Life for military veterans isn’t easy, but negligent nursing homes
and health care providers make things worse. Physical disabilities, homelessness,
addiction, abuse and neglect are a few of the daily issues that military
veterans face. In nursing homes, mistreatment and abuse can prevent veterans
from receiving the medical attention and basic services that they urgently
need. Here’s one example of the extreme and inexcusable mistreatment
that veterans experience in the long-term care system.

The Case of John Chedester

In November 2013, a disabled Vietnam veteran who had served in the U.S.
Navy for 20 years was involuntarily discharged from a nursing home in Iowa. Social workers had placed the veteran in the facility in July 2013 after
they determined that he couldn’t take care of himself at home anymore.
Although he had requested to live in the Iowa Veterans Home, it didn’t happen.

The veteran had a myriad of health problems. However, because he had not
signed up for Medicaid, the nursing home unlawfully evicted him for non-payment
60 days later. At the time he was evicted, he had diabetes, congestive
heart failure, high blood pressure, PTSD, sepsis and pneumonia. Despite
his poor health, nursing home workers drove him 20 miles away and dumped
him at an unfurnished apartment without his medications. There was no
food in the apartment and no phone service. With help from neighbors in
the building, he was transferred to a local hospital for intensive medical
treatment before being returned to the same nursing home that evicted
him. The nursing home was only fined $5,752 for its egregious conduct.

Disabled Military Veterans and Health Care

As of 2015, America is home to 19.3 million veterans who served their country
honorably. Approximately 3.8 million veterans live with service-connected
disabilities. Nearly one-third have severe handicaps. Military veterans
may suffer from physical disabilities and psychological stress during
service and decades later. Disabilities are not always addressed, which
can lead to homelessness and addiction.

Even in nursing homes, veterans do not always receive the care that they
deserve. These veterans who have dedicated years and even decades to serving
their country aren’t treated with common respect or dignity. When
race and ethnicity are considered, veterans may encounter additional abuse
and discrimination.

Veteran abuse and discrimination shouldn’t be part of the American
experience. Nursing Homes that profit by offering services to disabled
veterans must be held accountable for the physical and emotional damage
that they have caused.

The attorneys at The Mabrey Firm, P.C. fight hard to obtain justice for
their clients in nursing home abuse and neglect cases.
Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation if you believe you or a loved one is
a victim of nursing home abuse.