Patricia Miele (credit: Marietta Police Station)
Marietta, Georgia – The disappearance and subsequent death of 89-year-old Patricia Miele has sparked greater debate over the issue of staffing at senior care facilities.
What we know:
Miele, a resident of Greenwood Place in Marietta, went missing in early November.
A report from the Georgia Regional Health Department shows nursing home staff didn't check for hours before wandering.
The next morning, when they discovered her absence, they waited nearly two hours to notify the police.
Her body was later discovered on a nearby lake by a couple walking through Kennesaw Memorial Park.
89-year-old Marietta woman is missing dead in the pond
A tragic discovery in Marietta on Monday after a massive search for a missing elderly woman. Police say the couple found the body of 89-year-old Patricia Miele floating in the pond Monday morning.
Things we don't know:
The state's report does not identify any sanctions Greenwood Place may face due to Miele's death. Additionally, the nursing home has not commented on details of the incident, citing its confidentiality obligation.
What they are saying:
Miele's loss about sparked a significant response from Marietta police.
Georgia's long-term care ombudsman Melanie McNeill says short staffing is a common problem in senior care facilities across the state.
“This is what happens when there's not enough staff. People wander,” she said. “It's not just the metro area. The rest of the state is experiencing the same thing. Residents wander, staff don't understand it.”
Related: Dementia-related Wandering Claims Lives of Four Around Metro Atlanta | How to Fight It
She advises that she regularly visits her loved ones at care facilities to ensure safety and well-being for her family.
The other side:
Meanwhile, Greenwood Place said the findings from the Ministry of Community Health are “taken very seriously, dealt with quickly and blessed with national satisfaction.”
However, they have not provided specific details about Miele's case.
What's next:
There are concerns about pending changes to state regulations that will lower the mandatory minimum staffing level for nursing homes that could exacerbate the issue. The situation remains under review and further development awaits.
Source: This article is based on a report from the Community Health Department of Georgia's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Melanie McNeill, and in an interview with Fox 5 Atlanta reporter Rob Dilienzo. Additional information was provided by a Greenwood Place spokesman.
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