Relatives of a 41-year-old intellectually disabled Ohio man recently filed suit after their family member died an excruciating death due to extreme constipation.
The man had the dual diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder accompanied by poor impulse control, autism and bipolar disorder. Learn more below about how caregiver neglect led to his untimely death – and how this is just one example of a larger problem.
A resident’s complaints were dismissed by the staff
When the disabled man passed away from an impacted bowel, he died with 20 lbs of stool in his intestines. His family left him in the care home to ensure he received the direct care he needed to complete his daily activities.
Despite visible bruising and abdominal distention along with complaints of stomach pain, staff somehow failed to notice or chart that their patient had not moved their bowels in weeks.
The most vulnerable can’t fend for themselves
Patients with physical or intellectual disabilities that prevent them from managing their own care are at special risk for abuse and neglect. Some patients have dementia that affects their ability to report the abuses they suffer. Others have no family left to oversee their loved ones’ care.
If you suspect abuse, speak up
For those with loved ones cared for by staff at home or in nursing homes, learning that a vulnerable relative was the victim of physical, sexual or psychological abuse is a nightmare. But as difficult as it may be to realize that someone was harmed, you must be their voice at these dire times.
Speaking up and alerting authorities about the problem can save your loved one from enduring more nursing home abuse or neglect. Speak up for those who have lost their voices.
