Patewood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center has been cited after a resident waited more than four hours to have their adult diaper changed. The resident requested help multiple times, and no nursing home staff assisted in this time.

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) responded to the resident’s call light in their room at 8:00 am. The CNA told the resident that the staff was in the middle of passing out breakfast trays, and that she would come back soon to help. The CNA returned at 10:45 am and provided perineal care, but did not complete the morning care that the resident had requested more than two hours prior. The CNA told the resident, yet again, that they would return in two hours. When the CNA failed to show in the next two hours, the resident called again for help. The resident’s son and family visited in the middle of the day and noted a distinct smell in the room, as if the resident had not been changed regularly. The resident eventually got help at 3:00 pm, four hours and fifteen minutes later.

The CNA stated that they came to help the resident a few minutes after 3:00 pm because they saw that the resident’s call light was on. The CNA said that the resident was yelling and cursing when they arrived, shouting that four CNAs had ignored the call light. The CNA told the resident that they had no control over other aides and that they did not know the resident had waited for over an hour, but that they would help change the resident. According to the CNA, the resident continued to yell, so they asked for help from another CNA and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

The nursing home’s internal investigation states that when the CNA came to help the resident at 3:00 pm, a verbal altercation ensued. An LPN asked the CNA to leave the resident’s room. The LPN’s statement showed that the resident was crying, saying that their light had been on for a long time with no response. The resident claimed that they had not received care for hours and could smell themselves. Instead of responding to the resident’s concerns, the CNA insulted the resident and pointed their finger, arguing loudly with the resident. The LPN had to ask the CNA to leave the resident’s room numerous times before they walked out, slamming the door as they left.

The resident shared with the nursing home’s social services that they were shaken up by the incident, fearing that the CNA would try to come to the nursing facility and harm them. The psychological effects of nursing home abuse can last long past a specific event. This resident trusted the nursing home and nursing staff to care for them in their most vulnerable moments, and that trust was betrayed when one CNA failed to provide daily care. Other nursing staff also ignored the resident, even when their call light was active for more than an hour.

The CNA stated in an interview with the state investigator who compiled this citation report that this specific resident needed their vital signs taken every two hours because they had a fever. They also claimed that they changed the resident every time vital signs were taken, which was not the situation the resident or other nursing staff had described when reporting this incident. In the statement of one nursing staff member, the resident shared that their call light had been taken by the CNA.

The facility’s investigation did find the resident’s claims of neglect to be substantiated. In this case the resident’s reported neglect was witnessed by other staff members as well as their families. When a nursing home provides poor care to one or more residents, it is important that residents and their families speak up. Knowing the signs of abuse and neglect is the first step to protecting loved ones in a nursing home. This resident’s family was able to recognize a sign of neglect – a foul smell in a resident’s room – and the resident reported the issue to the facility.

Don’t Wait. Get Help for Nursing Home Abuse Today.

If you suspect nursing home abuse, we will provide a free, confidential case evaluation with no obligation to hire us. With nearly 250 years of shared experience, Joye Law Firm attorneys are consistently recognized by clients and peers at the highest level of professional excellence. We make sure to fight hard for our clients and are honest with them every step of the way.

About the Author

Mark Joye is the Head of the Litigation Department at the Joye Law Firm. A Board-Certified Trial Advocate with nearly 30 years of litigation experience, he currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice and is a past president of the South Carolina Association for Justice. In a recent trial, Joye headed a trial team that secured $17 million for a family killed in a tractor-trailer accident.

Recent Blog Post
Image of a motorcycle parked in a parking space
Who Is Liable for a Motorcycle Accident in a Parking Lot?

Although parking lots are typically viewed as areas with a lower risk of accidents, for motorcycle riders who lack the protection afforded to drivers in enclosed vehicles, the impact of a collision can still be catastrophic. If you suffer physical…

Joye Law Firm Staff Picks: What to do in South Carolina March 19 - 25, 2024 Events for Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Summerville, and Clinton
What to Do in South Carolina: Staff Picks 3/19/24 – 3/25/24

Easter is just around the corner, and South Carolina is buzzing with exciting events for the whole family. Joye Law Firm team members have handpicked the best festivities happening across the state. From egg hunts to craft fairs, there’s something…

Image of a doctor talking to a patient
Does My Job Have to Give Me Time Off for Doctor Appointments if I File for Workers’ Comp?

The simple answer, is yes. However, there are important details you need to be aware of to ensure your rights are protected. Being injured on the job might require a lot of medical attention, including emergency visits, hospital stays, and…

Image of someone signing a disability insurance form
Can You Use Social Security Disability and Workers’ Compensation Together?

If you’ve suffered a work-related injury or illness, you may be wondering whether to file for workers’ compensation, disability insurance, or both. Workers’ compensation provides benefits for medical expenses and lost wages, while Social Security Disability (SSD) provides income replacement…

Awards & Recognition
Media
ABC
NBC
Fox
CBS News