An 89-year-old Gilbert assisted living resident spent more than 22 hours naked and alone on the floor of his room after falling, while staff members at the facility allegedly never realized he needed help, according to his family.
Motion-activated camera footage captured the ordeal involving James McHose inside his room at The Oaks Senior Living. The video showed McHose lying on the floor struggling to move, attempting to pull himself up, reach nearby objects, and cover himself while repeatedly pleading for help.
His daughter, Jamie Hammonds, said watching the footage was heartbreaking because the recording showed the passage of time from darkness to daylight and back again while her father remained trapped on the floor without assistance. She said she ultimately discovered him herself when she stopped by the facility last month to drop off groceries.
Hammonds said she immediately panicked after finding her father and rushed to get staff members before asking them to call 911. She later reviewed the camera footage and realized he had been left unattended for more than 22 hours.
The footage reportedly showed McHose becoming increasingly frustrated as he tried unsuccessfully to stand up or reach his bed. Hammonds said seeing him struggle emotionally devastated her because her father still believed mentally that he should have been able to walk independently even though he physically could not.
Although it remains unclear exactly how the fall happened, Hammonds believes the motion-activated camera may have captured moments immediately afterward. She said the video appeared to show a chair moving before her father began struggling on the floor. She described watching him attempt to reach his bed, pull up a blanket, and cover himself as horrifying.
Hammonds questioned how employees at the assisted living facility failed to notice her father was missing through multiple staff shifts and several missed meals. She said she could not understand how nobody checked on him for such a long period of time. According to Hammonds, she later confirmed with the facility that residents were supposed to be checked on at least once per day.
After being transported to the hospital, McHose was reportedly diagnosed with fluid around his lungs and a sprained ankle. His daughter also said he has not mentally been the same since the incident.
Following the ordeal, Hammonds removed her father from the Gilbert facility and moved him into a smaller group home closer to where she lives. She credited the camera she had installed in his room with revealing exactly how long he had been left alone. Hammonds said one reason she originally selected the facility was because staff allowed cameras to be placed in residents’ rooms. She added that there was also a sign outside the room notifying employees and visitors that recording equipment was in use.
Hammonds described her father as a hardworking man who followed her to Arizona after she moved from New Jersey to attend college. She said McHose had worked as a carpenter and operated a boat rental business where he enjoyed fishing. As his only child, she said it was emotionally difficult making the decision to move him into assisted living as he aged because it meant taking away some of his independence.
The family has since filed complaints with the Arizona Department of Health Services and Adult Protective Services, which investigates allegations involving abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults. However, both state agencies declined to comment publicly about possible investigations or complaints because of privacy laws and confidentiality restrictions.
ABC15 reported that Arizona assisted living facilities are not required to self-report falls involving injuries to the state health department. Facilities are, however, required to report abuse, neglect, deaths, self-inflicted injuries, and cases involving residents leaving facilities without authorization within one business day.
State health records also reportedly show that the assisted living facility underwent a change in ownership in January 2026, leaving relatively little public history available for review.
Hammonds said she never received an apology from the facility following the incident. Instead, she said discussions centered around payment disputes after she informed staff she planned to remove her father and was told she needed to provide a 30-day notice.
In a statement provided to ABC15, officials from The Oaks Senior Living said the organization remains committed to the safety and well-being of residents and that the matter is being taken seriously. The facility added that it is taking appropriate steps to address the situation and said its top priority continues to be maintaining a safe and supportive environment for residents.
Source: ABC15 Arizona
