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91-year-old man's death at care home goes unnoticed for over 10 days

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He went out to go shopping on the 9th, probably died on the 10th. So not so lonely, at least not a shut-in. And he did not die from dehydration or starvation. Sure, it would have been better for the care-home had he been found immediately, but it didn't matter to him - he was dead all the same.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I understand why the facility was not obligated to make routine checks on this elderly man BUT on the other hand why couldn't one of the staff members do a little extra at work and simply knock on the door and say Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening something simple just to get a response from man in the room. Where was his family during the 10 days plus this man was dead ?????

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

My grandmother lived in a similar type - seniors apartment building with optional meal service, until about this age, so I can understand how this could happen, if he had no family or friends visiting or calling regularly. After gramma had a fall she moved to a "care facility/senior's home", and then eventually, a nursing home.

I don't blame the home if this is what this fellow was signed up for. That said, there should be some easy tech solutions to let staff and or family know something is wrong - some sort of deadman's switch. Sensor's on the water meter for example - if someone doesn't use any water for a 10 hour period - four hours in day-time, something is likely wrong. Time to knock on the door.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So basically, he was living a life in a place that would help, if he needed, but he didn't,

so they didn't.

Relatives should have been in at least weekly contact, knowing this.

A 5 minute call, ffs?!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Yubaru - I would be interested to hear what might be the other side of the story. Staff is overworked? Costs too much to check on the old man? The guy was dead for 10 days. I find that awful especially if the facility is being advertised as a "Care home for the elderly"

How about reporting on the type of service he contracted for with the facility? He very well could have just been living in the building like a renter in any other apartment.

People read that he is in a "retirement" facility and automatically assume that the care workers are at fault for not checking in on him.

Like I said, we only get the "news" that plays on people's emotions, and not all the pertinent facts.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

He's 91, the guy lived a full life. Don't go blaming the workers at the facility since the resident did not pay for services that would have been routine for the staff to check on him.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

TIJ. Out of sight, out of mind. Their excuses that "he didn't have meals served to him, a cleaning service, or newspapers... so how could we have noticed for almost half a month?" are extremely pathetic, and all too common here. They still didn't mind collecting the money for those days they didn't even notice the man dead (probably not alive, either, which is part of the point). They obviously don't care about their patients. But what will happen? Nothing. They apologized and promised to do something they'll do for half a week, tops.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I am missing the much revered 'family loyalty' aspect of Japanese society.

Here we have a 91 year old man with no family at all? No children? No grandchildren? No friends?

zen zen wakarimasen.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Oh, people. Do you really think there's only one kind of care home for the elderly in Japan? As some have said above, this place was more like a big mansion or a hotel (as they even have front staff). They do have caregivers, but only for people who need some kind of assistance in their daily life. Much probably the facility allocates people who don't need assistance on a different floor from the people who need it. Thus most of the workers may not even know the residents on said floor, as it's not their responsability to check on them on a daily basis.

And hey, places like this are for rich people, so please don't think he didn't have the money to afford some extra care. He probably didn't need it, only that. Hell, he could even ride a bicycle!

If there's one thing that could have been done to prevent cases like that is the front staff using a check sheet to check if someone haven't left the facility for some days. Other than that, I don't think the caregivers are to blame.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It could have been helpful if the amount the guy paid to get a room in the facility and the amount he is paying monthly was reported. I am sure he opted out of most of the services because he had been milked dry.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How about using daily check in app, or senior safety app? Or even motion sensor will do.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Here, when you go into an assisted living facility it is then end of your wealth, if you had any. You are billed for everything until you have nothing left to your name. Many would opt out if given the choice.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

mtuffizi - unacceptable. shut the place down

Yeah! Great idea! So, the other 90 odd residents can come and live with you then? You’re such a wonderful person!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

unacceptable. shut the place down.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Utterly disgraceful. What an appalling statement on how older people are treated.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

And nobody noticed a smell??

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@Yubaru - I would be interested to hear what might be the other side of the story. Staff is overworked? Costs too much to check on the old man? The guy was dead for 10 days. I find that awful especially if the facility is being advertised as a "Care home for the elderly"

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Unbelievable!!!

Shame on them

1 ( +3 / -2 )

How cold: Cannot even spend 5 minutes a day to go check on this man? I cannot imagine how lonely he must have been as well.

Easy to criticize until you have to walk a mile in their shoes. Articles like this are written to get under the skin of the reader, but dont forget there are at least two sides to every story and you only get the "bad" side here!

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Such is the quality of aged care in Japan. This should be in the crime section.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

the facility workers did not routinely check on him

How cold: Cannot even spend 5 minutes a day to go check on this man? I cannot imagine how lonely he must have been as well.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

This type of facility is like a large mansion where residents live in their own rooms and choose what services they want from the provider. If they don't gather in the community rooms, eat with other guests or have cleaning services, that is their choice. The staff have no right to knock on the doors and check on people who choose not to be disturbed.

Well they do have the right to knock on the door! Yet you are correct, my mother lived in a facility like this one, and until she was unable to take care of herself, there would be a period of a few days that no worker was in contact with her, yet if she needed help she had the emergency call buttons, all over the place in her small apartment.

He very well could have died peacefully in his sleep for all we know.

A postmortem examination by a doctor was unable to determine the cause of his death but found he died around May 10.

Well he was 91, and it wasnt just a postmortem, by LAW, when there are no obvious reasons to a persons death and to rule out foul play the police must do an autopsy, not just a "check"

4 ( +4 / -0 )

"care" home.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

How is this possible? How does no one make a basic daily visit to all the elderly under their care? Unbelievable

This is possible because this resident for social or economic reasons chose independent living.

As stated," The man was not using paid services at the facility, such as meal provision, newspaper delivery and room cleaning, and doctors were not visiting him, so the facility workers did not routinely check on him."

This type of facility is like a large mansion where residents live in their own rooms and choose what services they want from the provider. If they don't gather in the community rooms, eat with other guests or have cleaning services, that is their choice. The staff have no right to knock on the doors and check on people who choose not to be disturbed.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

multiple care workers give around-the-clock service

Sure they do. Every 12 days equals "around the clock." That said, it seems like his family also didn't have contact with him between the 4th and 22nd. You'd think attempts to call him or staff to check on him could have hastened this discovery. Japan is increasingly starting to resemble the US--if you have money you get better care, go to better schools ...

7 ( +10 / -3 )

How is this possible? How does no one make a basic daily visit to all the elderly under their care? Unbelievable

12 ( +14 / -2 )

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