Missing Man with Schizophrenia: Concerns Persist After Nursing Home Shutdown

Photo byMissouri State Highway Patrol via AP

It's disheartening. Frederick Caruthers, a 61-year-old man living with schizophrenia, went missing three weeks ago after the abrupt closure of the St. Louis nursing home where he resided. The Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an endangered silver advisory, highlighting his disappearance and the critical need for his medication.

Northview Village Nursing Home closed its doors suddenly, displacing around 175 residents, including Caruthers, on December 15. Caruthers wandered away from the facility and haven't been located since, adding to the distress of a vulnerable situation.

Following the closure, residents were relocated to various care facilities. However, the transition was chaotic; many left without their belongings, raising concerns and frustration among residents and families. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the closure.

Despite efforts to find Caruthers, he remains missing. There was a sighting four days after the nursing home shut down, but since then, there have been no further leads on his whereabouts.

Healthcare Accounting Services, the owner of Northview Village, declined to comment on the situation, leaving many unanswered questions regarding the closure and the handling of the residents' transition.

Mark Suissa, one of the owners, attributed the closure to insufficient state funding and alleged staff abandonment due to unpaid wages. However, these claims were contested by workers, who accused the company of initiating closure after staff members raised concerns about unpaid salaries.

The situation underscores the vulnerability of nursing home residents and raises concerns about their welfare during such sudden closures. The search for Caruthers continues as efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the closure persist amidst regulatory investigations.