A failed transfer at Helia Healthcare of Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois resulted in two broken bones for one elderly resident. Instead of using two certified nurses aides (CNA) as required when a resident needs total assistance with transfers, a single CNA was attempting to move a helpless resident from her wheelchair to her bed. This is a clear demonstration of nursing home neglect.
The break wasn’t realized at the time of the injury because the resident did not complain of pain. This is not uncommon with severe injuries to the elderly. When a person suffers a severe injury, pain is often absent initially, a condition called delayed onset pain. In this case, the delay was for approximately two hours before the resident awoke in extreme pain.
The subsequent investigation concluded that the injury occurred when the CNA taking care of the resident was moving her from her wheelchair to her bed. The resident’s foot caught in the wheelchair pedal and twisted, breaking two bones in the resident’s leg.
The CNA who performed the failed transfer was aware that the resident required two staff members for a wheelchair to bed transfer but performed the move alone. The CNA admitted this was standard care.
There are reasons why two staff members are required for transfers of totally dependent nursing home residents. This incident clearly illustrates why. When nursing homes and their staff choose to ignore standards of care, nursing home injuries become unavoidable.
Most of the time, when I write about nursing home injuries, the subject is usually a nursing home fall. The fact of the matter is that nursing home injuries can happen in a variety of ways. In this case, a single CNA attempting to transfer a vulnerable resident resulted in a severe injury even though no nursing home fall occurred.
One of our core beliefs is that nursing homes are built to fail due to the business model they follow and that unnecessary injuries and illnesses and wrongful deaths of residents are the inevitable result. Order our FREE report, Built to Fail, to learn more about why. Our experienced Chicago nursing home lawyers are ready to help you understand what happened, why, and what your rights are. Contact us to get the help you need.
Other blog posts of interest:
Multiple fractures at Rolling Hills Manor in Zion