San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog
In July, Gary Lee Potts, 62, was arrested for his part in the 2014 death of Mauricio Edgar Cardenas, 65, who was an elderly nursing home resident with dementia at The Manse on Marsh. Potts, the owner of the facility, and another former facility administrator, Christopher E. Skiff, have been accused of elder and dependent abuse and involuntary manslaughter based on the care they and their facility failed to give to the elderly man.
If you believe your elderly loved one is not receiving the care he or she is entitled to at a nursing home, or you think that negligent care caused your relative’s death, contact our San Francisco elder neglect and abuse attorneys at Brod Law Firm right away. It can be difficult to investigate nursing home care. However, we are well-versed in these matters and will fight to get to the bottom of what has happened to your loved one.
Nursing Home Owner and Employee Charged With Manslaughter
The California Attorney General’s Office and the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse filed charges against Potts and Skiff based on evidence that they knowingly and willfully endangered Cardenas’ life. There is evidence that Cardenas had dementia, a fact that Potts and Skiff knew. They allowed Cardenas to live in their facility despite the fact that they were not prepared to care for a patient with dementia and did not have a waiver qualifying them to do so.
The insufficient care provided at The Manse on Marsh enabled Cardenas to wander out of the facility and attempted to cross Los Osos Valley Road. He was struck by a vehicle. The police determined the driver was not at fault and could not have avoided hitting Cardenas due to it being dark and being unable to see him where he was crossing.
Patients and Their Families Must Look for Appropriate Facilities
For patients with dementia and their families, Cardenas’ story is their worst nightmare. This kind of severe memory loss and cognitive decline makes it difficult for seniors to take care of themselves and to avoid hazardous situations. Many seniors with dementia move into nursing homes to intentionally increase their safety. However, when they are allowed to enter a facility that is not set up to care for them and their unique needs, seniors with dementia are at risk for being injured or suffering an early death.
Review a Facility’s Ability to Care for Patients With Dementia
If it is time to move your loved one with dementia to a nursing home, you will need to do a great deal of research to determine the right facility. Not all nursing homes are prepared to take care of a person with dementia or Alzheimer ’s disease.
You will need to ensure the facility is fully licensed. However, you also need to ask questions specifically related to caring for dementia patients, including:
- Does the facility have any additional certifications?
- Is the staff trained to care for individuals with dementia?
- Does the building have safety features to keep dementia patients from wandering?
- Does it have an Alzheimer’s special care unit?
Contact Brod Law Firm for Help
If your loved one received negligent care, which led to an injury or early death, contact us at Brod Law Firm right away. We can review the situation, including whether your relative’s nursing home is responsible for his or her injuries or your loss.
(image courtesy of Ashim de Silva)