The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced via press release that they will be investigating conditions at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. The investigation will examine whether the home violated the rights of residents.
According to local news in Massachusetts the home has seen deaths of 38 residents, with 32 of those testing positive. They have an additional 88 residents that have tested positive for COVID 19 and 78 employees have also tested positive. The state made the decision to call in the National Guard and took other precautions including increasing nursing staff to slow the virus. Due to the death toll increasing, prosecutors have launched an investigation separate from the DOJ. You can read the full article here.
The basis for the investigations is the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). This is a law intended to protect the rights of people in state or local correctional facilities, nursing homes, mental health facilities and institutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You can learn more about the act here.
The Military Friends Foundation plans to donate iPads for the veterans in Soldiers’ Homes so that they can connect with their families. If you would like to see how you can help, please check out their website www.militaryfriends.org.
Everyone here at Advocate Capital, Inc. is proud to support the important work done by trial lawyers everywhere to keep our country and our veterans safe, particularly in times like these.
Executive Client Manager
Photo Credit: lightfieldstudios