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Daughter's Plea: Rigorous Checks Needed After Care Home Death
17 Aug
Summary
- A 91-year-old woman died from Legionnaires' disease in a UK care home.
- Her daughters believe the death was preventable and called for stricter checks.
- Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection from inhaling contaminated water droplets.
A preventable tragedy has struck at Wensley House Care Home, where 91-year-old Rhoda Freedman died on May 13, 2024, after contracting Legionnaires' disease. Her daughters, Aileen Pearl and Irma Harmsworth, are calling for more stringent checks in care facilities to prevent future deaths from this serious lung infection.
Legionnaires' disease is transmitted through inhaling droplets of contaminated water. The family expressed shock and disappointment, stating that Rhoda's death was "totally preventable." She had moved into the care home in 2023 and, despite existing health conditions managed by medication, was considered otherwise well.
Doctors inquired about recent travel or exposure to air conditioning, leading to the diagnosis. Pearl highlighted the preventable nature of the disease, expressing disappointment that such an illness could still occur in the present day. The family had ensured their mother was comfortable at Wensley House, decorating her room to resemble her previous London home, underscoring the unexpected nature of her decline.
