The state fined a Lake City care facility after a 45-year-old intellectually disabled man died from a choking incident. The man tragically passed away after choking on a cheeseburger after being admitted to Opportunity Living No.2, a nursing home care facility.
What Led to the Unfortunate Death of a Resident of Lake City Care Facility
This unfortunate incident has sparked major concerns about the care and well-being of residents with intellectual disabilities. The man with severe intellectual disabilities was riding in a van when staff fed him a piece of McDonald’s cheeseburger when the van was in motion on 27th November 2024, and he later died from cardiac arrest. According to the investigators, when they spoke to the facility where the man was previously living, they learned that they had put him on a restrictive diet, which needed the food to be cut into smaller and softer pieces. The previous facility workers also conducted training for the Opportunity Living No.2 staff relating to the man’s diet and meal time. However, the director of the community living at Opportunity Living No.2 confirmed that they failed to obtain from the other facility the deceased man’s diet program.
This led to the state fining a sum of $10000 and a review of the facility’s admission process, reflecting the dire need to follow the standards and staff training in residential care facilities. It also highlights the significance of ensuring proper care facilities are provided to the residents, especially those with dietary restrictions.
The Facility’s History of Violation
According to Capital Dispatch, Opportunity Living No.2 has faced two separate cases in 2023, one for failing to follow proper policies and procedures when transporting residents and the other for not reporting suspected abuse of a resident following a case of resident fractured clavicle. After the incident, Opportunity No.2 revised its admission process and reintroduced protocols that included mandating two workers while transporting residents and prohibiting providing meals during transportation.
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