Earlier this month, police caught up with two employees of the Emeritus at Farm Pond in Framingham, Massachusetts, who had videotaped themselves abusing elderly residents in the nursing facility. According to a report by a local news affiliate, one of the employees had several videos on her phone detailing a number of abusive situations including:
- One video of a female employee hitting a 78-year-old Alzheimer’s patient on the arms, flicking her ears, and then pinching her nose closed. Once the woman was let go, the employee wiped mucus from the patient’s nose and rubbed it on her mouth.
In an interview with investigators, the female employee claimed that the attacks were a poor attempt at humor, indicating no ill-will towards the patients. The male employee claimed that his behavior was necessary to get the man back into the room which he was supposed to be in. He did not comment when asked if he thought that there was a better way of handling the situation.
Both employees have been fired from the nursing facility and are facing criminal charges of assault and battery against an elderly person. The female employee is also facing charges of unauthorized nude photography.
The nursing home’s response to the videos and criminal charges was that they “are shocked and outraged that this type of incident took place at our community and are taking these allegations very seriously.” The statement continued, “We have notified the families of this matter and sincerely regret the distress and sorrow they have experienced. The staff members involved have been terminated, and we are assisting the police in their investigation.”
Nursing Home Abuse in Maryland
Whether it be out of frustration or a disgusting attempt at being funny in front of co-workers, elder abuse is a serious matter that deserves society’s full attention. It seems too obvious to state that these types of employees should not be hired to care for the sick and aging population. However, someone at the nursing facility saw fit to hire these employees.
What To Do if Your Loved One is Victimized By Nursing Home Employees
It should go without saying that no one needs to accept this kind of treatment. If you have a loved one in a nursing home who was victimized by nursing home employees, you should speak to an experienced Maryland nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible. It may be that your loved one is entitled to significant damages based on the nursing home employee’s abusive behavior. To find out more, contact one of the dedicate nursing home attorneys at the Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen. Click here to contact the firm online, or call 410-654-3600.
See More Blog Posts:
New Legislation in Florida Changes the Landscape of Nursing Home Injury Cases, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published May 6, 2014.
Seventeen Employees of Michigan Nursing Home Facing Charges for Patient Abuse, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published May 13, 2014.