Members of a Tennessee family said they were penalized by a nursing home for not giving at least 30 days notice before their mother died.

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Randy Harrell said he received a security check refund from the Windlands Center nursing home in White House after his mother, Lucille Harrell, 81, died at the facility March 20, WSMV-TV, Nashville, reported Thursday.

"At that time, the check was $301 instead of $1,295, which was her original deposit," Harrell said.

He said nursing home bosses told him the money was deducted for not giving 30 days notice of his mother's departure from the home, despite the reason being death.

Windlands Center manager John McCrory said the contract states that notice of leaving must be given at least 30 days in advance, although the document does not mention the word "death."

"If they see they are having lots of problems, I even recommend them giving 30-day notice at that time," McCrory said. "That way, it'll cut off some of the costs."