Assisted living worker slept as dementia patient wandered off and died, CA officials say
Two women have been arrested after an 88-year-old dementia patient wandered from his assisted living facility and died, California officials say.
The owner and an employee of Rose Garden Residential Care Home in Watsonville were each charged with one felony count of elder abuse, the California Department of Justice said in a Wednesday, Feb. 5, news release.
McClatchy News could not reach Rose Garden Residential Care Home for comment on Feb. 7.
Officials issued a temporary suspension for the care facility in April, according to an evaluation report obtained by Lookout Santa Cruz. The residents were relocated, and the facility officially closed down in October, according to state social services records.
The patient was found dead after wandering from the care home facility in November 2022, according to officials and a criminal complaint.
Through investigation, officials said they learned the worker caring for the man had fallen asleep and was unaware he was missing.
After leaving the facility, the man wandered nearly a half-mile in “only in a T-shirt and diaper,” officials said. He died from cold exposure, according to officials.
“Elders deserve care, respect, and protection,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in the release. “Those who are responsible for the care of elderly and dependent adults carry a profound duty to ensure their safety and well-being.”
The pair are accused of “knowingly and willingly” allowing a dependent adult in their care to find himself in a situation where his “health was endangered,” court documents say.
They are also accused of causing the man’s death, court documents show.
Watsonville is about a 50-mile drive south from San Jose.
