An Illinois nursing home negligence lawsuit has been filed against Lexington Health Care Center, alleging that the facility allowed an 83-year old woman with dementia to fall five times over a seven month period, ultimately resulting in a debilitating hip fracture.
The complaint was filed on behalf of Edna Kneidek in the Cook County Circuit Court, alleging that the nursing home negligently failed to take adequate steps to prevent an injury, even though they knew she was a high risk for falling.
Kneidek was admitted to the nursing home in December 2006, after her family determined that her dementia required a level of care that could not be provided at home. At the time she entered the facility, an evaluation was done to determine her medical condition, and it she was categorized as having a high risk for a fall.
Did You Know?
Millions of Philips CPAP Machines Recalled
Philips DreamStation, CPAP and BiPAP machines sold in recent years may pose a risk of cancer, lung damage and other injuries.
Learn MoreThe nursing home hip fracture lawsuit indicates that Kneidek suffered at least five falls between February 2007 and August 2007.
After one such fall in early August, Kneidek complained of pain. However, she was kept at the nursing home for five days before she was transferred to a hospital for x-rays, which showed that she had suffered a left hip fracture. The hospital also diagnosed her with pneumonia.
For elderly nursing home residents, a hip fracture can have a severe impact on their quality of life and their overall health.
After her nursing home fall, Kneidek rerquired extensive surgery to repair the hip fracture and was left permanently immobile.
The lawsuit was filed on February 24, 2009 by Kneidek’s daughter, through their Chicago nursing home lawyer Steven Levin.
Get more articles like this sent directly to your inbox.
"*" indicates required fields
1 Comments
denineAugust 7, 2010 at 2:51 pm
My grandmother died yesterday morning due to a fractured hip she received in a nursing home. She fell in this nursing home several times too. She received fractured ribs, black eye and then a month ago a fractured hip. The nursing home said she fell out of bed. My mother and I visited my grandmother the day before she fell. We could not believe the state of mind she was in. She was sitting in a w[Show More]My grandmother died yesterday morning due to a fractured hip she received in a nursing home. She fell in this nursing home several times too. She received fractured ribs, black eye and then a month ago a fractured hip. The nursing home said she fell out of bed. My mother and I visited my grandmother the day before she fell. We could not believe the state of mind she was in. She was sitting in a wheel chair unresponsive. She was extremely over medicated, drooling, head down ect.... Then, the next day my mom got the call that my grandmother fell out of her bed and fractured her hip. My grandmother was mobile when she first walked in this nursing home 8 months ago. SHe could dress herself, feed herself, brush her teeth etc....She deteriorated within a short period of time due to negligence. She was placed in the nursing home due to dimentia.