CINCINNATI, Ohio – A family in Cincinnati, Ohio has taken legal action against a local nursing home, alleging negligence and wrongful death in the case of their loved one, Dolores Niederhelman. The family claims that Ms. Niederhelman passed away after being attacked by another resident at the facility, resulting in both of her shoulders being broken.
Legal representatives for the family stated that Ms. Niederhelman tragically died four days after the alleged attack, with the incident captured on surveillance footage within her room at the nursing home. The lawsuit further accuses the facility of not promptly sending Ms. Niederhelman to the hospital post-assault, leading to her health deteriorating until she fell into a coma and subsequently passed away shortly after being transported to the hospital.
The lawsuit, pursued on behalf of the Niederhelman family by Michael Hill Trial Law, targets Three Rivers Healthcare Center, a part of the Communicare Family of Companies. According to the legal documents, Ms. Niederhelman, who had various health conditions including Alzheimer’s dementia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hypothyroidism, became a resident of the nursing home in March 2021 before being placed in a secured unit in September 2021 due to cognitive impairments.
On January 26, 2023, a disturbing incident unfolded at the facility as a female resident allegedly attacked Ms. Niederhelman in her room, leaving her distressed on the floor. The lawsuit alleges that the nursing staff failed to appropriately respond to the situation, including a delay in informing Ms. Niederhelman’s family about the incident and providing inadequate medical attention to her following the assault.
Ms. Niederhelman was eventually taken to the hospital, where it was discovered that both of her shoulders were fractured due to the attack. Despite medical intervention, complications arose, leading to infections that ultimately proved fatal on January 30, 2023. The lawsuit accuses Three Rivers Healthcare Center of negligence, wrongful death, and violations of nursing home resident rights laws, citing staffing shortages and systemic failures in care provision.
The legal team representing the Niederhelman family is adamant about pursuing justice in light of the alleged mishandling of the situation by the nursing home staff. They emphasize the importance of accountability in ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals under the care of such facilities, denouncing the negligence that may put lives at risk.