Daughter Of Dementia Patient Sues Nursing Home Over Abuse

Haverford, Pennsylvania’s Quadrangle Continuing Care Retirement Community is facing a lawsuit over the negligent and abusive care of a dementia patient. The woman complained of mistreatment, but nursing home officials played off the claims as part of her dementia. The woman’s daughter, Mary French, installed a secret video camera in a clock radio in Mary’s mother’s room. The camera caught verbal and physical abuse against the 79-year-old by nursing home staff, leading Mary to sue the nursing home staff and facility for negligence.

“I just want them to take responsibility for what they did,” she said. She and her husband, Paul French, reside in Havertown.

Three employees of Quadrangle were arrested earlier this year in connection with abuse charges of French’s mother. They have all pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial in November. The state has revoked Quadrangle’s care license, but is allowing it to stay open during appeals.

Quadrangle is owned by Sunrise Senior Living Inc., based in McLean, Virginia. The company owns about 300 senior living facilities, and is reported to be taking the lawsuit and allegations of abuse quite seriously. However, they have not yet commented publicly on the arrests and charges. French’s attorneys say this is not the first such incident reported in connection with Quadrangle Continuing Care.