Hidden at Home: Alarming questions, few state investigations of NJ group home deaths
05/07/25 at 03:00 AM
Hidden at Home: Alarming questions, few state investigations of NJ group home deaths
app., North Jersey.com, part of the USA Today Network; by Ashley Balcerzak and Jean Rimbach; 5/3/25
Fourteen. That’s how many times Michael Lombardi tried to dial 911 in the hours before he was found dead at age 39 in a state-licensed group home for adults with disabilities. ... Key Points:
- Since 2019, the average number of deaths among NJ group home residents per year is about 170.
- Of those 170, an average of 120 NJ group home residents die unexpectedly, meaning they were not in hospice or palliative care.
- The state agency that oversees the system does not investigate all unexpected deaths under NJ group home care.