Abuse in nursing homes and other facilities often goes unnoticed

April 23, 2013

North Carolina residents may recall hearing about a devastating case of abuse reported at the O'Berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center in Goldsboro. The treatment center is a state-run facility for people with developmental disabilities. Unfortunately, abuse at facilities, such as nursing homes and facilities for the developmentally disabled, is not uncommon.

Reported abuse in facilities

Abuse in facilities is not often reported, and when it is, there is not always an investigation nor is the wrongdoer always charged. This is even true when the victims can identify who harmed them and when the wrongdoers are blatantly caught.

The O'Berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center was reported for abuse when bruises were discovered on a 72-year-old man who lived in the facility. The supervisor of the facility called the man's relatives and told them that he had been assaulted. State records show that the man was attacked so badly by a member of the facility's staff that the man's groin swelled and bruised. The bruise was in the shape of the sole of a shoe. The family moved the man out of the facility and is suing the state for the abuse.

The former resident has the comprehension of a 4-year-old yet was able to tell family members what happened and described what the staff member who assaulted him was wearing. When photos of staff members were put in front of the man, he was able to point out exactly who the staff member was.

The staff member was terminated. In the termination letter, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services found that the staff member intentionally injured the man. Police have stated that no criminal charges have been filed in this case because the man's impairments would mike it hard for him to be a convincing witness.

In Oklahoma City, the family of a 96-year-old nursing home resident caught two nursing home aides abusing the woman. The family caught the aides after placing a camera in the woman's room. The aides abused the woman by shoving rubber gloves into the woman's mouth along with shoving the woman's head.

The family reported the abuse in April 2012. Unfortunately, they have still not seen any findings from an internal investigation that was supposedly conducted by the nursing home. However, law enforcement did conduct an investigation and arrested the two nurse's aides, although only one was convicted.

Responding to the problem

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported that last year alone, there were 41 substantiated cases of abuse and neglect reported at the O'Berry Center as well as two similar state-run facilities. That is very concerning, considering that when people decide to live in one of these facilities or when family members choose to place a loved one in these facilities, they trust that they are going to be well taken care of. That is not always the case.

To help strengthen nursing homes and other facilities against abuse, family members of loved ones who reside in those facilities need to be extremely conscious of the potential for abuse and report any suspected abuse.

If a family member notices that a loved one who lives in a nursing home or other facility is suffering from bed sores or if the family member suspects that the loved one is not being fed properly, not being taken care of properly, or suffering any type of abuse, including sexual abuse, an attorney can help. An experienced attorney specializing in nursing home abuse and neglect will fight for the rights of the elderly and seek justice and compensation for any abuses that have occurred.

Article provided by Riddle & Brantley, LLP
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