The family of Georgia Fitsos, an 82-year-old woman who reportedly died from complications as a result of a horrific bedsore, has filed a lawsuit against Broadstone Residential Facility in Folsom, California, alleging nursing home abuse and negligence. According to a news report in the Sacramento Bee, Fitsos died in October 2007 of acute sepsis and other complication from what the lawsuit refers to as a "bedsore the size of a turkey platter." It was apparently a Stage 4 pressure wound that had eaten deeply into her flesh.

My heart goes out to John and Peter Fitsos, sons of Georgia Fitsos, who entrusted their mother to the care of this facility. In my opinion, their trust was broken and the nursing home should be held accountable for what happened to Georgia Fitsos. Apparently, John and Peter Fitsos paid a monthly fee of $3,500, which was increased to $4,500 after their mother suffered a minor stroke.

Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence Charges

Broadstone's owner and administrator, Adriana Catuna and her husband, Viorel, are facing pending legal action on three fronts. They are facing license revocation proceedings, a civil negligence and wrongful death lawsuit from the family and a criminal felony elder abuse trial in September.

This case of fatal nursing home negligence is not a remote or random occurrence. It is, in fact, a deeply disturbing national trend. It's even more worrying at a time when large numbers of aging baby boomers are heading to nursing homes. According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in 2003, deficiencies in the nation’s nursing homes are increasing at an alarming rate. One in five nursing homes nationwide – about 3,500 facilities – have serious deficiencies that cause residents actual harm or place them in immediate jeopardy, the report said. The report also found significant understatements of the care problems that should have been treated a lot more seriously – pressure sores, severe weight loss and multiple falls resulting in broken bones and other injuries. The number of deficiencies has only gone up in recent years.

It is critical for families that are about to place a loved one in a nursing home to look for red flags in any facility. If you have already placed a loved one in a nursing home, you still need to keep your eyes open for danger signals and any indication of negligence. Listen to your loved one. Listen carefully to any complaints or grievances they may have with regard to their care.

Personal Injury Victim Rights

Finally, if you face a situation where your loved one has suffered a serious injury as a result of nursing home abuse or negligence, please be advised that you have legal rights. You can report it to the state health department, take civil action against the nursing home (as the Fitsos family has done) or if the situation involves abuse, file a criminal complaint with the appropriate law enforcement agency immediately. If your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or negligence, please consult with a California personal injury lawyer to find out more about your legal rights and options.