Slager Madry Files Lawsuit Alleging Abuse and Neglect of Memory Care Resident at The Greens at Cannondale

The law firm Slager Madry LLC filed a lawsuit today on behalf of a former resident of The Greens at Cannondale in Wilton. The case alleges that Rachel Lacancellera suffered severe injuries from abuse and neglect while entrusted to the care of The Greens at Cannondale’s Memory Care Unit.

The case, brought on behalf of Mrs. Lacancellera’s Estate, names as defendants Wilton Meadows Health Care Center Corporation, Wilton Meadows Limited Partnership, and Wilton Retirement Housing, LLC, the owners and operators of the facility. As a result of the negligence of those entities, the lawsuit alleges, Mrs. Lacancellera — a highly vulnerable elderly resident with dementia — suffered serious injuries due to abuse and/or neglect at the facility.

In recent years, elder abuse and neglect have received increased public attention as families, healthcare professionals, and policymakers have confronted the vulnerabilities facing our aging population. The lawsuit states that Mrs. Lacancellera’s injuries and the events that led to them were the subject of an extensive investigation by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, which rendered findings of non-compliance with applicable state laws and regulations.

According to Slager Madry’s Paul Slager, the purpose of the case is “not only to hold the defendants responsible for Mrs. Lacancellera’s serious injuries, but also to highlight the profound responsibility that healthcare facilities owe to elderly residents who depend on them for safety, dignity, and compassionate care.” Slager added: “As Connecticut’s senior population continues to grow, protecting older adults from neglect, abuse, and preventable harm remains an issue of critical public importance.”

The lawsuit states Mrs. Lacancellera was a resident of the Memory Care Unit at The Greens at Cannondale from January, 2023, through January, 2025. Because of her dementia and physical limitations, Mrs. Lacancellera’s care plan required close supervision, fall precautions, consistent use of a walker, and assistance with activities of daily living.

Despite these known needs, the lawsuit alleges that Mrs. Lacancellera suffered multiple unwitnessed falls, including incidents requiring emergency medical treatment. Then, on the morning of January 31, 2025, her son arrived to visit Mrs. Lacancellera and discovered her in bed with extensive bruising to her face, neck, chest, head, and hand, along with an altered mental state consistent with serious trauma.

Mrs. Lacancellera was transported to Norwalk Hospital, where physicians documented significant injuries, including extensive head and facial trauma. According to the lawsuit, medical providers expressed concern that the pattern and distribution of her injuries were suspicious for non-accidental trauma and inconsistent with an ordinary fall.

The lawsuit alleges further that review of the facility’s surveillance footage showed Mrs. Lacancellera wandering the hallways of the secured memory care unit for more than three hours overnight, without documented monitoring or supervision, despite her known cognitive impairment and care plan requiring close supervision. The complaint claims that a staff member observed bruising on Mrs. Lacancellera’s body before returning her to bed, but failed to promptly report the injuries or conduct any medical evaluation.

“Mrs. Lacancellera and her family understood and trusted that she would be safe in The Greens at Cannondale’s memory care unit, which was designed specifically to care for the facility’s most vulnerable residents,” added Jillian Orticelli of Slager Madry. “We hope this case finds answers for her family and, importantly, helps to ensure the safety of others who are similarly vulnerable to abuse and neglect.”

The lawsuit has been filed in Stamford Superior Court. The full Complaint and case docket is here.

For further comment, contact:

Paul Slager
pslager@slagermadry.com

Jillian Rose Orticelli
jorticelli@slagermadry.com