New Complaints About Nursing Home That Is Under Investigation
Posted: 5:18 pm EDT June 22, 2005Updated: 5:58 pm EDT June 22, 2005
LAKE MARY, Fla. -- There are new complaints about a Central Florida nursing home that's the target of a state investigation. The Gables at Lake Mary is facing possible charges of neglect and the case is so disturbing, workers could even be charged with manslaughter in the future.
The whole investigation began with the death of an 89-year-old woman two weeks ago. The toxicology report is still not back in her death. But her death has lead to questions from the Department of Children and Families, Lake Mary police and, of course, the families."We're scared for everybody in there, not just my sister. What about people who don't have family," questioned Clare McMahon.McMahon's 55-year-old sister is a resident of Gables at Lake Mary. She suffers from Alzheimer's and diabetes. What McMahon saw last week shook her enough to delay returning home to New Jersey."We found her eye had a huge cut. It was closed, black, purple, green," McMahon said.The McMahon's were told it was a result of a fall. But after learning about an open investigation at the Gables involving the death 89-year-old Stella Schwager, the family became more concerned.Currently, the facility can't take on any new patients. The reasons are outlined in a state report detailing Schwager's complaints of pain. She hadn't received medicine to assist with bowel movements. After an x-ray, investigators said, a nurse told the family it was not her job to call a doctor. Her death is still under investigation.Now the McMahons, despite fears of retaliation, are speaking up about their own family. And they are just one of the families now cooperating with the state and Lake Mary police."We're all going to be old one day and might end up in a place like this, and God help us if we don't have the proper care," said Bill McMahon, Clare's husband.The Gables parent company is cooperating fully with investigators and said they are dedicated the finest quality care. The state said there were no significant complaints about the Gables over the past few years.There is a number you can call to report nursing home abuse: 1-888-419-3456.
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