CHARLESTON – A Fayette County woman is suing Emeritus Corporation for failing to properly care for her sister while she was a resident in its nursing home.
Donna Prowse, the administrator of the facility, was also named as a defendant in the suit.
Virginia Woodson was a resident of Emeritus, which is doing business as Charleston Gardens, from Nov. 6, 2012, until Oct. 14, 2013, according to a complaint filed Jan. 30 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Nancy Strickland claims during the period of time that Woodson was under the defendants' care, the defendants failed to monitor and assess Woodson's skin breakdown, failed to implement a plan of care and treatment to prevent Woodson from suffering breakdown or worsening of skin breakdown and failed to turn and reposition her.
The defendants failed to provide a safe environment for Woodson and failed to provide adequate monitoring or preventive measures to prevent her from falling, which resulted in a fractured hip, according to the suit.
Strickland claims the defendants' negligence and carelessness contributed substantially in causing serious injuries to Woodson, resulting in needless pain and suffering prior to her death.
The defendants' failed to keep Woodson and her family members and physician fully informed of her total health status and of her medical condition during her residency and failed to provide a sufficient number of staff to provide adequate and appropriate nursing care to all of its residents, according to the suit.
Strickland claims the defendants were negligent and caused Woodson pain and suffering; mental anguish; inconvenience; physical impairment; loss of capacity to enjoy life; aggravation of existing diseases and physical defects; incurred medical expenses; and death.
Strickland is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Andrew L. Paternostro and Jeff D. Stewart of the Bell Law Firm PLLC.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Carrie Webster.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 15-C-210