Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District Board Vice Chairman and Supervisor Daisy Morales cares for her special needs sister at Florida Hospital's intensive care unit who suffered severe neglect at a nursing home in Winter Garden. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News).
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) – Nursing home negligence of residents has become a top priority for elected officials across the state, especially after 12 residents died at a nursing home in Hollywood, Florida during Hurricane Irma.
For one Orange County elected official, this is now more than a priority, but her personal reality: her loved one recently became a victim of nursing home negligence.
Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District Board Vice Chairman and Supervisor Daisy Morales was frantic and disturbed during a call to 911 dispatchers to report a case of severe negligence to her special needs sister at a local nursing home in Winter Garden Thursday morning.
Emergency officials arrived at Colonial Lakes Healthcare to transport Supervisor Morales’ sister, who appeared to be suffering from malnutrition, dehydration and a severe bedsore after being admitted to the facility for rehabilitation August 13.
Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District Board Vice Chairman and Supervisor Daisy Morales cares for her special needs sister at Florida Hospital’s intensive care unit Friday September 14, 2018. (Photo by Willie David / Florida National News).
Supervisor Morales’ sister was admitted to Florida Hospital after Morales discovered her neglected condition at the nursing home. At the hospital, medical officials photographed her condition and provided treatment. Due to her sister’s failing health, she was upgraded to the intensive care unit (ICU) for further evaluation and treatment for a bedsore infection, according to Morales.
Morales’ complaint against the nursing home is not the first of this facility’s troubles–the nursing home recently settled a $20,000 fine by AHCA. Additionally, the facility has a “Much Below Average” overall rating according to Medicare.gov, which also provides detailed reports of the facility’s healthcare deficiencies.
Though this patient is Morales’ own sister, she has previously advocated for other seniors and the special needs community, given her experience as an advisory member with Orange County Disability Advisory Board and as Elderly Ambassador with Orange County Commissioner on Aging.
This a developing story. Additional details forthcoming. Bookmark this article to receive updates.
So sad that Supervisor Morales had to see her sister suffer. Thankful to her for advocating for disabled seniors. Please make this a priority. Follow thru also with the story.
This is outrageous. Daisy we are with you.
I am being evicted from an ALF because I posted negative reviews on the Corp’s website.
God bless you Morales for reporting this horrific neglect to your sister. This occurs all over nursing homes through out the nation. We need people like you to blow the whistle, monitor and close down these nursing homes before another elderly dies from complications.