A woman's estate is suing a nursing home over her treatment prior to death.
Barbara Gray, as administrator of the estate of Sylvia Ramsey, filed a complaint May 29 in Cook County Circuit Court against Alden Wentworth Rehabilitation and Health Care Center Inc., doing business as Alden Wentworth Rehab and HCC, Alden Management Services and nurse Vicky Jarvis.
On Dec. 21, 2007, Ramsey was admitted to Alden for long-term care, at which point she was not identified as being at a high risk for skin breakdowns and falls.
During her stay there, the lawsuit states, Ramsey sustained falls on Nov. 9, 2009, June 9, 2010, Nov. 24, 2010, and July 26, 2012. None of these falls, the lawsuit states, were documented.
Also, during her stay at the facility, Ramsey developed "deep tissue injuries to both heels and decubitus ulcers to her left hip, and sacrum, leading to infection, debridement and hospitalization," the lawsuit states. The hospital, however, did not "implement pressure relieving devices, initiate an adequate turning and repositioning schedule, or perform daily skin checks," the lawsuit states.
When Ramsey was transferred to St. Bernard Hospital on April 25, 2013, she had low blood pressure, sepsis, dehydration, pneumonia and an infected pressure sore, the lawsuit states. Her condition continued to decline until her death on June 1, 2013, the lawsuit states.
The plaintiff, citing wrongful death and violation of the Nursing Home Care Act, seeks unspecified damages, plus costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Paul D. Richter and Caitlin K. Finnegan of Kravolec, Jambois and Schwartz in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case no. 2015L005466.