Skagit County Senior Homes Shut Down For Deficiencies and Elderly Neglect | Seattle Injury Lawyer

Date: June 8, 2010, 06/08/2010
Location: Sedro-Woolley, Skagit County, Washington
Type: Nursing Home Neglect & Elder Care Abuse

Washington State recently shut down two Skagit County senior citizens homes over “serious deficiencies determined to be an imminent danger to residents’ health, safety, or welfare.”

Many different allegations have been made against these homes, such as; misplacing medications, altering narcotic logs, and caregivers delaying an emergency call for a comatose woman so they cleaned up a mattress soaked in urine.

Many elderly have moved out from the home since these allegations arose. One man, Al Sorestad, was glad to find a new home for his 88-year-old mother, Ella. Ella was one of the six elderly women that were living at Cornerstone Home Care in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Another four were living in a nursing home near by that also shut down on Wednesday after the summary suspension was enacted.

Sorestad had five hours notice to find a new place for his mother to live. The change was really tough on his mother, who suffers from dementia.

Many other seniors were not as lucky in finding another care home within such short notice. Many ended up in facilities around the area or at relative’s homes.

State social workers’ investigated the many deficiencies including:
The Licensed Practical Nurse and provider that delayed obtaining emergency care for a comatose resident until she could clean up the urine-soaked mattress. The delay contributed to the residents rapid decline in health.
According to the Sedro-Woolley police report, several interviewed caregivers saw the woman “foaming at the mouth.” Later that day, neighbors and employees saw the woman die.

Another allegation claimed that the home did not have a safe medication system in place that met all medication administration laws and rules. This hazardous failure placed all residents at risk for medication overdoses, errors, narcotic diversion and exploitation.

Sorestad remembered an incident when the nurse could not find his mothers Vicodin for a few days, and when they finally found it they discovered the pills in the pill bottle had been replaced with Tylenol.

Sorestad claimed he never had any personal problems with the owner and that she was the one who actually brought the swapped pills to their attention.

The owner decided not to comment on the case. According to the DSHS investigation, she has 28 days to request a hearing to contest the suspension.

Seattle Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys

Everyone at the Seattle nursing home neglect law firm of Davis Law Group sends their thoughts and prayers to those who suffered from the negligent care at these citizens homes. These hazardous conditions should have been prevented. This is an example of a nursing home neglect case in which the individuals affected may be able to seek financial damages from those at-fault. These individuals would be well advised to seek the assistance of an experienced and skilled nursing home neglect attorney.