Criminal Charges Filed in Nursing Home Neglect Case

Criminal charges are being filed against ten employees from a nursing home that was recently the subject of an investigation. The employees have been charged with felonies and misdemeanors in the case, which impacted all residents. The charges included falsifying business records, violation of public health laws, and endangering the welfare of one resident in particular who was physically disabled.

The investigation involved a hidden camera which law enforcement officials said revealed a pattern of neglect by the ten employees who were charged. The patient who was apparently subject to the most severe neglect and abuse has since passed away. There is no information yet about whether that person’s family intends to pursue an action for neglect against the nursing home.

The nursing home says that none of the employees involved in the case are actively working there. Five have been fired and five are on unpaid administrative leave.

The hidden camera investigation was prompted by complaints from the disabled resident’s family who were concerned about the care their loved one was receiving. The camera revealed that staff were ignoring many of his medical needs, down to basic needs such as leaving him alone and immobile in his bed for many hours at a time.

The facility in question had a poor record according to the department of health, which had received an above-average number of complaints and issued an above-average number of citations per 100 beds at the location. This type of record leads one to question whether the problem was with these specific employees or if the nursing home as a whole is dysfunctional.

Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, “Charges filed against 10 workers at Blossom North,” Meghan M. McDermott and Patti Singer, March 25, 2014.