Ida blamed for multiple deaths of nursing home residents

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INDEPENDANCE, Louisiana (WVUE) – At least four elderly people evacuated from nursing homes in Louisiana and crammed into a temporary warehouse without beds as Hurricane Ida approached have died, state officials said Thursday and local. But the local police chief overseeing the jurisdiction told WVUE in an exclusive interview that it was uncertain whether an investigation was necessary.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller denounced the treatment of the elderly, and three of the deaths were classified as storm-related by the parish coroner. They said they had requested inspections of the temporary shelter where the elderly were taken on August 27, after hearing reports of squalid conditions, but were turned back and evicted from the property.

LDH said it was working to relocate 843 nursing home patients, starting with the most vulnerable, who were evacuated from seven assisted living facilities in the parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, Lafourche and Terrebonne. According to records held by the Louisiana Secretary of State, each of the facilities is operated by New Orleans businessman Bob Dean.

The identities of the elderly who died and the days of their deaths were not immediately disclosed.

We are terribly sorry for this, especially for the families who have lost loved ones, Miller said. We had no authority or jurisdiction over it. But the red flags went up when we first heard that there must be 200 or 300 people and the next thing we found out was 800. We were the ones who called the ministry of Health and the Fire Marshal and tried to get this reviewed.

I want to be clear: this was not something allowed by the parish. It is a person who chose Independence as a place of safeguard. It’s not ours at all.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office said the Independence Police Department would be the agency responsible for investigating the fatal situation. In an interview with WVUE, Independence Police Chief Frank Edwards said he did not conclude an investigation was necessary.

I am not aware of an investigation. … I don’t mean to be rude, but under the circumstances, those numbers (at least four deaths) don’t strike me as unusual, Edwards said. I’m not apologizing to anyone. I was there and I would not have wanted my mother or my grandmother to be in these conditions. I don’t think that with the resources I currently have, a survey would be the best way to use them.

When pressed by WVUE, Edwards insisted, I don’t agree with that. But I was in the military and there is a saying that all plans go wrong after the first shot is fired. Whatever the facts are now, they will always be the facts next week. I do not see the need for the moment to point fingers.

Miller said that even with more than 800 people evacuated, the facility was still under capacity under state shelter rules.

But it’s the conditions we’re concerned about, Miller said. There were no beds, there were mattresses on the floor. The people were not dispersed as they should have been. We wouldn’t have wanted our family members or anyone’s family members there. … These people need all the care and concerns available to the retirement home.

The LDH said it was troubled by reports of the sordid conditions and tried to assess the situation on Tuesday.

After hearing reports of deteriorating conditions at the facility following Hurricane Ida, LDH inspectors quickly visited the site but were evicted from the property and prevented from carrying out an investigation. full assessment Tuesday, LDH said in a statement.

We are very concerned about the conditions at this facility.

Miller said he understood many evacuees were again moved to a safer location in Alexandria on Thursday. He also said he believed Dean should be held responsible.

We made it clear to him that something needs to change at the facility, Miller said. It is shameful. And he should no longer be allowed to be in this business.

WVUE tries to reach Dean for a comment.

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