Stuffing Latex Gloves In Nursing Home Resident’s Mouth Results in Criminal Charges
Jan 19, 2013
Little Rock, AR (Law Firm Newswire) January 18, 2013 – Nursing home abuse may be more violent than anyone could possibly imagine. This case is horrific.
“This case just turns one’s stomach. A caregiver in a nursing home in Oklahoma City, jamming latex gloves into the mouth of a 96-year-old dementia patient and holding her mouth shut, while she struggled. Shocking, isn’t it? It was caught on tape by the woman’s family, who thought someone was stealing from their relative. In reality, she was being abused. Little did they know the extent of the abuse,” remarked Mike Smith, an Arkansas injury lawyer and Arkansas accident lawyer, practicing personal injury law in Arkansas personal injury lawyer.
The 96-year-old woman had been in the care home for five years. Whether or not the same nursing home aide was abusing her is not clear, but what is clear is the woman who perpetrated the abuse had a co-worker with her at the time she was captured on tape, that stood by and just watched what happened.
She also watched as the aide lifted the elderly woman onto her bed, and pushed her face down to force her to lie down, and then forcefully compressed her torso. Since the woman had severe arthritis, this would have been excruciatingly painful for her. The elderly woman died later as result of Alzheimer’s and congestive heart failure. “There is no doubt the abuse she was subjected to did not help her wellbeing,” added Smith.
Once the family realized what was going on, they contacted the police. The nursing aides were fired, and the 23-year-old woman from Nigeria who rammed the gloves into the woman’s mouth, was sentenced to seven years in prison, with all but two years suspended; the result of a deal made with prosecutors. On release, she will be deported.
Not all nursing homes have staff like this, and not all nursing homes abuse the patients in their care. However, the issue is rampant enough that anyone with a loved one in such a facility needs to be aware of how their relative is doing. “Watch them closely for any changes in their behavior. Do you see any unexplained bruising? Are they acting strangely? Withdrawn? Do the staff not leave you alone with them? If you have any suspicions about nursing home abuse, do not hesitate to contact me,” suggested Smith.
Learn more by contacting Arkansas personal injury lawyer Mike Smith at http://www.arkansaslawhelp.com.
Mike Smith
425 W. Capitol Av., Suite 3700
Little Rock, AR 72201
Call: 501.519.4357
