Sunday, November 1, 2009

State to Probe DHS

The state’s Department of Human Services will investigate why its workers failed to help a struggling Southfield woman take care of her bedridden mother, a woman who eventually died of bedsores, malnutrition and neglect.

In a statement released Wednesday evening, Douglas Williams, the director of Oakland County’s Department of Human Service said, “We regret this terrible tragedy. Ms. Cooper’s death calls attention to the need for additional support for people caring for vulnerable family members.”

“We’ve reopened this case and will take any warranted and appropriate action, if necessary, against personnel involved,” Williams said.

His statement came the same day a furious Oakland County Circuit Court judge blasted DHS workers for failing to help Stephanie Cooper take care of her mother, Agnes Cooper, 63, who suffered from multiple sclerosis and disabilities as a result of strokes. She died in November 2007 of sepsis and raging bedsores.

The daughter, Stephanie Cooper, eventually pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter, and faced up to five years in prison when she appeared for sentencing before Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Nanci Grant on Wednesday morning.

But Grant refused to send Cooper, 40, a clerical worker, to jail or prison, noting that DHS workers had investigated the family home at least five times, noting bedsores on Agnes Cooper, 63, in a filthy bed and malnourished.

Stephanie Cooper, a single mother suffering from clinical depression and diabetes, repeatedly sought help from the state and local agencies, but was placed on "waiting lists.”

Full Article and Source:
State to Probe DHS After Judge Blasts Woman's Care

See Also:
Judge Blasts MI Dept. of Human Services

6 comments:

  1. Yes, I agree - the state's DHS needs a thorough investigation.

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  2. When I first read the story, I blamed the woman because it was HER mother.

    But, I think I was wrong. Stephanie Cooper knew she couldn't do it and she did the proper thing by reaching out. And she was ignored.

    I'm not saying she should not be held accountable. But, that the judge is right - DHS is equally culpable.

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  3. This is such a tragic story.

    Bedsores are painful and living torture. Mrs. Cooper suffered horribly.

    Was there other family, or neighbors, or a pastor who could have helped?

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  4. Depression can be totally paralyzing. But, usually there are times when it's not as bad. Perhaps that's when Stephanie Cooper reached out.

    What an awful shame.

    Yes, the DHS employees who put Cooper on a waiting list are to blame as well. The judge is right.

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  5. There's another thing to consider here - not only did the employees fail to react to Cooper's request for help, but the supervisors failed to react as well.

    So, it's the employees and their supervisors...

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  6. Caregiving is the hardest job in the world.

    It's draing and exhausing. No matter how much you loved your family member and want to take care of him/her, it's just hard.

    I am sorry things got so bad that the mother suffered so.

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