Cleveland Personal Injury Law Blog

When a wrongful death lawsuit is filed in Ohio, the result depends on whether the person died because of negligence. A recent example focuses on a woman who came to an early death because she fell down the stairs in a Manhattan subway station. The woman was struggling with a baby carriage because the subway station did not have an elevator. Consequently, she had to struggle as she tried to transport the stroller. Statistics show that hundreds of subways located in New York City do not install elevators as alternatives to stairways.

According to the New York Times, the woman fell at night in a subway station located in Manhattan. She was already unconscious when the ambulance arrived. Her baby girl was still conscious and was transported to the home of her grandparents.

How much "quality of care" can a nursing home be providing residents if it isn't paying its utility bills and isn't doing the basics to keep its residents safe from assault by other residents?

That's the question that Ohio officials are asking after issues with the Eden Springs nursing home in Green Springs came to the attention of investigative reporters. Initially, the investigation started after a local musician complained that he wasn't paid a simple $125 fee after being asked to perform at the home. What the investigative team discovered, however, led to a lot more questions -- including some from the state's Department of Aging.

Many people in Ohio may have serious concerns about placing their parents or other elderly loved ones in a nursing home due to the potential for abuse. This is of particular concern as elder abuse often goes unreported, even after people see evidence that older people are being mistreated or neglected. In September 2018, state law changed to require many more groups of people to report elder abuse if they witness suspicious incidents. Among those required to report abuse include lawyers, physicians, counselors and employees of nursing homes and hospitals. However, ambulance drivers, accountants, real estate brokers, bank employees and financial planners are now also required to report abuse.

Many of the professions now required to report are linked to the financial sector because older Americans are often targeted for financial scams that may wipe their accounts dry, leaving them further susceptible to abuse. If people in these jobs fail to report evidence of elder abuse, they could face $500 fines and criminal charges. While financial abuse is the most common type of mistreatment, physical and sexual abuse continue to pose a serious threat to the growing elder population.

One common reason why families place their loved ones in nursing homes is for their own protection. Elderly parents may become forgetful or confused. They may be unable to cook for themselves, forget to take their medicine or neglect their own hygiene. Your parents may fit this description. Additionally, many older parents become unsteady and require the kind of attention and care you cannot provide because of your own obligations.

If you chose an Ohio nursing facility after your loved one suffered injuries in a fall at home, you may have been shocked to see injuries on your parent from a fall after you moved him or her to the nursing home. Falls that result in a bruise or bump at a younger age can be devastating to older individuals, and nursing homes have an important duty to protect your parent from such falls.