A home-care nurse has been charged with criminal mistreatment after she failed to seek medical attention for an elderly woman with severe bed sores that ultimately claimed her life.  Prosecutors filed the charges against, Virginia Munger after an investigation revealed that although Munger was aware of advanced bed sores (also referred to as: decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers or pressure sores) for six months, she took no medical intervention.  Munger was employed as a CNA by Homewell Senior Care, a home-care nursing company.

Read more about this case of senior neglect here.

Home Care Services

Many seniors are turning to home-care services as a way of living independently for longer.  Many of these companies offer senior a variety of medical and non-medical services and provide staffing on as 'as needed' basis.  Unlike nursing homes, home-care services are loosely regulated by federal and state officials. 

Officials at home care service companies should conduct an assessment to determine what the patient's needs are and determine if the company can indeed provide those services.  Once the needs are assessed and services are provided, the company should provide supervision of its employees to make sure those services are properly provided and the patient's needs are continually met.

In the case above, the elderly woman's family may have a cause of action against the home service company-- not necessarily for the criminal conduct of its CNA, but for failing to provide adequate supervision.  Additionally, if the company was made aware of the woman's bed sores-- yet failed to take any action they may similarly be liable for her treatment and death.

Related Nursing Homes Abuse Blog Entries

Home Care Nurse Gets Probation For Ignoring Bedsores On Child

Home Care Nurse Has License Suspended In Connection To Death Of Disabled Boy

Bed Sore Resources