Personal Injury Lawyers > Personal Injury Blog > Nursing Home Abuse > California Nursing Home Beating

Personal Injury Blog

California Nursing Home Beating

California investigators are looking in to the death of a Laguna Hills nursing home resident.  The 94-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his 81-year-old roommate.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect William McDougall allegedly used a bar that was used to hang clothes from a closet, and beat his roommate to death.  The victim was found with severe head injuries, and was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead.  The incident occurred at the Palm Terrace Healthcare Center, a 99-bed nursing home facility in Laguna Hills.  Investigators are still trying to find a motive for the California nursing home beating.

Investigators are looking at the suspect’s history of violence at the facility, and whether there was any previous history of violence or threats.  It is not unusual to find that nursing facilities that are ignorant or unaware of residents who have aggressive or violent tendencies.  If the victim had received some kind of threat from the suspect before the murder, California nursing home abuse lawyers will have questions to ask.

For instance, did the victim or his family bring these threats to the attention of the nursing home?  If yes, what action did the nursing home take to protect the victim?  Had there been other incidents at the nursing home involving the suspect?  Had there been other incidents similar to this California nursing home beating in the past?  How many staff members worked at the facility?  Had the facility been able to meet the minimum staffing requirements under California laws?

Unfortunately, while such incidents should be shocking, they aren’t too surprising to California elder abuse attorneys. Most nursing homes tend to be above the bare minimum, and function with strict adherence to California state regulations.  However, there are far too many nursing homes where inmates may be at risk of neglect, abuse, and as in this case, assault and violence.  It is not unheard of to have elderly residents in nursing homes being subjected to assaults, and even rapes.  If you have a loved one in a nursing home in California, you must know that such incidents can occur in almost any nursing home.  It’s up to the families to remain vigilant and look out for signs of abuse or neglect.  Families must step in and speak up for their loved ones before it’s too late.

The most common type of abuse in California nursing homes is neglect.  Look out for signs of neglect like unchanged clothing, and unhygienic and unsanitary conditions.   Check to see if your loved one is getting medications and food on time.  No one likes to think about a loved one being subjected to any kind of abuse, but you must be alert to these signs.  Look for wounds, bruises, or other unexplained marks on the person’s body.  Look for restraint marks on the wrists.  Some nursing homes use unnecessary restraints on residents, so they’re easier to control.  Any incidences of abuse or neglect must be brought to the attention of the nursing home authorities immediately.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of nursing home abuse. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

---