A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at a Rochester, NY nursing home was arrested last month on charges that he slapped a ninety year old woman in the face. The woman, a resident of the facility at which the CNA works, also suffers from dementia. The CNA, Adrian King, is charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Vulnerable Elderly Person or an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the Second Degree, Wilful Violation of Health Laws, and Harassment in the Second Degree.
There was a witness to the alleged attack. According to this bystander, King slapped the elderly resident hard enough that it both made a loud noise and left a mark on the woman’s face. King pleaded guilty to the harassment charge in Rochester City Court. The plea to harassment satisfied all charges that had been pending against King. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit was involved in the investigation as well.
As he often does in cases involving negligence or abuse of an elderly nursing home resident, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman held little back in his comments about the incident. “When a family entrusts a loved one to the care of a nursing home, they expect courtesy, kindness, and professionalism–none of which the resident received in this case, as we allege,” said the Attorney General. “Today’s charges reflect my office’s dedication to protecting our most vulnerable, including the elderly and the disabled, by ensuring that those entrusted to provide care to them will be held accountable when they violate that trust.”
Unfortunately, in many cases involving abuse at a nursing home, there is no uninterested witness present to present the facts to an administrator or investigators. Further complicating matters is the fact that often an individual suffering from dementia is unable to voice concerns for his or her own well-being. If you feel that a loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact the attorneys at Gallivan and Gallivan today to discuss your legal rights.