The family of 78-year-old Margaret Chen, who sadly passed away at Evergreen Senior Living on March 15, is asking for CCTV footage from the part of the building where she was found. They want to understand what happened around 2:30 a.m. that night.
Margaret’s lawyer, Howard Davidson, has asked the facility for video and other important documents. He’s worried about the safety of the escalator and how well the staff cares for the residents. Margaret was one of 47 people who used the escalator, which was last checked for safety in January 2024.
There are reports showing that accidents with escalators and older people have gone up by 23% in the last few years. Many of these accidents happen in places where seniors live.
Evergreen Senior Living has had three minor problems with their escalators in the past year and a half, but no one was seriously hurt before Margaret’s accident.
The rules say that staff should check on the escalators during the day, but there was a 5.5-hour gap when no one checked on them that night. The family wants not only the CCTV footage but also maintenance records, staff schedules, and reports of any incidents from the last six months.
The state is now looking into what happened and will have some findings in about two weeks. Local groups that help seniors are supporting the Chen family and want new laws to keep seniors safe in these facilities.
The CEO of Evergreen Senior Living, Patricia Morton, has expressed sympathy for the family and promised to help with the investigation. The escalators are currently closed, and the facility is finding other ways to help its 183 residents move around safely.
