When most people leave their loved ones in nursing homes, they do so with the expectation that they will be well looked after. Certainly one of the last things that many may worry about is their loved one being neglected or harmed by those charged with caring for them. Unfortunately, elder abuse happens, and sometimes it can have devastating consequences. For example, four nursing homes near Waco, Texas recently came under fire over allegations that their negligence caused the death of a 79-year-old Waco man in May 2019. 

Downtown Waco, Texas; image courtesy of HuecoBear via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org

The wrongful death suit was filed in 414th State District Court by the cousin of the deceased, Anne Massey. Massey is seeking unspecified damages. The four nursing homes listed as defendants include Woodland Springs Nursing Center, Lakeshore Village Healthcare Center, Crestview Health Care Residence, and Westview Manor and Rehabilitation Center, “along with their owners and license holders.”What happened, though? How did the nursing homes contribute to Massey’s cousin’s death? According to the lawsuit, Massey’s cousin, Aaron Franklin, was admitted to Woodland Springs Nursing Center off and on beginning in 2012. On one occasion, he was readmitted on December 11, 2017, and allegedly “sustained multiple injuries under their care.” The suit further states:“Under the care of Woodland Springs Nursing Center, Mr. Franklin had to be treated for multiple areas of pressure injury, pressure ulcers, wound infection, left leg amputation, severe infections, pain and suffering, malnutrition and dehydration, hospitalizations and treatment for infections, sepsis, and premature death.”Then, on March 26, 2018, he was rushed to an ER “with pressure ulcers to his left leg, wound infection, and sepsis,” the suit alleges. Unfortunately, his leg couldn’t be saved and it was amputated above the knee three days later. Soon after, he was admitted to Lakeshore Village Healthcare Center on April 3, 2018. During his time there, he allegedly “suffered multiple injuries and had to be treated for an identical array of ailments that was alleged he suffered at Woodland Springs.” From there he was admitted to Crestview Healthcare Residence on January 23, 2019, and then to Westview Manor and Rehabilitation Center in McGregor in April 2019. At both facilities, he was allegedly treated for the same injuries as before. According to the suit, he died from the injuries on May 15, 2019. When questioned about the allegations, Melissa Harris, the administrator at Westview Manor and Rehabilitation Center said she was not yet aware of the suit. 

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Family alleges wrongful death in suit against Waco nursing homesWoman's family files wrongful death suit against nursing home