Assisted living
Death of 86-year-old in a 99-degree assisted living room under investigation in Massachusetts
Authorities are investigating the death of an 86-year-old woman found in her Hopkinton, Massachusetts assisted living apartment, where a police report says the thermostat read 99 degrees after the building switched to heat.
Key facts
- CBS News Boston reported on October 6 that multiple authorities are investigating an unattended death at Golden Pond Assisted Living Facility in Hopkinton.
- An 86-year-old woman was found dead in her unit on the morning of September 30.
- A police report says the apartment was "extremely hot with the thermostat indicating that the room temperature was 99 degrees Fahrenheit." She had lived there seven weeks.
What happened
CBS News Boston reported on October 6 that multiple authorities are investigating an unattended death at Golden Pond Assisted Living Facility in Hopkinton. An 86-year-old woman was found dead in her unit on the morning of September 30. A police report says the apartment was "extremely hot with the thermostat indicating that the room temperature was 99 degrees Fahrenheit." She had lived there seven weeks.
According to the police report, the facilities manager said the building had been switched from air conditioning to heat the day before, that no other rooms had heat issues, and that she may have tried the "cool" setting, which would have kept blowing warm air. Employees who spoke anonymously to WBZ said many rooms on the unit had very high temperatures after the switchover.
What it means for families
Older adults can be less able to sense or respond to heat, and seasonal heating switchovers can catch residents off guard. A quick check of room temperature and thermostat settings is worth adding to any visit.
For example: in a building with a single seasonal switch between heat and air conditioning, a resident's thermostat may not do what she expects. Staff can show families and residents how it works after a changeover.
What this means in New York: New York assisted living residences are licensed by the state Department of Health; you can report unsafe room temperatures there.
Quick answers
What happened at the Hopkinton assisted living facility?
CBS News Boston reported on October 6 that multiple authorities are investigating an unattended death at Golden Pond Assisted Living Facility in Hopkinton. An 86-year-old woman was found dead in her unit on the morning of September 30. A police report says the apartment was "extremely hot with the thermostat indicating that the room temperature was 99 degrees Fahrenheit." She had lived there seven weeks.
What to do this week
- Check the temperature in your relative's room during visits, especially when the building switches between heat and air conditioning.
- Ask staff to show your relative how the thermostat works and who to call if the room is too hot or cold.
- Report unsafe temperatures to the administrator and your state health department.
Sources
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