Earlier this month in Minnesota, prosecutors filed charges against a 55-year-old nurse for allegedly abusing an 86-year-old nursing home resident who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. According to one local news report, the woman faces gross misdemeanor charges for allegedly hitting and verbally abusing the resident on the evening of January 30, 2015.
Evidently, the woman named in the charges was working with two assistants, who told police that they saw the woman exhibit “instances of aggressive and abusive language and behavior” towards the resident. They reported seeing the woman use a “great amount of force” when washing the elderly man’s genitals, and then they saw her hit him in the legs and threaten to spray body-spray deodorant in the man’s face while yelling at him.
The woman, who is no longer employed by the nursing facility, was charged with criminal neglect and disorderly conduct against the elderly Alzheimer’s patient. She faces up to two years in jail and $6,000 for each of the two charges she faces.
Nursing Home Abuse in Maryland Nursing Homes
While the conduct above consists only of allegations, it is disturbing nonetheless. Given the population with whom they work, nurses at skilled nursing facilities at times have a difficult job that can be taxing on the nerves and patience. However, notwithstanding the stresses of the job, nurses have a duty to provide a certain level of care to each of their residents.
When nurses “snap,” or act out towards the elderly people whom they are supposed to be caring for, the victims of this abuse are often scared and are routinely bullied by staff to keep quiet. Indeed, it is estimated that the lion’s share of nursing home abuse goes unreported for this reason and others. However, when nursing home abuse is discovered, it is taken with the utmost seriousness by prosecutors and judges.
Aside from the criminal consequences that an abusive nurse may face, he or she may also face civil charges filed by the abused individual or their loved ones. These cases, if successful, can result in significant monetary awards for the plaintiffs if they can show that the nurse was indeed abusive. To learn more about how abusive or negligent nurses can be held liable for their actions, contact a dedicated Maryland nursing home abuse attorney.
Has Your Loved One Suffered at the Hands of a Caretaker?
If you have a loved one whom you believe may have been abused or is currently in an abusive situation in a Maryland nursing home, you should contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible. The earlier an attorney is contacted, the better the chance of preserving vital evidence of the abuse that can be used at trial against the abusive party. To learn more, call 410-654-3600 to set up a free consultation with a skilled attorney who is knowledgeable in the relevant laws governing these claims. Calling is free and will not result in any obligation on your part unless we are able to recover for you in your case.
See More Blog Posts:
Kentucky Nursing Home Required to Pay $18 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published July 27, 2015.
Video Camera Installed By Loved Ones Catches Abusive Nurses in Action, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published August 13, 2015.