LUCAS COUNTY, OH – An Ohio nursing home is facing a wrongful death lawsuit after a 72-year-old grandfather, Samuel Frank Ray Sr., allegedly died from an infected stage 4 bedsore caused by staff neglect. Family lawyers say the facility told Ray he would need to “soil his briefs and wait”, leaving him in his own waste for hours, ultimately resulting in a deadly infection.
Allegations of Neglect and Profit-Driven Decisions
According to the complaint filed Monday in Lucas County, Ray was transferred to Arbors of Sylvania, a Toledo-based skilled nursing facility, after hospitalizations in August 2024 for a urinary tract infection and aspiration pneumonia. The family alleges that staff at the facility failed to provide proper care, prioritizing profit over patient safety.
Lawyers claim that even though Ray was not incontinent, staff placed him in adult diapers and told him to soil them instead of assisting him to the toilet, leaving him exposed to his own feces for prolonged periods. The family attributes this mistreatment to chronic understaffing at the facility.
Failures in Care Plan and Bedsores Development
The nursing home reportedly had a care plan requiring staff to monitor Ray’s skin daily and reposition him to prevent bedsores. Despite this, during September 2024, Ray was left in one position for 33 shifts, allowing pressure wounds to develop undetected.
“The bedsore was so large and tunneled so deeply, that the bones of his lower back and pelvis were exposed and visible,” the complaint states. Weeks of neglect reportedly led to skin breakdown, irritation, and eventually an open bedsore on his coccyx, which became infected.
Hospitalization and Death
Ray was transferred to a local hospital on October 7, 2024, for outpatient treatment of the bedsore. Despite treatment, he began experiencing sepsis and remained severely compromised due to the wound. Ray eventually succumbed to infection and trauma on January 17, 2025.
Legal Action and Family Response
The family, represented by the Michael Hill Trial Law group, has accused Arbors of Sylvania of flouting basic care standards.
“Sam Ray Sr.’s family entrusted Arbors of Sylvania with his recovery,” said Michael Hill, founder of the law group. “Our lawsuit contends that the facility denied him even basic care, leaving him lying in his own waste until a wound ate through to bone and infection ravaged his body. We’re pursuing this case to secure justice for Mr. Ray and to hold the facility accountable.”
School and Facility Accountability
The lawsuit highlights alleged systemic issues at nursing homes, including understaffing, failure to adhere to care plans, and neglect of basic patient needs, raising broader concerns about senior care facilities and oversight. The family hopes the case will prevent similar tragedies for other patients.
Call to Action
What are your thoughts on this nursing home neglect case? Share your opinions in the comments below and discuss how facilities can be held accountable for proper elder care. How can families ensure their loved ones receive safe and compassionate treatment?
