Family to sue over alleged abuse at nursing home

The family of a nursing home resident allegedly abused by her caretakers intends to sue the Delaware County nursing facility.

Paul French said he and his wife were devastated when a hidden camera confirmed the abuse claims from his 78-year-old mother-in-law Lois McCallister, who suffers from dementia.

“To watch the video was horrifying,” French said. “To realize that what she was telling us this whole time was actually happening … with all her dementia, she still had the mindset to say to us, why are they beating me? And she was right.”

Three workers have been charged with abusing the woman.

Mary French, who said her mother will now be living with the couple, said she is worried about the rest of the residents at the Quadrangle Sunrise Senior Living Center in Haverford.

“When I left the last day there and saw some of the residents that I’ve gotten to know, it’s the feeling that I want them to be cared for too,” French said.

The state revoked Quadrangle’s operating license last week, but the facility will continue to operate while an appeal is considered. The personal care home will not be allowed to accept new residents.

Sunrise Senior Living had to close down five of its 22 Pennsylvania facilities in the last year after the state found numerous violations of licensing agreements.

Michael Race, spokesman for the state’s Department of Public Welfare, said the company failed to report allegations of abuse, which is required by law. It also did not increase communication with the families of residents and troubleshoot problems with them as had been outlined in an April 2010 settlement agreement with the state.

“They agreed a little over a year ago to do certain things at their homes, including at Quadrangle, to produce a resident-first culture, and they simply had not been doing that,” Race said.

He said the appeals process could take months.

Sunrise Senior Living, which has facilities around the country, could not be reached for comment.