Police Investigating Suspicious Death of Louisiana Nursing Home Resident
A resident in a Louisiana nursing home was found by staff members unresponsive on the floor next to his bed around 6:30 in the morning. They called 911 and performed CPR until the rescue squad arrived. The resident was then taken to the hospital’s emergency room where he later died. The local police were called in to investigate what they are considering a “suspicious death.”
Staff at the nursing home reported that the resident was last seen at 4:30 a.m. wandering the halls in the facility’s dementia care area. He was taken back to his room and two hours later was found unresponsive lying on the floor.
The medical examiner and the police are continuing the investigation.
The nursing home issued this statement regarding the incident:
“We are saddened by the death of a resident that occurred this week. The unfortunate incident was very isolated, and nobody else was involved. We strive to create a secure and homelike environment and will continue to work to ensure the health and safety of our residents. We are cooperating with authorities and conducting our own investigation.”
Compliance Perspective
Failure to provide adequate supervision and prevent residents from experiencing accidents and hazards may be considered substandard quality of care resulting in potentially fraudulent reimbursement from government plans.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures that address prevention of accidents, exposure to hazards, and ensure adequate supervision of residents.
- Train staff to recognize and address changes in residents’ behaviors and environmental conditions and to intervene to prevent accidents and potentially deadly outcomes.
- Periodically audit residents known to wander into other areas of the facility during times when they are presumed to be in bed asleep or resting. Based on analysis of findings, develop individualized action plans.
