A nurse working at the Woodland Hills Care Center has been charged with reckless homicide, battery resulting in the death of an endangered adult, and neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury after it was determined that a 77- year old resident of the nursing home was found to have died from a broken back.
An eyewitness confirmed that a nurse working for the nursing home facility, Kathy Hess, was seen abusing the elderly woman. The news report credits the daughter the victim’s roommate for speaking up when she witnessed abuse. It is reported that the nursing home resident died after being violently shaken by Hess. An autopsy confirmed that the resident had a broken vertebra that caused her death.
The Woodland Hills Care Center, which is located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, had already been rated as “Much Below Average” by Medicare for its Overall Rating, and “Much Below Average” for its Health Inspection Rating. Medicare rated the nursing home as “Below Average” for its Staffing Rating. In its most recent annual inspection, Woodland Hills Care Center was cited by the state government for 11 health deficiencies, including the nursing home’s:
- Failure to provide care by qualified persons according to each resident’s written plan of care; and
- Failure to provide care for residents in a way that keeps or builds each resident’s dignity and respect of individuality.
The Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm represents clients in cases involving catastrophic injury caused by nursing homes and other care facilities that fail to provide proper care. If you believe your loved one has been harmed due neglect or abuse in a nursing home, take action and contact the Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm online or call us toll-free at (877) 552-2873 to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
