Nursing homes in one state are hiring convicted felons who in turn are causing abuse to patients in their care. In one situation, a nurse aide with a felony background sexually assaulted a patient who is still traumatized by the event two years later. He was fired from his job, but no criminal charges were filed. In another situation, a nurse aide abused a patient by smearing feces on her face and taking pictures of it.
A known expert in the field notes that employees with criminal backgrounds can be placed in nursing home facilities for minimal pay when they cannot be hired elsewhere. “It’s about who can we get to do this job, a very hard, difficult job, at the least amount of money,” he said. “Who can you pay less than someone who has a felony conviction and can't get a job elsewhere.” Based on investigative reports, nearly 200 nurse aides in the northern region of this one state have criminal backgrounds. For more, read the story.
