When families entrust their loved ones to a nursing home, they expect care, dignity, and safety. Instead, for a 77-year-old woman completely dependent on staff due to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and dementia, the reality was one of horrific neglect and suffering.
After years as a resident at a nursing home in Illinois, our client endured severe abuse and neglect that ultimately led to a fractured femur and unimaginable pain in the last months of her life. Our client ultimately passed away for reasons unrelated to the femur fracture, and our firm had the honor of representing the decedent’s children in the decedent’s case against the nursing home. Her case is a stark reminder of what happens when nursing homes prioritize convenience over care – and the legal system’s role in holding them accountable.
Thanks to our experienced legal team at Pullano & Siporin, the decedent’s family was able to secure a $275,000 settlement to bring some measure of justice for the horrific suffering she endured. Understandably, no amount of money can erase the pain she experienced or the betrayal of trust by those who were supposed to care for her.
Left to Suffer: A Broken Leg, Malnutrition, and a Severe Infection
The case against the nursing home stemmed from a series of shocking failures in care.
One day, the decedent’s daughter received a call from a nurse stating that her mother’s leg was swollen but that it was “not serious.” However, when she visited her mom at the nursing home that day, her mother was complaining of serious pain in her left leg. Her mother stated that two nurses woke her up in the middle of the night to change her clothes and were very rough when changing her pants.
Rather than taking the resident to the ER for X-rays, the nursing home staff ensured the daughter that her mother was fine and simply increased her pain medication. Two weeks went by, and the leg pain eventually got so bad that they eventually sent the resident to the emergency room for further evaluation of the left leg.
When the resident’s daughter arrived at the hospital to meet her mother, she was horrified. Her mother’s right femur was completely broken, a severe injury that medical professionals later determined had been ignored for at least two weeks. The resident had been left in bed, suffering in agony, while nursing home staff pretended everything was normal.
Medical Staff Left Deeply Concerned
Doctors at the hospital were so disturbed by the resident’s condition that they immediately reported suspected patient neglect to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Her femur was snapped in half, she was severely malnourished and dehydrated, and she had an infected Stage 4 pressure ulcer – a wound so deep it went down to the bone.
A Blatant Cover-Up by Nursing Home Staff
One of the most egregious aspects of this case was the deliberate cover-up by the nursing home staff.
Medical experts, including an experienced geriatrician, determined that the resident’s femur had been broken for at least two weeks before she was sent to the hospital. Staff records, however, told a different story – one that simply wasn’t true.
- CNAs denied that they were rough with the resident when changing her pants on the night in question.
- No record explained how the injury occurred.
- The nursing home claimed that the resident fractured her femur while she was at the hospital and not while she was at the nursing home.
- Her worsening pressure ulcer was left untreated, requiring multiple surgeries.
The Devastating Truth
The resident’s femur didn’t just spontaneously break, nor did the fracture occur at the hospital. Her injury likely occurred when two nurses at the nursing home noticed someone forgot to change the resident’s clothes before bed. As a result, the two nurses attempted to change her clothes while she slept, were too rough with her when changing her pants, and broke her femur in the process. Instead of owning their mistake, they left her to suffer in silence.
Legal Battle for Accountability and Justice
The nursing home and its legal team attempted to defend their inexcusable actions, but the evidence against them was overwhelming.
Our experienced team of personal injury attorneys at Pullano & Siporin worked tirelessly with medical experts, hospital records, and testimony from Sharon’s family to build a powerful case against the facility. Our investigation revealed the following:
- By the time she was admitted to the hospital, the resident’s fracture was weeks old and untreated, proving that the nursing home staff ignored her suffering.
- She was malnourished and dehydrated – clear indicators of neglect.
- The infected pressure ulcer was a direct result of improper care and lack of repositioning.
- Her condition deteriorated rapidly due to the facility’s negligence.
The resident was ultimately transferred to another facility, but her health never fully recovered. Her pain continued, and months later, she tragically passed away for reasons unrelated to the fracture.
Facing overwhelming evidence, the nursing home chose to settle rather than proceed to a jury trial, ultimately agreeing to a $275,000 settlement.
What This Case Means for Other Nursing Home Victims
Our client’s case is one of many where a vulnerable nursing home resident suffers due to gross negligence and outright abuse. Unfortunately, these cases happen far too often, and many families never get the justice they deserve.
If our client’s family hadn’t fought back, this cover-up might have never been exposed, and the nursing home would have continued to put other residents at risk. This settlement sends a strong message to facilities that think they can cut corners on care and get away with it.
Nursing homes must be held accountable. Families have the right to expect their loved ones to be treated with care, dignity, and respect.
Know Your Rights: What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, pay close attention to signs of neglect and abuse. Warning signs include:
- Unexplained injuries or fractures
- Rapid weight loss or signs of malnutrition
- Dehydration or untreated medical conditions
- Bedsores or pressure ulcers
- Sudden changes in behavior or emotional distress
- Staff refusing to answer questions or provide records
If you suspect that a nursing home is neglecting or mistreating a resident, take action immediately:
- Document everything – take photos, notes, and videos.
- Ask questions and demand medical records.
- Report suspected neglect to state health authorities.
- Contact an experienced nursing home negligence attorney.
Pullano & Siporin: Fighting for Families, Holding Negligent Facilities Accountable
At Pullano & Siporin, we are dedicated to seeking justice for families who have suffered at the hands of negligent nursing homes.
Sadly, no amount of money can undo what happened to our client. However, her case serves as a powerful warning to other facilities that think they can ignore the well-being of their residents.
If your loved one has been harmed due to nursing home negligence, don’t wait. Contact us today to discuss your case.
Your family deserves justice, accountability, and peace of mind.
