Four Nursing Homes in Connecticut Fined for Elder Abuse and Neglect

Four nursing homes in the state of Connecticut have been fined for serious elder abuse and neglect, including the death of a resident.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health fined the Elm Hill Nursing Center of Rocky Hill a total of $2,250 after reported cases of a broken hip, a resident who fell and was unresponsive, and the sexual elder abuse of a resident that was improperly reported.

The patient who fell and was unresponsive reportedly died in a hospital afterwards.

On September 10th, Elm Hill was fined $1,020 after reports that a resident with dementia fell on February 14th, and sustained a broken hip. The reason the patient fell, according to state records, was that a nurse forgot to put a tray table on the resident’s wheel chair, so while the case was not elder abuse, it is a report of neglect.

The following day, September 11th, the Department of Public Health fined the nursing home after a report came in that a resident had been sexually abused, and another had died after a fall. Reportedly, on August 6th, at 1:40 AM, a resident of the nursing home was found outside, unresponsive, at the bottom of four stairs. State records show that the facility’s alarm did not go off when the door was opened, and the resident had also removed their bracelet that would have triggered the alarm system. Staff initiated CPR and called 911, but the resident died in the hospital.

Incidents of sexual elder abuse occurred on July 30th, August 4th, and August 8th, according to state records. A visitor reportedly was observed touching a resident’s breasts, or with his hand down her pants. A licensed nurse, a nurse’s aide, an a social worker were all suspended because they did not properly report the sexual elder abuse. Reportedly, the suspended nurse didn’t think the incidents were a “big deal” because the resident’s visitor was “an older gentleman.” The state concluded the home failed to “ensure the resident was protected from abuse until after the third incident.”

Other nursing homes in the state have been fined for elder abuse allegations recently as well. Regency Heights, in Windham, was fined $1,580 on July 22nd, because of several elder abuse charges. The facility failed to provide psychological assistance to a violent resident, and also failed to properly treat a patient that had a pressure ulcer. In another case, an alarm was not placed properly out of reach of a resident, who disconnected the alarm, and consequently fell and broke a leg. Fines were also levied for incidents in which a resident was bruised while being lifted, and another was cut after becoming agitated during transfer between a wheelchair and the bed.

Bethel Healthcare was fined $1,500 was a resident was burned on July 2nd, when a nurse left a heating pad behind a resident’s knee for several hours, rather than half an hour, which was prescribed. The nurse also failed to let the next shift know about the pad, and the resident ended up hospitalized for a skin graft on August 14th. Reportedly, the facility also failed to follow the hospital’s post-operation care plan.

The Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm Prosecute Elder Abuse

If your loved one has physically suffered, or died wrongfully, because an in-home caregiver or registered nurse in a nursing home has neglected the patient, you may have an elder abuse case. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm understand the sensitive nature of elder abuse cases, and will treat you with respect and compassion. It is important to fight felony elder abuse so you, your family, and others no longer suffer because of criminal behavior. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today for help. 803.252.4800