Neglected, but not Forgotten: 86 Year Old Maureen Perry

When parents or grandparents get older, they can become a burden. Their children lose sight of them as humans, and instead become just another responsibility, just another errand to run on a busy day. Those at the Fresenius Dialysis Clinic took this a bit further on Saturday, forgetting a person altogether. Maureen Perry, an 86-year-old resident of Methuen, Massachusetts, was abandoned by the staff at the dialysis clinic, leaving her there after going home at around 2:30. Erica Crosby, her granddaughter, became worried once the rehab center called her at about 5 o’clock to inform her that her grandmother had never been transported. Perry usually takes an ambulance to the rehab center, as she is temporarily bedridden. The ambulance company communicated to Crosby that when they arrived at the clinic, it was locked.

Perry, in the field of healthcare herself, was dumbfounded that her grandmother was forgotten. After calling 911, firefighters were able to extract Perry and bring her to the rehab center, in fine health, if a little shaken. Crosby was there when the firefighters arrived and even had vision of her grandmother. Speaking to Fox25, she related that in that moment “the lights are completely off, the building’s locked up, and I’m banging on the window, ‘Are you OK? Can you hear me?’ And she’s shrugging her shoulders.” The clinic released a statement, commenting that “our patients’ care and safety are our top priorities. This is an issue of great concern and we are looking into the matter.” While this may seemingly be a case of negligence, Department of Elder Affairs has decided not to engage with an investigation at this time.

Image via Flikr/Government of Prince Edward Island’s Photostream