Lawsuit Charges Charleston Nursing Home With Neglect
Published: June 30th, 2010 • Comments: 3
A nursing home neglect lawsuit has been filed against a West Virginia nursing home by the family of a resident who suffered dehydration and a decline in health due to what plaintiffs say was poor care.
The lawsuit was filed by the estate of Dorothy Douglas, a former resident of Heartland of Charleston nursing home, on May 27 in Kanawha Circuit Court. The lawsuit names Manor Care and HCR Manor Care Services, which manages the home, as defendants. In addition, it also lists as defendants Health Care and Retirement Corporation of America, Heartland Employment Services, Danny Davis, Jeffrey A. Smith and several unnamed individuals and business entities, according to a story in the West Virginia Record.
The lawsuit claims that Douglas suffered kidney failure, dehydration, as well as physical and mental degradation beyond what could be accounted for by the aging process, due to poor health care at the facility. The lawsuit blames chronic nursing home staffing problems at Heartland, and alleges management was aware of the problem but did not address it.
Heartland of Charleston is a 184-bed for-profit facility. It has an overall score of one star, the lowest possible rating, from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Federal investigators gave the facility the lowest marks they could for health inspections and nursing home staffing, but rated the facility above average on quality measures.
Comment by markita on 11 April 2011:
my grandfather was is heartland, and died shortlly afterward.
Comment by Linda on 17 August 2011:
my mother in now at a hospital with dehydration, na level of 177. hemoglobin of 19.1 wow. I wonder when they gave her water last. I think they waited a little too late of calling the doctor,
Comment by Linda on 17 August 2011:
my mother was admitted to the hospital with dehydration from the nursing home sodium level of 177 and hemoglobin of 19.1 . I wonder when they gave her water last.