Resident Found in Freezer at Calabasas Nursing Home

A 94-year-old woman was found inside a freezer at a posh retirement home in Calabasas, according to The Los Angeles Times. She was hospitalized for unknown injuries and is reported to be back at the facility.

Although few details are known about the incident, some have emerged. On October 28, employees could not locate one of the residents of the retirement home. Nearly all of the 60 residents of the Silverado Senior Living facility suffer from dementia. Eventually, the woman was found in a walk-in freezer on the facility’s premises.

Silverado Senior Living officials will not reveal what injuries the woman suffered, how she wound up in the freezer, or how long she was there. A senior vice president for the retirement home said that the freezer is required to remain locked, but the lock was not fastened. He also said that “corrective action” has been taken against two of the facility’s employees, but has not revealed if they still work there or the extent of their involvement in the incident.

The retirement home reported the incident to the Department of Social Services, as required by law, and is still investigating the incident. The punishment for the incident may range from a hefty fine to a closure of the facility. Less than a year ago, a former caregiver at the home was convicted of torture and elder abuse for mistreating patients. The facility costs $70,000 per year.

The elderly are among the most vulnerable individuals in our society. Nursing homes and retirement facilities have a duty to their residents as well as to their families to protect them and to help them enjoy a good quality of life. If a loved one has suffered mistreatment by a Southern California nursing home, contact the Mandell Law Firm. Our Calabasas elder abuse and neglect attorneys are dedicated to helping victims of elder abuse and neglect recover for their injuries. Call us today at 818-886-6600 for a free consultation.