A person receiving home care services in Umeå was found dead in their residence after failing to open the door for scheduled visits, according to a report from SVT Västerbotten. The incident has prompted Umeå municipality to report the matter to the Inspectorate for Care and Social Services.
Home care staff from Umeå municipality reportedly knocked on the person's door during both morning and afternoon visits on the same day, but received no response. During one of the visits, staff attempted to call the client but got no answer. The following day, a relative discovered the person deceased in their home.
in cases where clients have not provided keys, staff are required to follow specific routines: knocking, calling, and contacting relatives if no response is received.
Magnus Börlin, operations manager for Din kommunala hemtjänst, stated that in cases where clients have not provided keys, staff are required to follow specific routines: knocking, calling, and contacting relatives if no response is received. According to Börlin, staff in this case failed to fully follow these procedures, as they did not report to colleagues taking over shifts, document in the home care journal system, or contact relatives.
The municipality has investigated the incident according to lex Sarah regulations and reported it to the Inspectorate for Care and Social Services. When asked whether the death could have been prevented if routines had been followed and staff had gained entry the previous day, Börlin responded that a medical investigation is ongoing and it's difficult to say before that is completed.
staff in this case failed to fully follow these procedures, as they did not report to colleagues taking over shifts, document in the home care journal system, or contact relatives.
a medical investigation is ongoing and it's difficult to say before that is completed.