The guitarist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band is calling on nursing homes to take responsibility for the health of their patients. Nils Lofgren and his wife Amy filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a well-regarded long-term care facility in which Amy's mother, Patricia J. Landers, was infected with the coronavirus, according to The New York Times.
Landers was moved to Brookdale Senior Living as the pandemic first began to spread earlier this year, but despite the facility's reputation, it appeared as if the 83-year-old who suffers from dementia was being neglected.
She complained about the way staff supervised the patients and said she was missing her medications. She also escaped from the facility four times and was found wandering the streets.
Then she contracted COVID-19.
Although she has recovered and has been moved to a different facility, the Lofgrens are determined to legally hold Brookdale accountable.
However, they have since discovered that nursing homes across the country are campaigning for immunity protection from similar lawsuits.
The coronavirus has taken the lives of more than 29,100 residents and staff members and the number continues to rise. Nils, who is Landers’ son-in-law, said they were "horrified" at how care facilities were handling the situation.
"It’s a pledge they made, a sacred pledge, to take care of your father, your mother, your grandparents, and they put it in writing, by the way, and now they don’t want to have any responsibilities because, why, it’s too hard?" he said.
"We’re just horrified that people’s first reaction is, 'Well we’re making a lot of money, but now let’s make sure we’re not liable for what we promised to do, in writing,'" he continued. "Don’t forget, they look you in the eye and say your loved one will be cared for."
New Jersey’s governor, Philip D. Murphy, signed a law that protects healthcare workers, including staff at nursing homes, from lawsuits while dealing with the virus. Nils believes his status as the guitarist who performs opposite Springsteen will help boost their case.
"This is not to take the light off what has been a very demoralizing, tragic story for my mother-in-law that’s still being written," he said. "Shining a light on this problem is important."
The Lofgrens are in the position to afford a lawyer however, many families are not and "they just take it" and are "decimated" by the situation.
"It’s unconscionable and immoral and disgusting," Nils said. "It’s like their true colors are coming out, and I hope we can hold them accountable."
Heather Hunter, a public relations manager for Brookdale, said the facility was unable to comment on the legal proceedings
"I will say that we work hard to maintain an open and constructive dialogue with families about their loved one and the best way that we can work together to help each resident live their best life in their community," she explained.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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