Lack of Care Causes Elder’s Death, Family Claims
7-27-2018 23:59:00


LOS ANGELES (CN) – An elderly woman with dementia, who was treated in a Kaiser hospital for five months before her death, died due to neglect according her daughters’ Los Angeles County Superior Court lawsuit.

Diana Holloway and Patricia Buck, individually and as successors-in-interest to Louise Holloway, sue Joyce Eisenburg Keefer Medical Center, Kaiser Foundation Hospital – Baldwin Park and Covina Rehabilitation Center for elder abuse/neglect, professional negligence, violation of patient’s rights, wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

The plaintiffs’ mother, Louise Holloway, was a resident at defendant long-term care facility Covina from July 2017 through her death in December 2017. She also spent periods of time in defendant Keefer Medical Center in May and June 2017, and in defendant Kaiser’s Baldwin Park Hospital from June through December 2017, according to the suit.

Louise Holloway “was mentally incapacitated due to dementia and psychosis,” and was incapable of asserting her rights or of understanding how she was being injured by the defendants’ breaches of duty, the suit states.

Even though the patient’s chart noted she had compromised mobility, a tendency to rest too long in one position and that she needed assistance with pressure relief, range of motion, bed mobility, transfers and ambulation, care was not provided and she developed severe bedsores and similar skin breakdown.

Her chart also noted that she needed assistance with nutrition, hydration, toileting, bathing and other hygiene maintenance, yet, due to lack of care, she was malnourished, dehydrated, and had lost weight. Louise Holloway ultimately died as a result of these deficiencies in care, according to the action.

Holloway and Buck seek general, special and punitive damages, including treble damages, in addition to legal costs.

The plaintiffs are represented by Anthony D. Ghecea in Modesto, California.
BC713666