A Sacramento County nursing home will have to pay $100,000 for the death of a 60-year-old patient who fell while attendants were moving her from her wheelchair to her bed.
The California Department of Health announced the fine--the largest allowed under state law--against Eskaton Care Center Manzanita indicates California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven C. Peck.
The woman, whose name has not been released, was being moved onto the bed using a mechanical lifting device at the facility in Carmichael two years ago when the machine failed. The woman fell and hit her head. She died four days later of head trauma.
State investigators said the nursing home had not properly maintained the equipment.
Eskaton Care Chief Operating Officer Trevor Hammond called the death a "catastrophe." He told the Sacramento Bee the nursing home is reviewing the fine and is not sure it will appeal.
If nursing home abuse is suspected, immediate action must be taken. Call 911 or The Peck Law Group toll free at 1.866.999.9085, if a resident appears to be in immediate danger, otherwise, report the situation to an administrator. All nursing homes are required to have formal complaint procedure and a staff person who is designated to review grievances. Submit specific information about your complaints and attempts to resolve them. If the situation is not resolved, then the problem should be reported state agency charged with overseeing nursing homes. It may be necessary to remove a resident from a deficient nursing home if the problem is not corrected. In many cases of suspected nursing home abuse and neglect, it can be helpful to retain an experienced Peck Law Group elder abuse lawyer to take action on a loved one's behalf.
