Earlier this week in Winter Haven, Florida, two Certified Nurse Assistants were arrested and charged with battery after they were caught on video beating a 76-year-old nursing home patient. According to a report by one local news source, the man is an Alzheimer’s patient and could not effectively communicate what was happening to his family. However, after his family noticed that he had unexplained bruises on his body, they decided to place a “nanny cam” in the man’s room to see what was going on.After 30 days of monitoring the camera, the man’s family were shocked to learn that two of the CNAs charged with caring for their loved one were actually threatening him and physically abusing him. As it turns out, the elderly man has had several other roommates who were moved out by family members, citing staffing problems in the room. One fellow resident’s wife told reporters that the man had actually complained that he was being treated roughly by the weekend staff.
The two women who were responsible for the abuse were both arrested earlier this week and charged with battery of an elderly person, a third-degree felony.
The facility where the man was being cared for released a statement that it will not comment on the charges specifically. However, the press release did note that there were a total of six employees who were alleged to have been involved in abusing patients, and that all six of them have been suspended without pay. The nursing home is currently working with police to get to the bottom of what happened.
Nursing Home Abuse in Maryland
Although these incidents took place in a Florida nursing home, the same type of abusive conduct can be found across the State of Maryland as well. While nursing homes are expected to provide a certain level of care to all residents, the reality is that individual nurses often do not provide this level of care for a variety of reasons.
Whether it be frustration, anger, or laziness, some nursing home employees end up abusing or neglecting the needs of their elderly patients. This often results in serious, life-threatening conditions that can require additional medical care and can even put a nursing home resident in danger of permanent injury or premature death.
When this type of conduct is discovered, it should be reported to the police immediately. There may also be an opportunity to recover financially from the nursing home that employed the abusive or negligent nurses. To learn more about the possibility of financial recovery, you should speak to a dedicated Maryland nursing home attorney.
Do You Have A Loved One in a Maryland Nursing Home?
If you have a loved one at a Maryland nursing home whom you suspect is not being provided the proper level of care for his or her condition or needs, he or she may be the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. Although nursing home residents may have a difficult time communicating what is happening to them when family members are away, all allegations of abuse or neglect should be taken seriously. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected by nursing home staff, call 410-654-3600 to speak to a dedicated Maryland nursing home attorney to discuss what you can do to hold them responsible.
See More Blog Posts:
Nursing Home Fire in Maine Forces Evacuation of 22 Residents, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published October 8, 2014.
Nurse Arrested for the Abuse of a 92-Year-Old Nursing Home Patient, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published September 5, 2014.