Tennessee Injury Lawyer Blog
In this case, Eliza Jennings worked until she was in her eighties. Then, she moved into Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in 2004. According to the lawsuit, Jennings developed severe pressure sores which caused her nerve endings to become exposed and she developed infections such as E Coli. She lost the use of her arms and legs due to them not getting enough motion and she was left sitting in feces and urine. She also had bad skin rashes. The lawsuit also found evidence that the nursing home had a policy to leave its residents in adult briefs for long periods of time without changing them in order to save money on those products.
Jennings’ family filed a wrongful death and neglect lawsuit in 2010. After an eight-day trial, Jennings’ estate has been awarded $18 million. The lawyer for this case stated that, “When she passed away, she was in the condition that no human being should be left in. No one deserves to suffer the way that she did. She was allowed to suffer needlessly. That was the number one thing that the family wanted to see is that no one ever has to go through this type of neglect, ever again.” An employee with Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center said they would not comment on the outcome of the lawsuit.
Often these homes do not have enough employees for all the residents or they are improperly trained in how to care for the residents. When considering a nursing home for someone you care about it is always smart idea to visit the homes you are considering and check them out. Make sure you talk to the staff about how they are trained, meal plans, and daily schedules for the residents. Another good thing to do is to note how the residents appear while you are visiting. If the residents seem like they are in pain or have poor hygiene, then you may want to ask the staff additional questions or consider another nursing home. Finally, you should visit your loved one often while they are in the nursing home to check for signs of physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect such as bruises, scars, cuts, scrapes, your loved one seeming distant or withdrawal or if they seem agitated or worried.
When our loved ones can no longer take care of themselves, we want them to go somewhere where they will be treated with respect and properly taken care of and looked after. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are understaffed and do not provide adequate training for their employees and this can lead to cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. If someone you love has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, you should speak to one of our nursing home abuse lawyers with the Higgins Firm. We will listen to your case and will work with you to make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to by law for the injuries and suffering your family has been through.
If you suspect that any abuse or neglect has taken place, then it is crucial that you contact one of our experienced and compassionate nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at the Higgins Firm. We know how important your loved one’s care and health is to you and we will answer any questions you may have. We will also see to it that you receive any compensation that may be rightfully yours for what you have suffered and we will work to make sure that the nursing home responsible for the abuse and neglect is held accountable for their actions.
You can contact us online or by calling 800.705.2121 to discuss your case and any questions you might have.
