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WOODLAND, CA — February 2, 2007 — Cottonwood Healthcare, a nursing home located about 16 miles from Sacramento, was fined $90,000 for its alleged role in the death of one of its residents. According to a local newspaper account, 89 year–old Eva Anita Morgan died from a serious blood infection or sepsis (Daily Democrat, January 26, 2007).
Sepsis may be the result of infected, untreated bedsores or pressure ulcers. Bedsores are often caused by failure to move or reposition a bed–ridden resident. Both federal and California law provide for repositioning a resident at specified intervals and quickly cleaning up any urine or feces. Failure to do so can easily cause the skin to break down and the area to become infected. Poor nutrition or hydration also affects the health of the skin.
Ms. Morgan also became severely dehydrated and was transferred to an acute care hospital two days before her death. The California Department of Health Services (CDHS) found that Cottonwood failed to “provide a continuing assessment of the resident’s hydration status, notify her physician of symptoms of dehydration; notify dietary services of the decreased fluid intake for dietary interventions; and ensure sufficient fluids were provided to prevent dehydration.”
After Ms. Morgan died, the CDHS received a complaint about Cottonwood Healthcare. It investigated the cause of death, and then issued an “AA” citation to the nursing home along with a $90,000 fine. In California, an AA citation is the most serious violation possible. This type of citation is issued when a nursing home resident’s death has been directly linked to the facility’s lack of care. The citation can carry a fine ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.
Sadly, bedsores, malnutrition and dehydration are not that uncommon among nursing home residents, especially the frail and elderly. According to government estimates, the prevalence of bedsores in nursing home patients is about 23%. The statistics on malnutrition and dehydration may be higher—at least 35%, according to a 2000 report by the National Coalition for Nursing Home Reform. This is because the standard of care can fall if a nursing home is not adequately staffed or its personnel is not well–trained or supervised. For more information, see our section entitled Elder Abuse Comprises Almost Half of Elder Abuse Cases.
Brayton Purcell has been advocating on behalf of seniors for many years. We are experienced in all areas of elder abuse law, including neglect and inadequate pain management. If you have questions about nursing home neglect and the care of a loved one, please feel free to contact us.
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