Summary
- Dan Shively and Jeffrey Dowd, both suffering from dementia, were residents at Canyon Creek Memory Care Community in Billings, Montana, where their lives intersected with a tragic outcome.
- Shively died after being shoved by Dowd, who had a history of physical altercations with other residents, including hitting and groping them.
- Dowd’s behavior at the facility included making inappropriate sexual comments and gestures towards female residents and engaging in verbal and physical conflicts with other residents.
- Violent incidents in long-term care facilities, especially those involving residents with dementia, are alarmingly common across the country.
- Despite the negligence ruling against Canyon Creek in Shively’s death, systemic change in long-term care facilities is still needed to prevent similar tragic incidents from happening in the future.
A tragic story unfolds as two men, once leading full lives, find themselves battling dementia at a memory care facility in Montana. Dan Shively, a former bank president, and Jeffrey Dowd, a former auto mechanic, exhibit concerning behaviors due to the disease. Despite warnings about Dowd’s potential for aggression, Shively meets a tragic end when a confrontation between the two leads to Shively’s death.
Across the country, incidents of resident-on-resident violence in long-term care facilities are alarmingly common, especially among individuals with dementia. The complexity of managing such situations is exacerbated by the nature of the disease, which can lead to unpredictable behaviors. Facilities like Canyon Creek, where the tragic incident occurred, are tasked with providing specialized care for individuals with memory impairments, but challenges persist in preventing and managing altercations.
The families of the victims seek justice, raising concerns about the admission and retention of residents who pose a danger to themselves or others. The lack of adequate staffing, training, and assessment processes in some facilities can contribute to escalating conflicts among residents with dementia. Efforts to create violence-free zones in long-term care settings are called for to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.
Despite the legal proceedings and the awarding of damages to Shively’s family, questions remain about the systemic issues in long-term care facilities. The need for significant changes in the approach to managing resident behaviors in memory care units is underscored by the tragic outcome of the incident at Canyon Creek. As families mourn their loved ones and seek closure, the broader conversation about providing safer and more compassionate care for individuals with dementia must continue.
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Nursing, Psychiatry & Mental Health, Public Health & Prevention