Fatal Fall
The Orange County Register had an article about the lawsuit filed on behalf of Oliver J. Shrock who was neglected at Kindred Healthcare Center of Orange. The nursing home was fined $85,000 for their neglect and maltreatment.
Oliver J. Shrock's death on July 18, 2009 – four days after he suffered a fall and fatal head injuries was labeled by the state as an "AA" citation – the worst violation that the state can issue against a skilled nursing facility. The state concluded that the center disregarded Shrock's safety by not listening to the family's warnings, and not implementing safety measures, such as the use of a bed alarm.
Shrock's daughters, Kathleen S. Sakoguchi and Deborah Anne Whitman, sued the center and its former owner, Kentucky-based Kindred Healthcare Operating Inc.. Shrock's family told the center that Shrock – who was dependent on staff for most needs – was at high risk for falls, according to the lawsuit.
He fell soon after arriving at the center, but wasn't injured significantly. The center installed a bed alarm to help prevent future falls and placed mats on the floor to limit possible injuries. But these measures weren't always in place when Sakoguchi visited her father, and she repeatedly had to tell staff to attach the bed alarm. The fall that caused his death happened on July 14, when Shrock was preparing to go home.
"A nurse assistant discovered Shrock on the floor bleeding from his head and she did not know how long he had been lying on the floor,'' according to the suit. Shrock was taken to a hospital, and died four days later.
