Several New Deaths in Home Care

Four deaths linked to serious misconduct within home care services have shaken Landskrona. At the same time, it has been revealed that an elderly man in Tibro lived among feces, filth, and food remnants despite receiving daily home care. According to the head of care, it is out of “respect” for the care recipient’s rights that nothing is done about the misery.

The scandal surrounding home care in Landskrona continues to deepen, reports HD. After previous revelations about deaths, dismissed managers, and financial irregularities, the municipality has now once again made a Lex Sarah report after two more people died following serious deficiencies when being discharged from hospital.

According to the municipality’s own investigations, both individuals should have received nightly care services. Hospital staff had also alerted the municipality about these needs before the patients were discharged.

Two New Deaths in Landskrona

In one case, a seriously ill person was sent home despite a documented high risk of falling, need for extensive support, and reports that the emergency alarm was not being used. The need for night supervision was never noticed by the case manager. The person was found the next morning on the floor after lying there all night and died a few hours later.

The second case concerns a person who was discharged with a suspected urinary tract infection, cognitive impairment, and delusions. Despite healthcare staff warning of considerable care needs, no home visit was conducted. Instead, the case manager relied on older documentation and planned a follow-up visit almost a week later. Over the next few days, the person fell repeatedly and died five days after being discharged.

Several Tragedies in a Short Period

Both incidents are considered by the municipality to be serious misconduct. They come on top of two previously reported deaths this year under similar circumstances.

In May, a person died after repeatedly activating their emergency alarm without receiving help. Shortly thereafter, another person died after several emergency alarms were never forwarded from the alarm center used by Landskrona Omsorg.

The municipality now says that routines are changing to reduce the risk of similar incidents. At the same time, sharp criticism is being leveled at how the operation is run and why previous deficiencies have not prevented new serious misconduct.

The chair of the Care Board, Annette Lindberg Mohlin (L), writes: “I take full political responsibility for all activities conducted within the Care Administration and Landskrona Omsorg AB. There is of course no other option when I am chair of both the board and the company.”

At the same time, she sets a limit to political responsibility: “On the other hand, it is not reasonable to demand my, the board’s, or the care board’s responsibility for every single decision made in the operation.”

She also claims, with her own interpretation, that none of the investigations have shown any connection between the actions of home care and deaths.

Misery Behind Closed Doors in Tibro

At the same time, a case in Tibro highlighted by SR is raising questions about how far the municipality’s responsibility extends when home care staff for various reasons are unable to access the care recipient.

The emergency services sounded the alarm after responding to an elderly man who had fallen and could not get up. Inside the home, the staff were met with what they described as a sanitary disaster.

– Food, feces, and trash throughout the residence. On the stove were layers of old food and grime.

What is remarkable is that the man still had daily home care services and regular housing support. Rescue personnel questioned how someone could live in such conditions while still being visited by the municipality.

“Respect” Not to Intervene

The municipality’s head of care and welfare, Tor Kempe, explains the situation by saying that the man had declined help.

– One actually has the right to refuse one’s care and decide for oneself about one’s life.

He describes this as something the municipality must respect. At the same time, he says that in such situations, staff are to try to motivate the person to accept help and, if necessary, make a notification of concern to social services.

When Sveriges Radio’s reporter asks whether the municipality has actually made such a report in this case, Tor Kempe says he does not know.

– I don’t know if we’ve done that in this case. There is an ongoing investigation, and we need to look at whether we have taken the right measures.