Local News Story from Milwaukee Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Milwaukee dementia home cited for nursing home abuse in death case
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Wednesday, March 23, 2011.
This local news story from Milwaukee Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Ric Domnitz chronicles how last March, an 85-year-old resident at Michele Home, a nursing home in Milwaukee that specializes in the treatment of people with dementia, was strangled to death by another resident. Now, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has cited the nursing home for numerous safety violations, including failure to protect residents from physical abuse in connection with the man’s wrongful death.
Michele Home, which is a community-based residential facility operated by Frontida Inc. and licensed by the state, was also cited for failing to notify the state when incidents occurred that involved injuries to residents which resulted in hospitalization, as well as failing to implement temporary service plans for residents, failure to appropriately supervise the residents, and failure to manage the behavior of residents known to be dangerous. The citations appear to indicate a pattern of incidents amounting either to negligent care our outright nursing home abuse and neglect.
The 85-year-old victim, a man with advanced dementia, was apparently attacked on March 7, 2010, by a then-58-year-old fellow resident when the older man bumped into a table where the younger man was seated and knocked over a glass of juice. The older man died two weeks later
The younger resident was not arrested or removed from the home after the March 7 strangling incident. On March 27, police were called to Michele Home after he allegedly attacked another patient. He was moved to another facility after the second attack. Michele Home was also cited for failing to report that police were called to the facility on that occasion. The nursing home has been fined $6,200 and ordered not to house dangerous residents without proper resources.
Alzheimer’s advocates say Wisconsin lacks legal standards to protect dementia patients from nursing home abuse or neglect
According to Tom Hlavacek, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter, Wisconsin has no legal standards for care facilities that house such patients, no clear definition of what constitutes a dementia treatment facility, and no requirement for nursing home workers to be certified in dementia care.
Hlavacek says there have been attempts to pass legislation that would establish standards for the care and safety of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, but those attempts have been unsuccessful.
He also points out that housing patients of very disparate ages (the victim of the strangulation was 27 years older than the alleged perpetrator) and diverse needs can create a dangerous mix.
The alleged attacker had criminal convictions for disorderly conduct and felony theft. Frontida’s website does not mention that it houses correctional clients or emotionally disturbed individuals, which is outlined on the DHS website.
A spokesperson for Frontida did not respond to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s requests for comment.
Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, “State cited group home for numerous violations,” Jesse Garza, March 20, 2011
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