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Two certified nurse assistants in Florida were arrested after being caught on camera abusing an elderly patient at Palm Garden Nursing Home. Dale Wilson, the patient’s son, noticed bruising on his father, which prompted him to set up a hidden camera which captured three videos on physical abuse. Yashika Zenobiaha Jones, 28 and Rose Dorlean Blaise, 35 were fired and arrested after camera footage showed them abusing a patient.
Wilson’s noticed unexplained bruising on his father, a 76 year old man suffering from Alzheimer’s who was also unable to communicate, which prompted him to set up a camera in his father’s room. The camera was in his room for 30 days after which the family watched the footage and could not believe what they saw. Wilson stated that he felt sadness for his father and anger towards the people who were causing him pain. He also said that if they are capable to do this to his father, they are capable of doing it to anyone.
The first video showed a nurse watching as Jones rubbed her hands on the man’s face and threaten him with punching movements. A week later, another video shows Blaise pretending to attack the patient as she threw his arms up in the air, followed by Jones stomping on the patient’s bare feet and kicking him in the leg. The third video showed Jones holding the patients arms and using them to pretend to punch himself in the face with his own hands.
As a result of the incidents, Jones was charged with two counts of Battery of an Elderly Person and Blaise was charged with one count of Battery of an Elderly Person. Jones denied the accusations and Blaise refused to comment; both are in jail without bond. The Chief Operating Officer of the home determined that there were at least six employees allegedly involved in abusing a nursing home resident, all of whom were suspended pending and investigated; it is unknown how long abuse has been going on at the facility.
Wilson suggested that families check for signs of nursing home abuse such as bruising, scratches, sadness, or change in attitude and if you suspect that something is going on, tell someone.
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