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County home to hire professional cleaners for room

Saturday, January 10, 2009
By JAMIE BARRAND

The Putnam County Commissioners passed a measure on Friday to hire a professional company to clean up a room at the county home where a man died two weeks ago.

The commissioners met in special section to discuss the matter. Officials told the commissioners that Michael Jarvis likely died on Dec. 26, but the exact date of his death is not known because his body was not discovered until Dec. 30.

Putnam County Coroner Thomas Miller recommended professional clean-up for Jarvis' room, noting that there were areas in it that were "unsanitary." He said county home staff were hesitant about cleaning up the room, areas of which were soiled with bodily fluids.

"This is not a gross contamination project, but I feel strongly about having a professional clean the area," Miller said. "But any bodily fluid is a biohazard."

Miller said his "only interest" in the clean-up was as an elected official of the county.

"I just need to stay involved because this happened on county property," he said.

Jody Henderson, assistant matron at the county home, said it was not out of the ordinary for she and her staff to not see Jarvis for several days at a time.

"This was noting unusual for (Jarvis)," she said. "If he had a phone call, he would just open his door a crack to see who it was. He didn't come out of his room much, and he would get mad if he thought someone was going to go into his room."

Henderson said Jarvis rarely ate meals with the other residents of the county home, choosing instead to bring in his own food and eat alone in his room.

Jarvis had lived at the county home since 2004, Henderson said. The commissioners held an executive session with Miller and Putnam County Health Department director Dr. Robert Heavin before their regular meeting Friday. Commissioner Gene Beck said officials had declared Jarvis died of natural causes, and that he had suffered from "multiple health issues."

The county home is open to individuals aged 55 or older who are still ambulatory but do not have the means or need for nursing home care. Residents pay to stay at the home. Fees are based on income.

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  • This is a tragedy! I can't imagine someone not being checked on daily especially since they were in a home where someone should have been taking care of him. I hope there are investigations when these tragedies occur.

    -- Posted by teacherlady on Sat, Jan 10, 2009, at 10:30 AM

  • Sounds like his neighbors and staff were merely respecting the man's privacy. To some people privacy is very valuable. I hope I recieve the same respect as I age. Have a nice day...

    -- Posted by mike andrews on Sat, Jan 10, 2009, at 10:53 AM

  • If they are able bodied and able minded even in a nursing home or otherwise they have a right to privacy and the way this article reads is that he would get angry if bothered. If he chose for days at a time to not be bothered than that is his right. Not everything is a crime and needs investigation. Tragedy? He had "multiple health issues" and died of natural causes. They did not kill him

    -- Posted by Life Is Good on Sat, Jan 10, 2009, at 10:54 AM

  • I FIND IT TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE STAFF AT THE COUNTY HOME WOULD NOT CHECK ON A RESIDENT FOR "SEVERAL DAYS." MR. JARVIS'S PRIVACY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPECTED, BUT IT IS THE STAFF'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THEIR RESIDENTS ARE SAFE. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO "COVER THEIR TRACKS" BY SAYING HE DIDN'T LIKE TO BE BOTHERED. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SO THIS KIND OF INCIDENT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

    -- Posted by Michele1953 on Sun, Jan 11, 2009, at 6:05 PM

  • I agree you should respect privacy but come on here. Did no one detect an odor? I on the other hand, would find it unusual if I didn't see the individual for two weeks! Something fishy. But then again, this county has started stinking pretty bad in the last few years with all of the thefts and no sentences handed down to fit the crimes.

    -- Posted by whodouthinkur on Mon, Jan 12, 2009, at 7:40 AM

  • Michele1953 - Simmer down on the all caps... it's like you are yelling and difficult to read.

    whodouthinkur - Have you ever been to the county home? There is already an odor, so it may not have been any different.

    It is very sad to see that our culture allows this to happen to our elderly. I have always said, and will stick to my guns, that if anything ever happens to my parents and they cannot take care of themselves, I will move heaven and earth to keep them with me. And when the day comes that I cannot, then I will be sure they are getting the utmost care. We, as a society, should take better care of our elderly. It's a disgrace.

    -- Posted by MsBehaving on Tue, Jan 13, 2009, at 1:25 PM

  • MsBehaving...actually I have been to the county home and had to put my clotes in a bag when I left because of all the fleas. I found it diry, smelly and disgusting. I haven't been back!

    -- Posted by whodouthinkur on Wed, Jan 14, 2009, at 7:42 AM
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