TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- The family of a 94-year-old Tallahassee woman who died last year is suing her senior living facility, claiming staff neglected to care for her -- taking at least three days to find her after she fell in her apartment.
Karma Gleason was found severely dehydrated and injured after she fell at Allegro Senior Living in November.
"If this situation wouldn't have happened, she would still be here today," said her son William Gleason. "We would be celebrating Mother's Day on Sunday with her. And, believe me, I'm gonna celebrate Mother's Day with her, one way or another."
Gleason's family claims the 94-year-old woman kept hitting her emergency pendant button each resident wears to call for help, but no one ever came.
The lawsuit says there were several checks in place to make sure a resident received proper treatment, but they all failed.
It also says the living facility is supposed to check up on residents if they do not appear for a meal, or do not use a call cord in their apartments to check in each morning.
A housekeeper discovered Gleason lying on the floor and soiled. Gleason died eight days after being taken to the hospital.
"All these systems have fallen and broken down, and it's a tragedy," said family attorney Scott Gwartney. "This just shouldn't happen in an environment like this. They [the staff] are there to provide all these protections."
The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday, seeking at least $15,000 in damages.
