“I discovered him refrigerated, dehydrated, alone in the dark”

Tarn: Benjamin, young disabled man, forgotten for 48 hours in a nursing home

In Tarn, an incident which could have been dramatic revealed serious dysfunctions within the Jacques-Besse medical home in Lavaur. Benjamin, 28 years old, blind and hemiplegic, was left without care or food for 48 hours, between October 30 and November 1. His mother, Emmanuelle, denounces a situation which she describes as mistreatment and asks for explanations.

An unacceptable oversight in a specialized establishment

While Benjamin, severely disabled since birth due to an optic nerve tumor, did not have a family visit for two days, the home declared him “absent” by mistake. When she arrived on November 1, Emmanuelle found her son in a worrying state: dressed in his pajamas, flooded with urine, cold and dehydrated. According to her, “twenty-four more hours and he would have ended up in the emergency room.”

The home, which depends on the APAJH (Association for adults and young people with disabilities), recognized “a serious incident” and cited a “failure in communication” due to the loss of a transmission notebook. This error led staff to believe that Benjamin was missing from the facility.

Conditions denounced by families

This episode highlights recurring failures reported by residents' families. According to Emmanuelle, insufficient staffing is a major cause. “If there had been a cleaning lady, she would have found out about my son,” she says. The mother filed a report with the public prosecutor and the Occitanie Regional Health Agency (ARS).

A family representative confirms chronic problems: cold and unsuitable meals, poorly maintained rooms, and lack of staff, particularly on public holidays.

Reaction from the home and the ARS

Faced with these accusations, the home apologized to the family and affirmed that this situation was “unacceptable”. He promises a “reinforced action plan” to prevent such events from happening again. For its part, the ARS described the incident as a “serious and unacceptable event” and announced the opening of additional investigations.

A return under surveillance

After a week at home to recover from this episode, Benjamin returned to his room at the home, where his family's visits continue. His mother remains vigilant and demands lasting improvements within the establishment.

Source: Le Parisien