As an only child, I worry about what will happen to my parents as they get older. I have a small home and live on a tight budget, so keeping my parents here with my family is a stressful thought. It’s likely that for a period of time, I may have to rely on a senior care home or center, but the truth is, that doesn’t give me much comfort.
In 2025, studies found that 64.2% of nursing home staff admitted to committing some form of elder abuse within the past year, a horrifying reality.
Sadly Angela Boorn, an Arizona mom, entrusted the care of her elderly uncle Gerald McClellan, 75, who “was like a second father” to her, to a 55+ independent living facility named Lifestream at Sun City, per the New York Post. When she went to greet him for her weekly visit, she encountered a gruesome sight. According to AZ family, she found her uncle sitting in a chair, and he clearly had been deceased for a while.
“It looked like a skeleton in a chair,” Boorn told AZ Family. “The face, the eyes were hollowed out.”
“It didn’t even look like a person because he had been there for so long. Nobody should have to see that,” she said, per the outlet. “I just remember running out of the room and running to the front desk and just asking her when was the last time you checked on him.”
People who spoke with AZ Family were outraged on behalf of Boorn and her family.
“As a nurse my heart goes out to the family. I will make sure my patients doesn’t end up at this horrible facility,” wrote one community member.
“This is abhorrent and should never happen. These facilities are very expensive,” empathized another person.
The mom originally felt confident in her choice of facility. For the $1,700 monthly rent, the staff allegedly required residents to push a button daily by 10 a.m. to let the staff know they are all right. If they don’t hear from a resident, staff supposedly check on their well-being in person.
“He didn’t push the button; they tried to call him, didn’t get a hold of him, and they still did not go check on him. It wasn’t one day, it wasn’t two days, it wasn’t three days, it was four,” Boorn said.
Local 12 News said the facility issued a statement following McClellan’s death.
“LifeStream at Sun City is deeply saddened by the passing of one of our residents. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to their family and loved ones during this difficult time,” it read. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we are not sharing further details at this time. We extend our sincere gratitude to emergency responders for their compassion, professionalism, and support.”
