Pennsylvania Nursing Home Caregiver Charged with Physically Abusing Resident
After a resident in a Pennsylvania nursing home complained that her caregiver was “hurting her,” the police were called in to investigate. The accused caregiver is a 27-year-old man whom the resident told police hurt her by stepping on her foot, grabbing her by the neck, pushing on her head, and flipping her walker upside down trying to make her fall. She also said that the accused caregiver “scares her and hurts her.”
The investigating officers could see a fresh bruise on the resident’s neck that extended around to the back of her neck as if someone had grabbed her there. Her foot was also swollen and badly bruised, and she had two small bruises on her chest. The resident indicated that the physical abuse had been going on for about a month.
Another employee told police that the resident had mentioned that the accused had grabbed her by the neck by placing his thumb under her jaw and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck.
When interviewed, investigators reported that the accused caregiver “displayed multiple signs of deception” by changing his story several times and appeared nervous. Ultimately, he asked for an attorney.
The nursing home’s administrator indicated that since he started working at the facility, there have been “multiple allegations” made against the accused caregiver, but he had always been found innocent of any abuse.
The caregiver was charged with misdemeanor counts of neglect of care of a dependent person that included simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing and has been released on $50,000 bail.
Compliance Perspective
Failure to prevent an employee from physically abusing a resident may be considered abuse and neglect and provision of substandard quality care in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures for preventing physical abuse and neglect of residents and the investigation process for such allegations.
- Train staff about preventing and identifying abuse and neglect and the importance of immediately reporting any suspected occurrence involving staff members or others.
- Periodically audit through interviews with residents and staff to discover unreported incidents of staff being physically abusive to residents.
