Maggots in Leg Wound Seen as Nursing Home Negligence

West Palm Beach, FLWhen nursing home abuse allows for a departure of not only basic care but also of human kindness and compassion, nursing home negligence becomes more than mere nursing home neglect. When maggots are seen coming out of a wound that has not been properly managed it smacks of cruelty and indifference. Most people treat their pets with more respect and compassion.

This latest example of nursing home neglect originates from West Palm Beach and the Azalea Court nursing home. According to a June 3, 2009, story in the Palm Beach Post, a resident of Azalea, who was not identified, had been treated for a broken leg and was outfitted with a cast. According to a state inspection report the resident's leg wound and cast on his lower leg was to be cared for every three days.

However, it was discovered that the nursing home addressed the wound only once per week, according to documentation provided by Azalea.

The resident was found lying prone on the floor, injured, with maggots crawling out of his cast.

Azalea Court was fined $16,000 by state regulators for the infraction, according to writer Phil Galewitz in the On Call column in the Palm Beach Post.

The incident happened during the summer of last year. In a state inspection report issued in August, regulators chastised the nursing home for nursing home neglect. "The 120-bed facility failed to provide the necessary care and services to a resident with the cast and wound of lower leg, resulting in an infestation of maggots," stated the report.

While the incident happened last summer, the fine against Azalea—the largest brought against any health care provider in Palm Beach County so far this year—was handed down in March.

Azalea Court has appealed.

According to the Palm Beach Post the nursing home facility was put on a watch list by state regulators earlier this year. Azalea Court, which is identified as a for-profit facility, was described as earning just one star out of a possible five as its overall grade when inspected by state regulators. The Post referred to ratings by the Florida state Agency for Health Care Administration, which awarded a single star (out of a possible 5) for quality of care and quality of life.

A state inspection in April of last year earned Azalea Court a grade of "J" with regard to its capacity for protecting residents from mistreatment and having policies in place to prevent abuse. The grade represents "immediate jeopardy" to a resident's health or safety for isolated violations, according to the criteria of the state inspection as described in The Post.

Azalea defended its care in a statement issued to the newspaper.

"We view the survey process as a quality improvement tool and are cooperating fully with regulatory agencies," said a statement from the nursing home. "Quality care is our highest priority."

The eventual fate of the resident whose leg wound was infested with maggots was not revealed.

There are various forms of nursing home abuse—from the physical and emotional abuse of residents, to the nursing home neglect of the kind that befell this poor resident at Azalea Court. Regardless as to whether it is abuse or neglect, it combines to nursing home negligence that serves as fodder for a nursing home abuse attorney representing families and their loved ones seeking redress from such incidents.

Nursing homes are chosen with care. Maggots in a leg wound are never part of the tour.