MICHIGAN — Marjorie Tingley’s sons filed a lawsuit against Vista Grande Villa and its director, alleging negligence, emotional distress, and wrongful eviction. The legal action follows the facility's request to sedate the resident with antipsychotic medication and her subsequent removal from the care center.

Vista Grande Villa issued Tingley a 30-day eviction notice after four emergency room trips. The lawsuit asserts that Vista Grande initiated emergency room trips in retaliation for the family’s disagreements about Tingley’s care.

David Tingley, one of Tingley’s sons, criticized the facility's approach to his mother's behavioral issues. "They just wanted to have her drugged up," David Tingley said about Vista Grande in an interview. He added that the staff prioritized convenience over proper care standards.

"It's a lot easier to take care of someone who's just out of it," Tingley said. His comments reflect the family's belief that the facility sought chemical restraint rather than addressing the underlying causes of his mother's agitation.

Vista Grande Villa and its director have denied the allegations in the lawsuit. In a legal filing, Vista Grande Villa described the recommended drugs as "routine medication." The facility also stated it sent Tingley to the hospital "because of her family's refusal to allow Ms. Tingley to be treated on site."

Medical and facility records indicate that Tingley was taken to an emergency room eight times following incidents of aggressive behavior at Vista Grande Villa. Ambulance and police dispatch records show that Vista Grande administrators called 911 after altercations involving Tingley. Hospital records show Tingley was taken to the emergency room for assessment multiple times.

Medical records show Vista Grande Villa sent Tingley to the hospital four additional times while her family was arranging a new placement. An ambulance record entry quotes a Vista Grande administrator telling an ambulance crew, "I want her out of here." This statement was recorded during one of the transports.

Lauren Gerlach, a geriatric psychiatrist and associate professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, provided context on standard care practices for dementia patients. She said there is evidence that aggressive behaviors in dementia patients are better addressed by non-medication interventions. The Food and Drug Administration requires pharmaceutical companies to warn that antipsychotic drugs increase the risk of death in older people with Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions.

A Michigan Circuit Court judge has dismissed the negligence claim in the lawsuit on legal grounds. However, other claims remain active within the litigation. A trial on the remaining claims in the lawsuit is scheduled for early 2027 if mediation fails.

Vista Grande Villa became a wholly owned subsidiary of Otterbein SeniorLife earlier in 2026. Otterbein SeniorLife renamed Vista Grande Villa to Otterbein Jackson SeniorLife Community. Otterbein SeniorLife is not named in the lawsuit filed by Tingley’s family.

Why It Matters

The case shows tensions between assisted living facilities and families regarding the use of psychotropic medications for residents with dementia. With nearly half of the 1 million people in assisted living facilities nationally having Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions causing dementia, the outcome could influence care standards and legal liabilities for similar institutions. The lawsuit alleges that emergency room visits were used as a tool for eviction rather than medical necessity, a claim that challenges standard operational practices in long-term care.

Regulatory history shows prior compliance issues at the facility. Vista Grande Villa was cited for deficiencies related to the inappropriate use of psychotropic medications in February 2026, including a citation stating that unnecessary psychotropic medications should be prevented. Additionally, inspections in November 2024 noted pharmacy service deficiencies, including requirements to implement gradual dose reductions and non-pharmacological interventions before using psychotropic medications. These findings provide context for the family's allegations of negligence and improper care protocols.

Timeline

Vista Grande behavior logs indicate that on at least 10 days in November 2024, Tingley hit, kicked, or elbowed aides during assistance with changing briefs, dressing, bathing, or using the bathroom. In December 2024, Tingley’s adult sons received an urgent email from the dementia care unit at Vista Grande Villa stating their 85-year-old mother was a major safety threat.

Tingley died at another facility in January 2025. The cause of Tingley’s death was plaque buildup in her brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

What's New

Otterbein SeniorLife, Vista Grande Villa’s parent organization since 2026, emphasized resident-focused care as a key factor in its acquisition of Vista Grande, according to a 2026 organizational statement.

Vista Grande Villa had pharmacy service deficiencies in 2024, including requirements to implement gradual dose reductions and non-pharmacological interventions before using psychotropic medications, according to a November 2024 inspection report. Vista Grande Villa’s 2024 inspection noted specific deficiencies in medication management practices, including limitations on PRN (as-needed) psychotropic orders unless medically necessary, showing systemic compliance issues. In November 2024, Vista Grande Villa received an inspection with findings related to pharmacy service deficiencies, including a requirement to implement gradual dose reductions and non-pharmacological interventions before initiating or continuing psychotropic medication.