Two Florida Nursing Home Employees Charged with Battery and Severe Nursing Home Abuse

Two nursing assistants at a Winter Haven skilled nursing facility in Florida were charged with battery after a camera in 76-year-old Alzheimer’s patient’s room showed them committing severe nursing home abuse.

Yashika Zenobiaha Jones, 28, and Rose Dorlean Blaise, 35, were employed at the Palm Gardens Nursing Home in Winter Haven, Florida, when they were arrested on Thursday, October 30th, and charged for their severe nursing home abuse.

Dale Wilson, and his wife Debbie, first noticed bruising on their 76-year-old father’s body, and were concerned that the man might be the victim of neglect or abuse at the nursing home.

“He can’t communicate, so he couldn’t let me know what’s happening to him,” says Wilson.

Because they were concerned, they decided to place a camera in the victim’s room for 30 days to see what was going on. They also reported the bruising to nursing home staff.

Wilson checked the footage of his father’s room regularly and soon uncovered three incidents of nursing home abuse involving the two suspects.

The victim, who remains unnamed, suffered at least three incidents caught on film involving physical abuse and emotional abuse. The nurses were caught kicking the patient, as well as pretending to punch him and lunging at him to frighten him.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Your Loved Ones

Nursing home residents may suffer from physical, emotional, and even sexual abuse by their caregivers (home caregivers, family member caregivers). In many cases, these elderly victims cannot communicate due to dementia or other health problems, which makes reporting caregiver or nursing home abuse especially difficult. However, your loved one may show some signs of potential nursing home abuse, and it is important to keep an eye on these problems and report them immediately.  Common signs and symptoms of abuse include:

• bruises, welts, burns
• unexplained fractures or other physical injuries
• repeated accidents
• injuries left untreated
• references to caregiver’s temper or anger
• nervous or quiet around caregiver
• runs away from the home or tries to
• has marks or scars from restraints on wrists
• shows effects of chemical restraints such as incoherence, grogginess, excessive sleep
• sudden fear, restlessness, anxiety
• prevented from getting medical treatment or being alone with visitors
• unexplained changes in behavior
• withdrawal
• unexplained weight gain or loss
• sudden loss of interest in life
• appearance of sudden demise of mental health
• symptoms of extreme shock such as the development of tics: rocking, refusing to speak
• isolation

The Strom Law Defends Victims of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing home abuse and neglect cases can be difficult to establish because of an widespread tendency by insurance adjusters, physicians, among others, to discount an elderly person’s injuries and the diminished quality of life that results from these damages.

If your loved one has physically suffered, or died wrongfully, due to neglect or abuse in a nursing home, you may have a nursing home abuse case. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm 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