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Virginia Beach Family Files Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit over Mother’s Suffering
When families trust a nursing home to care for an aging parent or loved one, they expect dignity, safety, and competent medical attention. In a recent Virginia Beach case, a family is now pursuing justice after alleging that Princess Anne Health & Rehabilitation Center failed to uphold that basic trust, resulting in severe injury and suffering.
The Virginia Beach nursing home neglect lawsuit, which seeks $1.5 million in damages, centers on the tragic decline of a resident, Virginia Morrisette, who developed a serious pressure ulcer while under the facility’s care. Pressure ulcers, also known as bed sores, can develop when a patient is not repositioned regularly and remains in one position for too long. When left untreated, these wounds can advance to stage IV, indicating a deep, open ulcer that reaches muscle and bone, often leading to infection and other life-threatening complications.
As nursing home neglect cases like this one show, preventable conditions such as stage IV pressure ulcers are not simply “part of aging”; they are often a sign that an individual’s care plan was not implemented or that adequate staffing and supervision were lacking.
What Happened in the Princess Anne Health Neglect Lawsuit
According to family members, Morrisette had no bed sores upon admission. She had broken her hip and went to Princess Anne Health & Rehabilitation for post-surgical care.
Despite an established care plan intended to protect her from pressure wounds, she developed a stage IV pressure ulcer in the nursing home, less than a month into her stay. Family members allege that inconsistent documentation, inadequate turning and repositioning, and insufficient assistance contributed directly to the painful and severe ulcer formation.
The ulcer reportedly became infected, leading to osteomyelitis, and Morrisette was eventually returned home. Tragically, she later passed away. The lawsuit contends that the facility’s failures in basic nursing care directly contributed to her suffering and subsequent decline.
Why This Nursing Home Bed Sores Lawsuit Matters for Families
Pressure ulcers are widely recognized indicators of neglect in long-term care settings. According to accepted clinical standards, immobile residents require regular repositioning, specialized support surfaces, and vigilant skin care. When these interventions are not followed consistently, the risk of severe wounds and infections increases dramatically.
In this case, the lawsuit contends that Princess Anne Health & Rehabilitation did not follow even basic elements of the resident’s care plan, leading to severe injury and suffering.
Cases like this underscore critical questions families should consider when evaluating a nursing home:
- Was the facility following recognized care standards for wound prevention?
- Were documented care plans implemented consistently and completely?
- Did staffing levels allow for hands-on care and timely repositioning?
If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” a neglect claim may be warranted.
The Legal and Human Impact of Nursing Home Neglect
Cases involving pressure ulcers and advanced skin breakdown often fall under negligence or even nursing home wrongful death in Virginia. Such lawsuits typically argue that the facility had a legal duty to provide a safe standard of care, and that a failure to meet that duty caused harm to the resident.
In Virginia, nursing home negligence claims generally require evidence that:
- A duty of care existed (as it almost always does in a licensed nursing home);
- The facility breached that duty through action or inaction;
- The resident suffered injuries as a direct result; and
- Those injuries caused measurable damages, including pain, medical costs, and emotional suffering.
Pressure ulcers that escalate to stage IV are unfortunately common in facilities that lack sufficient staffing or fail to monitor vulnerable residents closely. In many reported cases, families allege that documented care plans were ignored or not fully implemented. It’s a serious concern that courts and juries often consider when evaluating neglect claims.
What This Means for Other Virginia Beach Families
If you are caring for a loved one in a nursing home right now, this case highlights key warning signs that may warrant legal review:
- Unexpected wounds, especially significant pressure ulcers;
- A pattern of poor documentation or inconsistent care;
- Frequent changes in caregivers or staffing shortages;
- Lack of clear communication from the facility; and
- Signs of infection, dehydration, or pain that are not promptly addressed.
Early recognition and documentation of these issues can significantly help preserve a potential future Virginia Beach nursing home neglect lawsuit.
Legal Guidance for Families in Similar Situations
At The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett, we understand how emotionally and physically difficult it is to watch a loved one suffer. Nursing home neglect, particularly when it leads to stage IV pressure ulcers or other life-altering injuries, is not simply a medical problem. It is a legal issue rooted in whether a facility fulfilled its obligations to protect and respect those entrusted to its care.
With over 50 years of experience helping families pursue nursing home neglect and wrongful death claims, we have seen how dedicated advocacy can:
- Hold negligent facilities accountable;
- Recover compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, and loss of life quality; and
- Provide families with a sense of justice and closure.
If you have concerns about a loved one’s care or believe neglect may have contributed to serious injury or decline, speaking with an experienced attorney early can help preserve evidence and protect your family’s rights.
When to Seek Legal Help
You should consider contacting an experienced Virginia Beach nursing home neglect lawyer if:
- A loved one develops a pressure ulcer while in care;
- Care plans are not followed consistently;
- You observe signs of neglect, infection, or unexplained injuries; and
- The facility fails to communicate clearly about treatment or changes in condition.
Early legal guidance helps avoid missing critical timelines and assists in preserving evidence, such as medical records and incident reports.
Talk with Us About Your Legal Options
If you or someone in your family has experienced neglect, pressure ulcers, or an unexplained decline in a nursing home, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with you. Our approach is compassionate, thorough, and focused on your family’s needs.
Contact The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett today to learn more about your legal options and how we may be able to help seek accountability and justice for your loved one.
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