State cites nursing home in Wilmington area

WILMINGTON (AP) — A nursing home in suburban Wilmington has been cited by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for failing to ensure its residents are free from abuse.

The StarNews of Wilmington reports that Champions Assisted Living in Porters Neck was cited after bruises were found on a resident following a May 19 scuffle with staff.

Authorities say the elderly male resident who suffered dementia, seizure disorder and other ailments, died 15 days later.

The home told the newspaper it denies all allegations of inappropriate care and will take steps to prove it.

An interview between the agency and the resident’s physician indicated the patient could not overcome the injury and pain from the incident coupled other medical problems.

The patient died under hospice care June 3.