Shyuan Hsia, an 83-year-old resident of The Summit assisted living facility in Delaware, was found lying on the floor with blood around her in early August. Although facility staff initially assumed she had fallen, Delaware State Police later confirmed that Hsia had been beaten by a fellow resident suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Surveillance video showed the attack happened between 8 and 9 p.m., but the required hourly checks on her were not performed. Despite claims by the facility that staff checked on her at 9 and 10:30 p.m., this was contradicted by the police investigation. Hsia succumbed to her injuries two days later. The incident raises concerns about the facility’s failure to protect vulnerable residents, and her family is questioning how an aggressive resident with a known history was allowed to remain unsupervised.
From a personal injury law perspective, this case may involve claims of negligence against the assisted living facility. The facility’s failure to conduct required checks, alongside the presence of an aggressive resident with prior incidents, could demonstrate a breach of their duty of care to Hsia, potentially leading to wrongful death or elder abuse claims. The family may seek legal action to hold the facility accountable for neglect and failure to ensure a safe environment.
Read the entire article on Delaware Online.
