melinda Meyer, 24, and Robin Martinez, 31, received their summonses after the resident’s daughter reported the incident to police. Fortunately, the elderly woman suffered no physical injuries.
Staff members at the facility are supposed to check on each resident every two hours between 6pm and 6am. Police, however, say that the woman was last seen sitting on a chair at around midnight—a situation not uncommon for the elderly patient. She was discovered on the floor the following morning during the shift change.
The nursing home’s director, Chris Murillo, says he fired the two women right away and reported the incident to local human services and law enforcement authorities. The facility says it has a “zero-tolerance” policy for the kind of “complacency” the two nursing assistants exhibited.
Nursing home neglect can lead to serious emotional and physical injuries. Examples of nursing home negligence include:
• Failure to take the proper measures to prevent fall accidents.
• Failure to make sure that a patient is properly hydrated and/or receiving the proper nutrition.
• Failure to check on patients regularly.
• Failure to respond to resident calls in a timely manner.
• Failure to take residents that require help to the toilet.
• Allowing a patient to wear soiled clothing or sleep in soiled bedding.
• Failure to make sure that a resident doesn’t wander off without supervision.
• Inadequate security.
• Failure to give a resident the required medical care in a timely manner.
• Failure to properly supervise.
Former care home workers accused of neglect, GJSentinel.com, October 14, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Nursing Homes in Illinois, Illinois Department of Public Health
Throughout Illinois, our Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers represent victims and their families in civil cases involving nursing home abuse and/or neglect. Contact the Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates, PC to schedule your free consultation.
