CONROE, Texas – Family members say 89-year-old Ifay St. Andrew was slipping into dementia, but she could still walk, talk and enjoy Game of Thrones with her family.
“She was good,” said Mary Bob, a nurse who is married to St. Andrew’s grandson. “It breaks my heart.”
St. Andrew’s family said she needed 24-hour care, so her family put her into Brightpointe at Rivershire nursing home in Conroe. The family said she had a small bedsore at the time.
“It was the size of an eraser,” said Mary Bob. “It was little. It was healthy tissue. It was healing.”
St. Andrew's grandson, Dennis Bob, feels his grandmother's care slipped at the facility. He said it was only during a trip to the emergency room four months later they realized she was in bad shape.
Dennis said doctors diagnosed her with aspirated pneumonia and told family members that her body had more bed sores.
“She had one real bad bed sore that was almost to the bone that was due to her not being turned, not taken care of," Dennis said.
Dennis' wife, Mary, is a nurse.
"Within four months, she had deteriorated so far that she had nine bedsores, some unstageable. She was septic and she couldn't speak," Mary said.
Ifay died in February.
Her grandson filed a report with the Conroe Police Department. Investigators said they do not anticipate filing charges, but the Texas Department Health and Human Services said they are still investigating.
"It was a horrible experience. As a nurse, as a family member. I don't think anyone or anyone's family member should go through that," Mary said.
Here is a statement from the nursing home:
"Brightpointe at Rivershire continuously strives towards and remains committed to ensuring the highest level of well-being, health, safety and welfare for our residents that we have the honor of serving.
"Federal and State Regulations regarding HIPAA laws require us to protect the privacy of all of our current and former residents - and therefore cannot go into details about specific cases without certain releases and consents at this time."
The family set up a GoFundMe account to help cover funeral expenses. To donate, go to gofundme.com/justice-for-ifay.