By John Beauge
SHAMOKIN -- A Northumberland County woman has been accused of causing through neglect the death of her husband, who suffered from dementia.
Debora Avelino, 57, of Ranshaw, was charged Tuesday by Coal Twp. police with involuntary manslaughter and neglect in the Nov. 2 death of Vincent Avelino, 83.
The investigation of potential elder abuse began after Avelino was taken to Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital on Oct. 20 with a Stage 4 pressure ulcer on his buttocks that was down to the bone.
The extent of the infected wound, which required an emergency colonoscopy and specialized care, indicated Avelino likely was in the same position for a month, police said they were told by medical personnel.
His primary care physician who had last seen him in person in May told investigators Avelino could not care for himself or make decisions because of the advanced stage of dementia.
Avelino was flown to the Geisinger Medical Center near Danville, on Oct. 26 because he had become unresponsive.
Four days later county Judge Hugh Jones granted the request of the Area Agency on Agency and appointed Senior Care of Pennsylvania as guardian for Avelino.
His son, Vincent Jr., claimed the thing on his father’s butt “came out of blue” and his mother decided he should go to the hospital, the arrest affidavit states.
He also told investigators his father had been wearing adult diapers for a few years and that he would help him bathe, dress and get up to go the bathroom, the document states.
A doctor and two registered nurses are quoted in the arrest documents as saying the huge bed sore was the result of Avelino not walking or moving on his own for quite a while, not the three or four days claimed by the wife.
It was the opinion of Dr. Christopher Exner at Shamokin hospital that had Avelino received proper care sooner the wound could have been prevented, the affidavit states.
Avelino also had two thoracic spine wounds, multiple abrasions in various stages of healing from the knees to the shins and redness in the left ankle, the charges state.
Police described the interior of the home as a mess with the kitchen sink full of dirty dishes and hardly space to go from room to room. No beds were observed, they said.
Debora Avelino claimed her husband slept in his chair and she in another chair in the living room and that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic they would go for walks and to yard sales, the affidavit states.
Debora Avelino, who was employed as a home health aide, was jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail.
No comments:
Post a Comment