Woman Hospitalized After Gruesome Injuries, Nursing Home Abuse Case Under Investigation
Metro Atlanta police are investigating a nursing home abuse case for potential nursing home abuse charges after a 77-year-old female resident was hospitalized with gruesome injuries.
The victim was rushed to the emergency room on Tuesday, April 14th, with a 3-inch gash in the side of her head. Doctors treating the woman found other disturbing injuries as well, indicating potential nursing home abuse and neglect. Her head trauma led to some bleeding in the brain, and required four staples to close, according to the hospital.
Doctors also found ingrown toenails, and “overall poor hygiene.” She also suffered a wound in her hand that was still open, and doctors reported that the bandage over it was several days old, indicating that her physical needs were neglected.
The victim, whose name has not been released, has been a resident of Georgia’s New London Health Center in Snellville for four years. Her family said that a fall led her to become bedridden and unable to communicate. However, they added that they visited her every week, and thought she was being well-cared for.
“She is bedridden. She is basically dependent on people to take care of her and that has not been done,” said the woman’s grandson, Ryan Sheppard.
When questioned, the nursing home was unable to explain how the patient received those injuries.
“They just say it’s under investigation. They can’t tell us anything. Nobody is confessing, nobody is telling us anything,” Sheppard said.
“In my 15 years, I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Snellville Police Detective O.J. Concepcion. “A lot of people put trust in these homes — these nursing facilities — to take care of their loved ones, and when you see hygiene and things are not being properly taken care of its concerning.”
The victim is no longer a resident of the New London Health Center, but has been transferred to a nearby hospice.
According to records, the nursing home has been inspected regularly, and had only one violation on record from 2012, claiming that there were bedsores on a resident. Officials say the nursing home fixed the problem within one month. Our thoughts are with the family for a quick recovery.
The Strom Law Firm Defends Victims of Nursing Home Abuse
If your loved one has been admitted to a nursing home, it can be an emotional time. In many nursing home abuse cases, this means that the loved one is bedridden or needs help walking, going to the bathroom, or with feeding. You may already feel guilty for being unable to provide this level of care yourself, and it takes a lot to trust another organization to help you. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse cases are far too common, and your loved one could be the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect.
The South Carolina nursing home abuse attorneys at the Strom Law Firm understand that a situation involving abuse or neglect is serious and sensitive. You may be tired of waiting for a criminal investigation or investigation inside the nursing home to complete, and your loved one could be suffering serious physical and emotional problems that require more care and hospitalization. You do not have to face this crisis alone. Contact us today for a free consultation. 803.252.4800
