Matriarch’s death ruled a homicide

The tragic death of Lucy Garcia, a resident of the Arbors at Oregon nursing home, highlights another severe example of neglect in the nursing home industry.

The nursing home allowed Garcia to develop a fatal pressure injury. She died from a Stage 4 pressure ulcer that was not prevented or treated. The facility imposed unreasonable demands on caregivers, pushing them to overwork, and even alleges systemic neglect.

However, in 2024, her family noticed that she was no longer being moved out of bed or turned and repositioned, critical factors in preventing bedsores. Garcia’s ulcer went untreated, became infected, and led to sepsis, which ultimately caused her death. The coroner ruled her death a homicide, with “caretaker neglect” as the cause. The fact that Arbors at Oregon allegedly covered Garcia’s ulcer with bandages and failed to inform her family indicates not just negligence, but intentional concealment. This behavior suggests an effort to hide the severity of her condition, which could expose the facility to punitive damages due to gross negligence or reckless misconduct because of deliberate efforts to obstruct the truth.

Arbors at Oregon has a troubling history of violations, including deficiencies in infection control, resident care, and staffing levels, which have led to multiple fines and penalties. As the article mentions, in 2017, another case at Arbors at Oregon involving Shawna Isner, a caregiver, resulted in her conviction for involuntary manslaughter and gross patient neglect. Isner was charged after a patient died under her care due to similar inadequate attention and neglect.

The conviction bolsters the argument that that Garcia’s death is part of a larger pattern of corporate negligence. Similarly, other facilities owned by ARK OPCO Group LLC, the parent company of Arbors at Oregon, have faced significant challenges. ARK OPCO Group LLC has been involved in multiple cases of neglect and abuse at its various facilities, including fines for violations related to patient care. Arbors at Marietta was repeatedly fined for patient care violations, and Arbors at Carroll faced investigations for verbal and emotional abuse, as well as incidents of staff misconduct, including the theft of narcotics from residents.

The history of violations is concerning and show corporate mismanagement at ARK OPCO have directly contributed to the neglect experienced by residents like Lucy Garcia and others. This represents a systemic issue of corporate negligence within the company, potentially opening the door for significant punitive damages and further legal action. If corporate responsibility is proven, punitive damages could be substantial, aimed at punishing the facility and deterring similar neglect. However, if ARK OPCO is not held responsible, the damages might be limited to the assets of Arbors at Oregon alone.