This past January, in Michigan, a man by the name of Marvin Schur died because he froze to death in his own home because of the extremely cold weather . There was outrage around the United States when it was learned that this elderly gentleman had died because he was very behind on his utility bill; and, the electric company had put a limitor on his source of electricity going into the home. He had been sent notices. When he was found deceased, there was a large amount of money clipped to the utility bill. It would appear that he was victim to his own problems with memory; he had “forgotten” to pay his bill over quite a period of time.
Unfortunately, this and many other problems happen when someone who has dementia or Alzheimers lives alone. There are issues with taking medications as needed, and not too often, or in the wrong amounts. There are issues with smoking and or operating appliances. There are issues with wandering off and forgetting where they are or how to get back home. These are all important safety issues that must be considered when someone is diagnosed with memory problems.
Today it was announced that there would be no charges filed against any one person for Mr. Schur’s death. It is a tragedy for this to happen to anyone; but, people can learn a great many important lessons from it.
This gentleman had been been having difficulty paying his bills , for the last two years, because it turns out that he had Alzheimers disease. It is a disease which affects memory and thought processes. It seems like someone should have noticed that he was having difficulty paying his bills on time. He did not have people who performed daily check-ups on him. Like most elderly people…independence is a cherished thing that no one wants to give up. Sadly, many people with memory loss issues stay in their own homes too long after they begin experiencing memory problems. It is a fine line balancing independence and safety for your loved ones. Mr. Schur does have family who live out of state who have expressed their feelings of loss and mourning. It is unfortunate that this gentleman had to die in this manner. Our sympathies to his family and friends for their loss.
.gif)