Extendicare Nursing Home Class Action Lawsuit Filed in Washington

On Friday, a nursing home class action lawsuit was filed against Extendicare Homes, Inc. and their nursing homes in the state of Washington, on behalf of all individuals who resided at one of the facilities between July 1, 2004 and July 1, 2008. The nursing home class action alleges that the facilities provided inferior care and violated the rights of residents.

The lawsuit was filed on August 22, 2008 in King County Superior Court in Washington state by Howard Steele, as personal representative for the estate of Lee Ann Steele.

Following a stroke, Lee Ann Steele was confined to a bed, unable to talk and had a tracheostomy tube to help her breath. Less than 24 hours after she was admitted to an Extendicare nursing home, she stopped breathing and suffered brain damage that ultimately led to her death.

Although her family was told that she would be cared for, staff at the Extendicare nursing home failed to check or clear her trach-tube the first day she was there, which the family alleges resulted in her death.

The nursing home lawsuit seeks class action status to represent all residents who were provided substandard care. The class action suit alleges that Extendicare made false representations and concealed facts intended to induce citizens to become residents at their nursing homes under the false pretenses that Extendicare would provide care consistent with their representations.

The lawsuit claims that Extendicare nursing homes in Washington operate with budgets that are so tight that appropriate staffing can not be provided, preventing residents from receiving the care and attention they are paying for.

Washington Extendicare nursing homes have received repeated citations from the Washington Department of Social Health Services (WDSHS) for providing inferior care that is in violation of rights of the elderly and ill residents. The WDSHS found about 35 deficiencies at one Extendicare nursing homes in 2007 and 30 in 2006, compared with a statewide average of only 9 deficiencies a year.

Understaffing at nursing homes is one of the leading causes of nursing home neglect injuries. When staffing levels are not as high as they should be, employees are unable to provide the care they should. When employees are placed in an impossible position, it can also increase the risk of nursing home abuse, when staff take out their frustrations on residents.

According to their website, Extendicare Health Services, Inc. runs 191 senior care facilities with approximately 19,200 beds in the United States.