A 72-year-old woman suffered burns on her hands and feet while under the care of an Escondido woman and her son at their home-based elder care facility. Mila Labayen, 74, and her son, Steve Perez Lopez, 50, face criminal charges for elder abuse arising from their failure to seek immediate medical attention for the injuries of the resident who suffers from dementia. In addition, Mr. Lopez is charged with draining $45,000 from the bank account of another elderly resident, who suffers from schizophrenia. Mr. Lopez allegedly took the money while out on bail for charges relating to the elder abuse claim. Alert bank employees alerted authorities to the suspicious withdrawal of money.
It is unclear what caused the 72-year-old woman’s burns, but by the time her daughter learned of her injuries and brought her to the hospital, her skin was already sloughing off, and she remained in the hospital’s burn unit for nine days.
The elder care home, Liberty Care Homes III, located on the 1100 block of Via Rancho Parkway, was owned and operated by Ms. Labayan and was licensed to provide residential care for up to six elderly people. The license was first issued in 1993. Liberty Care Homes III is now closed.
Source: North County Times
The nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at Walton Law Firm provide free consultations to individuals and families who believe a loved one has been abused or neglected in the nursing home, assisted living, or home health care setting. Call (866) 607-1325 for a free and confidential case evaluation.