TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A local nursing home is at the center of a murder investigation, with Arbors of Oregon accused of medically neglecting patients for months.
“In the golden years of her life, she deserved to be treated with dignity and respect, and Arbors of Oregon denied her that,” said nursing home abuse attorney Matt Mooney.
Lucy Garcia, 72, was a longtime resident of The Arbors at Oregon nursing home.
She was recovering from a stroke.
She died on July 2, 2024.
According to an autopsy report conducted by the Lucas County Coroner, Garcia died as a result of months of medical neglect.
Her death was ruled a homicide due to complications from severe bed sores, also known as sacral pressure ulcers (Stage IV), caused by medical malpractice.
“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.
Oregon State Police said they were assigned to the case after the medical examiner presented his findings to the prosecutor.
According to the Arbors of Oregon website, the facility provides “individually focused” care, but the family’s lawyers allege 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 bed sores from forming, which is very basic care – just move people and get them out of bed if possible. If they don’t rotate people in bed then different parts of the body put pressure on their backs which can cause bed sores. They failed to do that,” Mooney said.
13 Action News visited the nursing home and reached out to the director of nursing and management for comment, but they said they couldn’t comment and would pass on our information to higher ups.
The family’s lawyer said Lucy Garcia was a successful single mother raising her four sons and that the family is heartbroken.
“They want an explanation for what happened to their mother. Her death was horrific. No one should die like this. Bed sores are a horrible way to die. A horrible way to die,” Ms Mooney said.
This is not the first time the nursing home has come under investigation: in 2019, staff members were convicted of mistreating patients.
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