Elder abuse is becoming a big concern all across the country. Last week local law enforcement spoke out against the issue. According to a report by WHSV 3, the Shenandoah Valley has one of the highest rates of elder abuse in all of Virginia.

The deaths of six residents of an assisted living home in 2009 has prompted state health officials to create stricter guidelines for such facilities. The six residents died after being infected with hepatitis through needles used in diabetes treatments. In order to ensure better overall care in such facilities, a new law provides for more training for employees in assisted living facilities.

A nursing home has been cited by the Department of Health for failing to report recurring patient altercations and problems. According to the state report, a patient at the facility had frostbitten feet and another used his power wheelchair to ram other residents. The deficiencies were discovered during an inspection March 21 and 22.

A man has been charged with attempted murder for pointing a loaded gun at his wife’s head as she slept in her nursing home bed last week. According to the criminal complaint the man hid a Magnum revolver wrapped in a bag when he carried it into the nursing home. The man then entered his wife’s room, pointed the gun at her head and cocked the revolver.

According to a jury of coroners, a former nursing home employee died in April after unintentionally overdosing on painkillers that he stole from patients. The 41-year-old male died April 1 at the rehab and healthcare center, where he was director of nursing. The man was found dead in a bathroom next to his office at the facility.

A woman charged with abusing an elderly couple in her care has pleaded guilty to three counts of domestic violence against the elderly couple. In connection with the abuse she has been sentenced to 17 months in prison. The woman, 50-years-old, entered an Alford plea May 25 to two second-degree assault charges and one third-degree assault charge.