In nursing homes and centers nationally, tragic incidents occur. One recent case highlights the need for vigilance about nursing home residents and their care.
A Kentucky Today article published just last week described how a decomposing body found in a Florida nursing home closet is that of a 71-year-old man, Elin Etienne, who had been missing from his assisted living facility, North Dade Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, for some time.
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What Led to the Gruesome Discovery
Mr. Etienne had been a resident at the nursing home after suffering two strokes, developing dementia, and having an aneurysm that took his mobility and cognitive functions, according to the family.
Concerned family members reached out to North Miami Police on August 23, 2024, after being informed by the assisted living facility that the resident had checked himself out of the facility on August 22, 2024. The police, in turn, issued a missing person alert for him that same day.
The nursing home resident’s body was found in the closet eleven days after he initially went missing.
The Nursing Home’s Failure To Notify the Family of the Resident’s Death
Etienne’s granddaughter, Ruth Keisha Etienne, told a local television station, WTVJ-TV, that nursing home administrators never notified the missing resident’s family that a body had been found. Instead, his granddaughter said that an anonymous caller told the family, which, in turn, prompted them to contact the long-term care facility’s administration.
According to the granddaughter, the nursing care facility said they found him in a closet, and he was already decomposing. The nursing center refused to let the family see the body.
The nursing home declined to comment when questioned by reporters. A police spokesperson said that they have opened up a death investigation into the resident’s passing.
Abuse and Neglect Occurring in Nursing Homes
Each year, far too many instances of neglect or abuse occur in Chicago nursing homes and others across our state and country. Harm befalls residents because caregivers fail to provide adequate care, which can include failing to monitor resident well-being, withholding medical treatment, ignoring basic needs, or doing one of the following, often leading to residents suffering sexual, emotional, or physical harm and even death:
Meals
There’s a federal regulation, codified as 42 CFR 483.60, that spells out how nursing homes should serve at least three meals per day and a bedtime snack. It also states that the food must be nutritious, well-balanced, taste good, and meet the specific dietary needs of each resident. Additionally, the food must be prepared in sanitary facilities and conditions.
Hygiene
Personal and environmental hygiene is essential for resident well-being and infection control within nursing homes. Individuals residing in these facilities are more vulnerable to disease because of pre-existing conditions and old age, and consistent and effective hygiene, like brushing teeth and bathing, is critical to reducing infections and death.
Medical Attention
Nursing home caregivers should be aware of and monitor resident health. Changes in a ward’s condition may mean risk for disease, injury, or death. Staff first need to determine what a resident’s baseline is and then monitor them for changes.
Regular Check-ins
Care providers must know where residents are in the facility. Knowing where residents are means having someone directly assigned to care for them and checking in on them on a schedule. It also includes answering call-buttons for assistance in a timely fashion.
As you might be able to surmise, both based on the description of the neglectful treatment above and the details regarding this specific case, negative outcomes can occur when nursing home staff members are neglectful in performing their job duties.
Can Someone Be Held Accountable for This Nursing Home Resident’s Death
As suggested above, no potential suspects who may have caused or covered up the man’s death have been identified. The fact that criminal charges aren’t currently pending and may never be filed doesn’t impact the family’s ability to file a civil action to hold any responsible parties accountable for what happened, though.
A decomposing body or any other adverse patient outcome is indicative of a nursing center’s failures. A serious lapse in systemic issues for the nursing facility, such as failures in oversight and understaffing, often results in preventable accidents like these.
Illinois law allows victims like the surviving family members of abused or neglected nursing home residents to file a personal injury lawsuit, such as a wrongful death action, to recover financial compensation for a loss like this.
You may not know who to turn to when you have questions about nursing home abuse. At Thomas Law Office, we are here to provide information and help. Contact us today.
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