Getting physical with nursing home abuse

A state inspection report indicated that residents at a for-profit skilled care facility complained about an aide’s misconduct for weeks. Although several staff members observed, knew about, or suspected the physical and mental abuse, they failed to quickly report the situation to their superiors.

The state police are examining claims that a nurse's aid threatened to cut a 68-year-old man’s throat, slapped a woman in the face, taunted and insulted other disabled and sick adults, and took food away from a hungry resident of a senior care center.

Allegations abound that the incidents went on for several months before being reported to an administrator.

The senior care center was levied with $20,000 in fines against the 113-bed nursing home. The care center is fighting the fines saying they responded quickly to the problem. However, the state says the fines were levied because of the staff's failure to report the abuse.

The female nurse's aid also denied the allegations.

According to the state report, there is a breakdown of management and supervision and lack of oversight by the staff on weekends.