Pamela Marck says she thought she was doing the safe, responsible thing when she checked her husband, Jim, into The Residence at Salem Woods for respite care while she underwent scheduled eye surgery in April. Jim survived a brain aneurysm 23 years ago and now lives with a severe brain injury and short-term memory loss, so she says every detail of his care matters.
Instead of peace of mind, Marck says she got a phone call telling her Jim had been "involved in a fight." When she arrived at the Anderson Township facility, she says what she saw did not look like a simple scuffle. Marck reports finding strangulation marks and bruising on his throat, along with cuts behind his ear, and believes her husband was attacked. She wants the home to acknowledge neglect and to explain why, despite a doctor's note saying he needed monitoring during meals, he was not being supervised at the time.
According to a police report obtained by WCPO, the incident started in the dining room when another resident told Jim to get up from his seat. When he did not move, that resident allegedly kicked him from behind and an altercation followed. The report notes that no one was charged in connection with what happened.
In a statement relayed to WCPO, Foundations Health Solutions, which owns The Residence at Salem Woods, said, "The health and safety of all our residents is our number one priority. Due to privacy laws and concerns, we cannot comment on any questions involving residents." Pamela says the episode has traumatized both her and her husband and that she wants staff to admit they were neglectful.
Facility rating and oversight
The Residence at Salem Woods appears in federal quality profiles as a highly rated facility with an overall five-star score and records showing no complaints between April 2025 and March 2026. That public data can help families compare homes, but it does not capture every possible risk. Public compilations of CMS Care Compare data show the home’s overall score and inspection history, but advocates say isolated incidents can still happen even where ratings look strong, according to Nursing Home Database.
Ombudsman and next steps for families
Long-term care ombudsmen can step in as independent advocates when families feel something has gone wrong and need help navigating complaint options. In this region, ProSeniors runs local ombudsman services and lists both an ombudsman helpline and a legal helpline for seniors on its contact page. The organization helps families document incidents, request investigations, and connect with other resources if they believe a resident’s rights have been violated, according to ProSeniors.
Legal options and reporting
Families who suspect abuse or neglect in a facility can file complaints with state regulators or Adult Protective Services. Disability and elder-advocacy resources for Ohio list the Ohio Department of Health complaint hotline (1-800-342-0553), the Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman (1-800-282-1206), and the statewide Adult Protective Services number (1-855-644-6277) as places to report concerns and seek help. If criminal conduct is suspected, local police and prosecutors may investigate, but in this case, the police report indicated no charges were filed, according to Disability Rights Ohio.
Marck says she will keep pressing for an admission of fault and for better protections for residents like her husband. The Residence at Salem Woods declined to provide further details beyond its corporate statement. Family members and advocates say the episode is a stark reminder of how a short respite stay can quickly turn into a crisis when vulnerable residents depend on close supervision and accurate care.
