TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) – A family is seeking explanations after their mother died after months of medical malpractice at an Ohio nursing home.
Lucy Garcia, 72, died July 2 after months of medical neglect, according to an autopsy report from the Lucas County Coroner’s Office.
She was a resident of the Arbors Nursing Home in Oregon for many years.
According to the coroner’s report, her death was ruled a homicide due to complications from severe bed sores, also known as sacral decubitus (Stage IV).
Matt Mooney, an attorney who handles nursing home abuse cases, said Garcia’s death was tragic.
“The pressure sores had already progressed all the way down to the bone. There are horrific photographs of the pressure sores – horrific photographs. It is simply unacceptable that someone like Lucy should develop such severe pressure sores in a care home,” Ms Mooney said.
Local police said they were investigating the incident after the coroner submitted his findings to the coroner.
According to the Oregon Arbors website, the facility provides “individually focused” care, but Mooney claims the nursing home failed to provide her with basic care.
“The nursing home explained to the family that they could do that, they could address Lucy’s needs and they could prevent her from getting pressure sores, which is very basic care – just move her, get her out of bed if she can, and if she can’t, rotate her in bed so different parts of her body aren’t putting pressure on her back which can cause pressure sores. The home failed to do that,” Mooney said.
WTVG visited the care home and spoke to the director of nursing and management, but they said they could not comment.
The family’s lawyer said Garcia was a successful single mother raising her four sons and that the children were devastated.
“They want an explanation for what happened to their mother. Her death was horrific. No one should have to die like that. Bed sores are a terrible way to die. A terrible way to die,” Ms Mooney said.
Mooney said the nursing home had let Garcia down.
“In the golden years at the end of her life, she deserved to be treated with dignity and respect, and The Arbors at Oregon did not give her that,” he said.
This is not the first time The Arbors at Oregon has come under investigation: In 2019, an employee was convicted of mistreating patients.
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