Alhambra Care Center sued over resident's care

The executor of a deceased woman's estate blames a nursing home for not taking proper care of the woman, leading to her death.

Beverly Law filed a lawsuit June 21 in Madison County Circuit Court against Alhambra Care Center.

Law claims the recently deceased Adele V. Kennett lived at Alhambra until March 21, 2009, when employees transferred her to Community Memorial Hospital in Staunton. Upon her transfer, Kennett had a Stage III sacral decubitus ulcer, several other Stage I and Stage II decubitus ulcers on her lower extremitites, dehydration and a urinary tract infection, according to the complaint.

Kennett developed the conditions after employees at Alhambra failed to properly notify her physician and her next-of-kin of a change in her condition, failed to employ sufficient staff to meet the needs of patients at the nursing home, violated its policies by failing to provide necessary care to its residents and failed to implement a regular program to prevent and treat pressure sores, the suit states.

As a result of the employees' actions, Kennett died on April 9, 2009, the complaint says.

Because of her injuries and subsequent death, Kennett's estate has incurred substantial medical costs, Law claims.

In her two-count complaint, Law is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Robert H. Gregory of the Law Office of Robert H. Gregory in East Alton will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-651.