Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Salutes The Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania For Shutting Down Willow Crest Manor
Willow Crest Manor was shut down by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in December after two patients allegedly died because of possible medical errors. Stacey Witalec, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Welfare, stated, “Given the history of serious and life-threatening incidents this facility has had... it is our intention for them to remain closed.” Many of the patients of Willow Crest Manor were elderly or suffered from mental illness. In ordering the closing, DPW stated that Willow Crest failed to give one of the patients who died Medrol as prescribed by a doctor for bronchitis and asthma and failed to elevate her legs which were covered with open bleeding ulcers according to agency records. The home also failed to give emergency treatment and report her death within 24 hours as the law requires. In the past, Willow Crest had been in trouble with the Commonwealth for numerous health and safety violations including but not limited to understaffing and medication and recordkeeping errors. For more details on this story, see the article published by The Inquirer on Friday, December 19, 2008. (news article)
Nursing home abuse and elder abuse is simply inexcusable. At the Philadelphia nursing home abuse law firm of Reiff & Bily, we recognize that nursing home and assisted living residents are some of the most vulnerable and defenseless victims of personal injuries. We entrust our elderly loved ones to the care of nursing homes or assisted living facilities with the expectation that the home will provide them with the proper standard of care. Unfortunately, many abuse cases are not reported and statistics reveal that the source of abuse is not only from staff members, but also from other residents as well. Such abuse includes sexual abuse, psychological distress, financial exploitation and neglect.
Unfortunately nursing home and assisted living abuse seems to be growing at an alarming rate with the downturn in the economic climate. We salute the efforts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for taking action where needed.
