Los Angeles Nursing Home Negligence “Substantial Factor” in Two Deaths

In less than three months, two residents of the Ararat Nursing Facility in Mission Hills died under suspicious circumstances that directly point to negligence. After investigation, violations were found at the nursing home which were cited as “substantial factors” in the deaths of one resident in March and another in June.

Both resident deaths were the result of staff negligence. One resident was left alone in a lift sling, which resulted in a fall that caused broken bones. She later died at the hospital. The second resident choked while being fed without proper staff monitoring. Both cases resulted in $120,000 fines for the violations.

PC: Valery Tenevoy via Unsplash

AA Negligence Violations

The Ararat Nursing Facility is generally known for the quality care provided. The facility is contesting both the AA violation citations—those categorized as being a substantial factor in the deaths of residents. 

According to the LA Times, “Under California law, if a nursing home gets two such citations within two years, the state ‘shall commence action to suspend or revoke’ its license.” However, the California Department of Public Health is able to resolve the AA violation citations through appeal or settlement, which would allow Ararat Nursing Facility to keep its license. The reduction of the citations after appeal is a common resolution to these citations in California. However, this solution is insufficient because it does not hold nursing facilities fully accountable for their actions and negligence. 

Elder Neglect

Elder neglect is the “failure to fulfill a caretaking obligation” (helpguide.org). Both deaths directly link to negligent behavior on the part of the Ararat staff. In the first case, a woman was left unattended in a lift device as the staff member went to get another member of staff for help. While in the second case, a family member of the resident was feeding them, despite the resident having mealtime precautions and being at risk of choking. In the latter case, Ararat stated the family member had been trained, but Ararat did not provide evidence of that training. 

As of August 2024, neither case has a resolution date set for the appeals and the fines have not been paid. Once the appeal process has concluded, Ararat would be required to pay the fines within 30 days.


If you or a loved one have been the victim of nursing home neglect, call Gharibian Law (866-798-8606) today for a FREE consultation and the best legal representation.