Assisted Living Staff Mock Dying Resident in Shocking Video
When you decide to place your loved one in a long-term care facility such as a nursing home, you trust that the staff employed in that facility have the residents’ best interest at heart. Unfortunately, just like in any other profession, some nursing home staff simply do not have their hearts in the job. Even worse, some nursing home staff actually openly ridicule or mock nursing home residents. Cruel treatment can tragically go undetected when patients suffer from debilitating illnesses and cannot report inappropriate staff behavior.
Hospice Workers Share Sick Video of Dying Woman
Three employees at an assisted living center in Georgia have been arrested after their cruel Snapchat video was discovered by authorities. The employees—three women aged 19-21—were watching over a resident who had recently suffered a stroke until the hospice nurse could arrive. During that time, they decided to create and share a video of themselves smoking a vape pen, making obscene gestures, and cursing–all while the elderly resident lay dying in the background. The shockingly callous and invasive video was titled “The End.” Local authorities charged the three young women with exploiting an elderly and disabled person, and all three have been fired from their positions at the assisted living facility.
The New York State Department of Health is also currently investigating a possible violation of residents’ rights by nursing home staff members’ use of Snapchat. The state received reports of staff members taking photos of residents in a Western New York nursing home and posting them on social media. The nursing home in question said that individuals involved were fired and that it will implement further staff training to prevent future violations.
Psychological Abuse Can Be As Damaging as Physical Abuse
Tragically, stories such as these are not unheard of in facilities across the country. Some long-term care facility staff members are simply not trained well enough or do not have enough experience to adequately do the job for which they were hired. Other employees see themselves as superior to the residents they are tasked with caring for or even resent the residents. Poorly trained or inexperienced staff combined with an uncaring attitude toward residents can be a recipe for disaster. It is often up to loved ones to be a resident’s advocate and ensure that the care they receive is sufficient and respectful.
Pursuing Compensation for Those Hurt in Illinois Nursing Homes or Assisted Living Facilities
If you your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, speak with a compassionate Cook County nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer as soon as possible. Schwartz Injury Law is dedicated to exposing and ending the mistreatment of elderly residents in nursing homes as well as collecting financial compensation for loved ones. For a free consultation, contact us today at 312-535-4625.
Sources:
https://www.wivb.com/news/state-investigating-inappropriate-snapchat-posts-made-by-workers-at-canandaigua-nursing-home/1310007360
https://www.newsweek.com/end-snapchat-nursing-home-bentley-senior-living-employees-arrested-dying-1014772