The deaths of seven nursing home residents that occurred during evacuations for Hurricane Ida are under further investigation as the Louisiana Department of Health expressed significant concerns about the conditions of the facility where they were evacuated.
As of Saturday, the health department announced the seven nursing homes where the 843 patients resided would be closed for the time being while officials investigated, The Times-Picayune | The Advocate reported.
“What happened in Independence is reprehensible, and I know there are many families hurting as a result,” LDH Secretary Dr. Courtney N. Phillips said in a statement. “Today’s action against these facilities is needed. There is more to come. Our Department’s mission is to advance the health and wellbeing of our residents — and that includes our vulnerable nursing home residents.”
The areas these facilities were located faced significant flooding and power outages as a result of the hurricane.
The facilities include River Palms Nursing and Rehab, South Lafourche Nursing and Rehab, Maison Orleans Healthcare Center, Park Place Healthcare Nursing Home, West Jefferson Health Care Center, Maison DeVille Nursing Home and Maison DeVille Nursing Home of Harvey.
Five of the deaths have been classified as storm-related by the coroner, according to the statement, however definitive causes of death have not yet been determined.
During evacuations the nursing home residents were moved to a warehouse where conditions quickly deteriorated when the hurricane hit and water entered the building, according to an Associated Press report.
The health department also received reports of people lying on mattresses on the floor.
“I would not have wanted my mother or grandmother to be in those conditions,” Independence Police Chief Frank Edwards told CNN affiliate WVUE of the evacuation shelter in Tangipahoa Parish.
The owner of the seven facilities was identified as Bob Dean, who has been in trouble with state regulators in the past for not filing required documents for evacuation plans, The Times-Picayune | The Advocate reports.