A Westmoreland County woman is suing Concordia at Cabot claiming her 96-year-old father died two years ago as a result of a fall.

Carol Paolo, of New Kensington, filed the negligence and wrongful death suit seeking unspecified damages last week in Butler County Common Pleas Court on behalf of her father, Samuel Paolo, who died Oct. 13, 2022.

Samuel Paolo had dementia that left him nonverbal and had a total right hip replacement in 2008 due to degenerative joint disease, but was alert, interactive, lived at home where caregivers treated him four times a week, and walked with his wife every day, according to the suit.

He fell at home on Sept. 27, 2022, suffered a right hip fracture and underwent a total right hip replacement revision surgical repair the same day at UPMC St. Margaret in Pittsburgh. He tolerated the surgery well, and was admitted to Concordia on Sept. 30 for what was expected to be 6 to 8 weeks of physical therapy, according to the suit.

Concordia staff created a care plan that included evaluating his risk of falling, and ordered that he needed assistance using the bathroom, before and after meals and at bedtime, according to the suit.

In a fall assessment conducted Oct. 1, he was given a score of 12, which indicated he was at risk of falling and getting hurt, and staff noted he was disoriented, chair bound, was taking medication and had diseases that left him at risk of falling. Staff did not note he had gait or balance issues, or that he should have nonslip footwear, according to the suit.

A clinical admission evaluation conducted Oct. 1 found he had an unsteady gait and poor balance, but staff indicated there were no safety concerns on the evaluation, according to the suit.

An Oct. 2 note from his physical therapy treatment said his surgical wound was bleeding uncontrollably. Nursing notes indicated he was lethargic, struggled to follow instructions and was unsafe. Staff ordered him to receive Seroquel, which can increase the risk of falling, the suit said.

Oct. 3 notes from his occupational therapy said he suffered from weakness, decreased balance, intermittent confusion and decreased safety awareness, according to the suit.

After being given oxycodone for pain at 12:43 a.m. Oct. 4, Paolo was found kneeling on mats next to his bed at 2:10 a.m. and again at 4 a.m. Staff determined he was not injured and returned him to his bed both times, according to the suit.

On Oct. 5, staff noted he removed the dressing on his surgical wound and was grimacing in pain while picking at the staples, and noted he had severe pain in his lower right extremity. He was sent back to UPMC St. Margaret after an X-ray found his right hip was dislocated, and blood work found he was suffering from an acute kidney injury and dehydration, according to the suit.

He underwent an hip replacement on Oct. 9. Tests found infections in his right hip and right femur tissue. His agitation was so severe that he required restraints and a sitter, according to the suit.

He developed other problems, and his family placed him in hospice care. He died Oct. 13. His cause of death was listed as complication from blunt force trauma of the right hip and fall, according to the complaint.

The suit seeks compensatory damages in excess of $35,000.

When contacted for comment, a Concordia spokesman replied “While we cannot comment on active lawsuits, Concordia’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality care to those entrusted to us is, and always will be, our top priority.”