Florida Nursing Home Fined for Patient Negligence

June 5, 2009

When a resident of the Azalea Court nursing home in West Palm Beach, Florida was found with maggots infesting a cast on his leg, the state found out and charged the home a fine of $16,000. The man had been treated for a broken leg and the doctor’s orders had been to care for his wound at least once every three days. However, the nursing home could only provide records of checking the leg about once each week.

The nursing home was put on a “watch list” earlier in the year and was only given one out of five stars in a government rating. An inspection result from 2008 said that the patients were in immediate danger, because Azalea Court did not take the necessary steps to protect residents from neglect or abuse.

Though the home argued that the government ratings were unfair an that the best way to determine the quality of a nursing home is to plan a visit, the state remains steadfast in its opinion about Azalea. In addition to visits, family members should check out ratings for nursing homes and retirement centers before entrusting them with the lives of their elderly loved ones.