Care home failings lead to elderly resident’s tragic passing

Background

We acted for two daughters of a deceased Elderly lady, who sought to bring a claim for negligence on behalf of their late mother’s estate. The elderly lady suffered neglect due to receiving sub-standard care in a number of ways, namely; failure to monitor skin integrity which led to the development of pressure sores and sepsis, a series of preventable falls, and suffering physical and verbal abuse at the hands of the staff of the care home. The development of pressure sores and subsequent sepsis ultimately led to her death.

The Care Home failed to monitor her skin integrity, despite the risk assessment upon admission identifying that she had ‘dry, vulnerable skin’. The risk assessment was not updated, and her skin integrity was not sufficiently monitored. Upon development of the pressure sores on her legs, they were not treated properly, and she was not referred to a Tissue Viability Nurse within an appropriate timeframe. The care home’s failure to protect and maintain our client’s skin integrity led to the development of a grade 2 pressure sore on her left leg and a necrotic pressure sore on her right leg. Our client contracted sepsis due to these sores, which was ultimately the primary factor which led to our client’s death.

The home also failed to protect our client’s personal safety, which led to a member of staff assaulting her. A safeguarding referral was made in respect of the Care home following an incident where a Carer reported that a staff member ‘hit our client round the face with the back of her hand and swore at her.’ It subsequently transpired that this member of staff had done something similar on two occasions the previous year and had not been dismissed for it. The home’s failure to take the appropriate disciplinary action against the member of staff put our client at risk.

Our client suffered a series of falls in the space of 6 months, resulting in some minor injuries. The Care Home failed to prevent these falls, whilst also failing to report the falls appropriately and inform her family of the same. On one occasion, our client suffered bruising on her face in addition to a cut above her eye, however no medical attention was sought by the care home, in contravention of their own procedures.

Representation

We brought a claim against the care home for negligence due to the failing of the care home to monitor and protect our client’s skin integrity, to prevent falls and to protect her from abuse. A letter of claim was presented which outlined our allegations of negligence in relation to all three areas of failure on the part of the care home.

Resolution

Irvings were able to negotiate a good financial settlement, including a claim for funeral expenses. Despite the good result, no amount of financial compensation can account for the pain and suffering our client and her family experienced due to the care home’s failings.

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Irvings law are specialists in handling claims involving care home neglect and injury and are committed to fighting neglect in care homes and securing financial compensation for victims of care home neglect.  

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