An investigation into a nursing home has revealed disturbing allegations of employees taking
dozens of nude and partially nude pictures and videos of residents.
A 55-page
document has been released by the state Department of Health outlining
those incidents and others at the nursing home.
The report reveals 12 residents were identified in 47 cell phone pictures and 27 videos taken from 2007 though this year.
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) admits to taking the pictures and videos.
According to the report, she says none of the pictures were forwarded and claims they were only for “memories.”
A second CNA admitted to seeing the pictures and video being taken.
Both of the employees have been fired.
Along with the nudity, the images show evidence of poor care, such as food running down a resident’s face during a meal.
The
report also includes accounts of taunting and inappropriate comments,
such as employees demanding residents to say “I love you.”
The daughter of one of the nursing home residents says she is upset by the revelations of the report.
“I’ve been up all night long and nobody is telling me nothing,” said the relative.
Atkins says
she wants an explanation because what she’s heard so far is
unbelievable. “You don’t take nude pictures of elderly people like
that.”
She identified her mother in one image.
“I believe
in my heart these nude pictures of these elderly people were taken
and I believe they are on a dirty Web site somewhere,” Atkins said.
The Department of Health’s report details two instances where her mother was mistreated.
“Resident’s bed shaken by two employees while resident repeatedly says “no, no, no,” the report says.
In
a second case, the report states a resident’s bed was shaken by two
employees while the resident moaned while someone is heard in the
background laughing and yelling.
“She can’t even move her
leg,” the daughter said about her mother. “She can move one hand barely. She
can’t speak. She don’t deserve this is sick!”
The daughter says she
is speaking out so that others aren’t hurt. But more importantly, “I
want them to go to jail. I want something done. It’s like everybody is
covering up. Nobody is giving names. I have no clue if it was a man or
woman who done this to her.” For more, read the story.
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Robert W. Carter, Jr. is a Virginia attorney whose law practice is
dedicated to protecting the rights of the victims of nursing
home and assisted living neglect and abuse in Richmond, Roanoke,
Norfolk, Lynchburg, Danville, Charlottesville, and across Virginia.
