Ohio Negligence Lawsuit Against Nursing Home Filed By Lima Man After Death Of A Patient

Ohio Negligence Lawsuit Against Nursing Home Filed By Lima Man After Death of a Patient

Ohio Negligence Lawsuits Filed Against Nursing Homes Continue With Possible Link To Elder Neglect and Patient Death

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A man from Lima Ohio, has filed a lawsuit against a nursing home over the improper care received by Donald Ballard during his stay there, which the family believes led to his death. The nursing home named in the suit is HFC of Shawnee and Shawnee Manor Nursing Home of Lima. The suit was filed in Allen County Common Pleas Court, with a damages amount for over $25,000.

According to the Ohio negligence lawsuit, Ballard was admitted to the Ohio nursing home in February 2013 for rehabilitation after Ballard broke his patella. Because of his limited mobility, the suit states he was at high risk for developing pressure sores on his feet, heels, and ankles. The suit claims that the staff at Shawnee Manor did not identify the increased risk for pressure sores and did not provide the necessary care to prevent the sores from forming. Ballard developed pressure sores on his heels, feet, and ankles, which became infected. [http://www.limaohio.com/news/news/50138546/Family-of-deceased-man-sues-nursing-home, September, 2014]

As a result of the infection, Ballard was moved from Shawnee Manor in April 2013 and transported to Lima Memorial Health System to treat the pressure sores. The sores continued to get worse and Ballard developed gangrene, the Ohio negligence lawsuit states. Between April and June 2013, Ballard continued to suffer from complications stemming from the ulcers infections. He suffered from a urinary tract infection, sepsis, and pulmonary aspiration. The hospital gave him numerous treatments, but they were unable to heal the infection and Ballard died on July 1st, 2013. The lawsuit states that the cause of death was a result of medical problems and the original pressure ulcers.

According to the Ohio Nursing Home lawsuit, the staff members at Shawnee Manor were negligent in treatment, which led to the development of the sores, and consequently, his death. According to the suit, Ballard suffered greatly and needlessly as a result of the staff’s actions. The suit is claiming over $25,000 in damages for medical and funeral expenses. Nursing home staff declined to respond to reporters when questioned about the case.

Ohio Nursing home care quality is notoriously poor and is one of only 10 states that received a failing or below average score in all sections of the Families for Better Care report card. According to the data, Ohio is the 30th worst state for nursing home care and staffing ability. Over 78 percent of Ohio nursing homes have deficiencies in care. 10 percent of Ohio nursing homes have severe deficiencies, which include safety risks such as widespread immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety” and isolated incidents of actual harm.”

Each year, hundreds of nursing home abuse suits are filed in Ohio due to the lack of care in many Ohio nursing homes. If you are concerned about the safety of your loved ones and want to discover the rating of potential nursing homes, Medicare.gov has a ranking of various nursing home facilities in each state. [http://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html, September 2014]

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