Originally Posted - February 23, 2007

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - A Lee County woman is behind bars, charged with neglecting an elderly resident of the group home she owned and operated.

Authorities said Nola Hall's neglect of the elderly woman was so severe that the woman eventually died from medical issues which arose from the neglect. Hall was arrested by authorities with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Hall, 70, owned Johnson Hall, a developmental services group home located in the southwest Florida community of Lehigh Acres. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit began investigating Hall after receiving information about the alleged neglect from the Department of Children and Families. The investigation revealed that while the elderly resident was under Hall's care, Hall failed to provide any medical treatment for open ulcer sores on the patient. The wounds, which were highly visible, had a significant amount of dead tissue and were severely infected. After interviewing staff at the facility, including a doctor who provided medical care to the residents, no indication was found that Hall ever informed anyone of the woman's wounds nor provided any medical care to the elderly victim.

The victim was eventually taken to a local emergency room after a nurse not associated with the facility told health care officials that the woman needed immediate care. While at the hospital, the woman underwent surgery to remove the dead tissue, but the infections were so severe that she passed away. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities took Hall's operating license and closed the facility.

Hall is currently being held at the Lee County Jail. She is charged with neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorneys Office for the 20th Judicial Circuit. 2-23-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette