The Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW) recently honored The Washington Post’s Memory, Inc. with a Best in Business Award in the Health/Science category. The newspaper’s investigative project shed light on the alarming trend of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive issues wandering away from assisted-living facilities across America. This negligent pattern by the industry, despite charging families an average of $6,000 a month for care, has resulted in over 2,000 people wandering away or being left unattended since 2018, with nearly 100 deaths reported.
The judges praised the series for uncovering an underreported issue within the healthcare industry that impacts countless American families. They noted the depth and sensitivity with which the articles were reported, highlighting the surveillance footage obtained during the investigation. The series also exposed the financial shortcomings of the industry, revealing the lack of regulation and penalties faced by facilities and their owners when patients wander off.
In addition to the award-winning project, The Washington Post received five other Honorable Mentions in the large publication category. The winners will be honored at SABEW’s annual conference in Chicago next month. The full list of winners can be found on SABEW’s website.
