John LaCombe’s body was found the same day the agency called his sister to say they were closing his file — because he wasn’t answering the phone.
Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen
Mon, March 23, 2026
An Ottawa man died alone in his apartment in January after the province’s homecare agency closed his file without seeing him because he wasn’t answering the phone.
John LaCombe, 62, was discovered on Jan. 21 when his sister became concerned and called police for a wellness check. Norine Gagnon was told that her brother had probably been dead for seven or eight days by then. Earlier the same day, someone from Ontario Health atHome had called Gagnon to say they were closing his file because they had been unable to contact him to set up care.
Gagnon, a retired nurse, is looking for answers about why staff with Ontario Health atHome did not take further steps to contact her brother or check on him instead of closing his file. She had told them her brother, who lived alone, had difficulty answering the phone after having a stroke.
“I am heartbroken, but also angry. Despite his fragile health, no one checked in and he died alone. They understood his risks yet they did nothing, no follow-ups, no check ins — just promises that went unfulfilled,” she said. “Our health system must do much better. Lives depend on it.”
