2023-11-29 18:31:00
He had only been there “for a fortnight” in the short-stay unit of the Loriers residence, in Hannut (in the province of Liège). A rest and care home which depends on the CPAS to which this 88-year-old man, originally from Walloon Brabant, was admitted as part of a revalidation. He might stay there for a maximum of three months.
Except that the octogenarian unfortunately died there during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, his lifeless body having been found around 6 a.m., outside the site. Near a building opposite the one he slept in. The man was lying at the foot of a fire escape in the assisted living facility.
Volatilized between two staff rounds
This person, described by the president of the CPAS Pol Oter, as “relatively disoriented and a little visually impaired was nevertheless regularly monitored by the staff” of the home. Like any other resident. This man was still “autonomous”, according to the public representative. He cites as proof that his request, or that of his family, to join the residence as part of a long stay “was not a priority”. The fact remains that during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the octogenarian managed to disappear, for an undetermined reason, between two rounds of nursing staff.
”On the first visit, at two in the morning, he was still in his bed. At five o’clock, he had disappeared,” explains Pol Oter. The disappearance of the octogenarian was immediately reported, leading to strong mobilization. It was only an hour following the alert that his lifeless body was found at the foot of the stairs of the serviced residence.
The man therefore took an emergency exit “which closed behind him”. And this, “as provided for in the procedure within the framework of fire safety measures”. You can go out but not come back at will. Unless you notify the staff via a button located not far from the door. “It was discovered one meter from the button.”
Did the man hit the guardrail? Did he fall? “He had a bruise on his forehead. We assume he hit the infrastructure.” Before succumbing. Still, the man died “of natural causes”, according to the First Deputy Prosecutor of the King of Liège, Catherine Collignon. An investigation was nevertheless opened by police officers from the West Hesbaye zone, who “wrote a report”, according to the prosecutor. The investigation carried out must determine whether a lack of foresight or precaution can be attributed to a member of staff, or even to the institution.
“All homes are open spaces,” insists Pol Oter. “You can go out as you want, but not enter at any time. We still can’t tie up our residents… What happened was due to fate. We might not avoid such a tragedy, but we will examine with the firefighters and the AViQ (Walloon Agency for Quality Life) what still needs to be done so that such an incident can never happen once more. within our establishment.”
Psychological support put in place
The staff who experienced the tragedy up close and who made the macabre discovery “were placed on leave this Wednesday”. Psychological support was offered to them, as well as to residents who knew the victim.
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