Tech Faces Nursing Home Abuse Charges for Stealing Medication from Patients

A nursing home worker in Rochester, NY has been charged with nursing home abuse for stealing medication from numerous patients and substituting similar-looking pills, rather than the patients’ necessary prescriptions.

Deborah Cleveland, a Rochester resident, was a medication technician at the Heather Heights Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility in Pittsford. On Friday, August 22nd, Cleveland was charged with nursing home abuse and prescription fraud for stealing 650 pills, including 230 oxycodone pills from a single resident who needed them for pain management.

The 42-year-old suspect pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor nursing home abuse charges of attempted fraud. She is expected to receive a light sentence – just 4 weeks in jail – at her sentencing hearing in October.

More Nursing Home Abuse Charges for Pill Thief in Sacramento Area

On Monday, August 19th, a nurse’s aide was arrested in Sonora, California on nursing home abuse charges, also for stealing medication from patients

Sarah Jimenez, 37, was employed as a nurse’s aide at a senior citizens’ care home in Sonora County, near Sacramento. She also stole personal items like jewelry and household items. Her arrest charges included felony theft/embezzlement as a caretaker, felony possession of stolen property, and felony possession of a controlled substance.

Jimenez stole jewelry, gold, and household items from the patients under her care, as well as 27 Lorazepam pills which were discovered in a plastic bag.

The Strom Law Defends Victims of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

There are several signs of abuse and neglect to look for when your loved one is in a nursing home or residential care facility. Nursing-Home patients experiencing the physical abuse of their caregivers may exhibit:

• bruises, welts, burns
• unexplained bone injuries and other physical injuries
• repeated accidents
• personal injuries left untreated

You may also notice:

• withdrawal from family and friends
• fear, uneasiness, anxiety
• unexplained weight gain or loss
• sudden loss of interest in living
• a sudden decline of psychological health
• signs of anxiety, distrust or fear toward their caregiver,
• signs or symptoms of severe shock including the growth and development of tics such as rocking or refusing to speak
• a desire to be alone.

Under South Carolina law, physical abuse includes: slapping, hitting, kicking, biting, choking, pinching, burning, drugging a patient or confining a patient to control behavior.  Under South Carolina Law, a person does not have to inflict abuse to be held responsible for the physical abuse. You can be found guilty for allowing it to take place without doing anything to stop or prevent the abuse.

You are not alone. If your loved one has physically suffered, or died wrongfully, due to neglect or abuse in a nursing home or residential care facility, you may have a nursing home abuse case. The attorneys at The Strom Law Firm, LLC, understand the sensitive nature of elder abuse cases, and will treat you with respect and compassion. It is important to fight elder abuse so you, your family, and others no longer suffer because of criminal behavior. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today for help.803.252.4800