The Guardian Blog : Arizona Nursing Home Lawyer & Attorney : Solomon & Relihan Law Firm : AZ Assisted Living Neglect & Abuse : The Guardian Blog

The 92-year-old victim was a resident at a nursing home and suffered from dementia. Her body was found at the bottom of a stairwell while she was strapped in a wheelchair. The staff at the nursing home testified that the door to the stairwell was supposed to be locked at all times but that many members of the staff disabled the alarm in order to go smoke. The nursing home had been cited multiple times with deficiency citations and abuse complaints while the aids stated that it was frequently understaffed. The case was against Trans Health Management Inc., who at the time had the sole authority to operate the home at the time.

It is important when pursuing a case against a nursing home that you are choosing a professional who is knowledgeable and experienced. Families should feel like they can trust their nursing home with their loved ones and that all the safety precautions are being followed. It is important to choose a nursing home that is appropriately staffed and that has a good reputation and record. Your family member’s safety is the most important thing especially when they are in this fragile state, do not be victimized by abuse.
 

The incident originally occurred in September of 2009 when the woman’s son checked her into to the nursing home while he waited for space to open up at a separate nursing home. The elderly woman reportedly suffered from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The elderly woman’s son stated he had taken her to the nursing home in good health but when she was to be transferred to the second nursing home she was completely unresponsive, dehydrated and she had lost 15 pounds in weight. The family’s lawyers told the jury there were simply not enough nurses on staff to help the elderly woman.

One of the most common causes of elder neglect is due to under-staffing at the nursing homes. Many nursing homes take on more patients than their staff can handle and in the end this results in some patients not receiving the proper care they need or deserve. However, no elderly person should be forced to live the rest of their lives malnourished and near death before they receive the proper care. If you or someone you know is being neglected at a nursing home as a result of under-staffing, you should contact an attorney who can help get the compensation you deserve. Many elderly people suffer highly debilitating diseases and often find it difficult to live life under normal circumstances. They should never be forced in a situation that could drastically reduce their quality of life or could potentially be fatal.

Joseph Clint Offutt was a resident of the facility from March of 2008 until April of 2008. Offutt was transported to a Kentucky medical facility and subsequently died after suffering from severe dehydration. The family argued that as a result of the facility’s negligence, Offutt suffered bedsores, infections and malnutrition, all of which resulted in his death.

The jury awarded Offutt’s family $40 million in exemplary damages, $1 million for Offutt’s personal pain and suffering as well as $1.75 million for Offutt’s wife’s loss.  While the amount awarded to the family for punitive damages is a topic easily left for debate, the nursing home should still be held to some sort of penalty for their blatant negligence against Offutt and his health. The family should have justice in their favor for the loss that they have suffered. Leaving a resident’s feeding tubes and other necessary equipment unattended long enough for that resident to suffer malnutrition and dehydration is unacceptable.