By Isabelle Wilson-
A resident of a California home for senior citizens died and two others were hospitalized after the complex’s staff mistakenly served them dishwashing liquid thinking it was drinking juice over the weekend, according to officials.
Three people living at Atria Park senior living facility in San Mateo, California, just south of San Francisco, were hospitalized after ingesting the liquid which is prohibited for consumption. question on Saturday morning.
The state department of social services and the facility itself are investigating, according to Atria Park officials.
Atria Park’s leaders confirmed they have suspended the employees responsible for the fatal error of serving dishwasher liquid to the affected residents, but aggrieved loved ones believe a complete sacking should be inevitable because of the enormity of the mistake.
“The safety and well being of our residents remain our top priorities at all times,” the statement added.
The tragedy has alarmed many of the 800,000 residents of licensed assisted living facilities across the US .
The San Francisco news outlet Kron-TV has identified the dead resident as 93-year-old Gertrude Elizabeth Murison Maxwell.
According to the daughter, Marcia Cutchin, Maxwell had dementia and needed help to feed herself.
“Many people like my mother, you have to hold a cup to her mouth and tip it into her mouth,” Cutchin told Kron-TV.
Maxwell went to the hospital with her mouth, throat and esophagus severely blistered after Atria Park staff served her “alkaline cleaning solution that eats protein”, Cutchin said, adding that the complex gave her that information.
Cutchin said Maxwell’s eight children and 20 grandchildren are now in mourning after what has been characterized to them as a deadly mistake by the employees of a complex that attracted the grieving family because of the good reputation it enjoyed.
“That facility was very highly regarded and very expensive,” Cutchin said. “You do those things to ensure that there’s a higher level of care.”