The Westside Care Center of Manchester has been fined $3,000 by the state Department of Public Health for losing track of a resident, who was later found dead of hypothermia on the steps of a nearby home.
The resident’s death on Feb. 25 was ruled accidental. Records say the resident was permitted to leave the 190-bed nursing home for up to two hours at a time – or for longer intervals, if given prior approval.
In its report, the state DPH said that the facility, managed by iCare, failed to ensure that the resident was accounted for, and failed to resolve conflicting reports about the whereabouts of the resident.
In addition to the fine, the nursing home was ordered to implement an action plan to educate the staff on policies regarding permissions for residents to leave the premises and the reporting of missing residents, and to start a new sign-out system.