85-Year-Old Man Found Dead After Leaving Assisted Living Center

An Arizona man suffering from dementia tragically lost his life due to extreme heat after he reportedly wandered away from the assisted living facility responsible for his care. The family of 85-year-old Robert Pollmann has filed a lawsuit in Maricopa County, alleging negligence on the part of the facility. The lawsuit was filed on January 17, several months after Pollmann’s death on June 25, 2024, which was caused by exposure to extreme heat.

The lawsuit alleges that Pollmann, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, had a known propensity to wander. This was a fact that the staff at Brookhaven on 131st Assisted Living were reportedly aware of. The family has accused the facility of negligence, claiming that despite their knowledge of Pollmann’s condition, they failed to adequately monitor his movements.

On the day of Pollmann’s death, the temperature soared to a scorching 117 degrees Fahrenheit. The lawsuit, obtained by McClatchy News, alleges that the staff at the facility were aware that Pollmann, a retired educator, had a history of wandering. It was reported that he had previously left another facility and was later found attempting to climb a tree. Despite this, Brookhaven had assured the family that they were fully equipped to care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease.

The lawsuit further alleges that Pollmann, who had only been at the facility for a few days, exited the facility through the front door unnoticed. It was not until 40 minutes later that his absence was noted and a 911 call was made. By the time he was located blocks away from the facility, Pollmann had already passed away.

The lawsuit also points to a faulty alarm on the facility’s front door, a problem for which the facility had been cited in December 2023. A local CBS affiliate, KPHO, reported that the front door also had a faulty latch that did not close properly. The lawsuit states that Pollmann’s death was a “direct and proximate result” of the facility’s negligence and careless acts.

Bob Boatman, the attorney representing Pollmann’s family, stated that there has been a “growing problem” of patients leaving the facility without supervision. The family is seeking unspecified damages and has requested a jury trial. Boatman expressed the family’s hope that this case will lead to changes in other assisted living facilities that care for Alzheimer’s patients.