The prosecutor has continued charges against a resident manager and a worker of a nursing home linked to the death of an 89-year-old resident. The victim died after his wheelchair rolled down stairs when an emergency door was opened. The trial worker admitted to leaving the elderly man alone on a landing, while the principal stated that day that no one was directly responsible, according to testimony from another employee. The prosecutor seeks two years in prison for the manager and a substantial fine for the worker, marking a high-stakes case about safety standards and accountability in long term care facilities.
The CEO of the company that operates the residence, located on Joan Miró Street, confirmed ongoing efforts to address financial matters and indicated a lack of knowledge about routine day-to-day operations. In his remarks, the executive attributed responsibility for safety gaps and staffing levels to the center, even as the prosecution argued that clear guarantees for resident safety were missing.
The accused worker, speaking on his own behalf, described the events of December 20, 2020. He noted that the old man had exited his room despite COVID-19 isolation measures and was found in the basement before being moved to his usual room on the second floor. The worker admitted leaving the resident alone on the descent and stated that he had alerted other staff members via WhatsApp. He could not confirm whether his message was received. The testimony highlights the challenges faced by staff in balancing infection control with resident supervision during the pandemic era.
The nursing home director, who was on leave at the time, faced questions about her involvement in staffing decisions. A nursing coordinator, who served as a temporary substitute, described the day as lacking any clear point of accountability, noting that there seemed to be no one with ultimate responsibility present at the residence. Additional statements from other workers pointed to shortages of staff and resources that affected safety practices across the facility. The overall thread from court testimony suggests that gaps in supervision, communication, and resource allocation contributed to the tragic outcome. [Citation: Prosecutor’s Office]