In an almost unfathomable recent attack in an assisted living facility in Miami’s Dade County, one man died and another faces charges of second-degree murder. The lethal saga unfolded, as reported by PEOPLE magazine, on August 26.
The magazine alleges that one patient at the facility attacked his roommate, strangling him after the victim purportedly called out, “He’s trying to kill me!” Staff later found the patient unresponsive in their shared room.
Killing witnessed by others
The roommate’s murder was reportedly witnessed by others who saw the aggressor with their hands around the victim’s neck. The aggressor also was alleged to have kicked the victim as he lay unconscious on the floor.
A perfectly preventable murder
It goes without saying that no patients should be unsupervised by staff long enough to be attacked and murdered by a fellow patient. This instance appears especially egregious because the victim tried to alert others to his precarious situation by calling out that he was being attacked. Yet no one intervened until it was far too late for successful resuscitation.
Staffing issues lead to unsupervised patient aggression
All facilities entrusted with the care and supervision of elderly, incapacitated patients should maintain sufficient staffing to prevent tragedies like this one from occurring to one of the most vulnerable demographic groups.
But no one who is inpatient at a nursing home or assisted living facility (ALF) should ever have to fear assault from another patient or a caregiver. If you have concerns about your own safety or that of a loved one, learning more about your options can guide your response.
