A nursing home hidden camera led to the arrests of two former employees in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
NBC News reports that an investigation conducted by police and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare resulted in charges being filed against workers Regina Battles, 20, and Irene Rodriguez, 22.
According to investigators, the alleged abuse took place at Arbors at Buck Run, a nursing facility in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Authorities were initially alerted to the possible abuse by the daughter of an elderly patient residing at the home.
Philly.com writes that the daughter became suspicious of mistreatment after her mother was taken to Abington Memorial Hospital for the treatment of injuries that included bruising, scabs, and bleeding from the woman’s feet.
Taking matters into their own hands, the family of the victim decided to place a hidden camera in her room in the hopes of identifying her abusers. It seems they may have been successful; the video allegedly captures the workers taunting and dancing around the elderly patient. The footage goes on to show harsher abuse.
From WVPI-TV :
“Police say the hidden video shows repeated incidents in which Rodriguez and Battles allegedly picked up the victim from her wheelchair, dump her on her bed and then roughly tossing her legs onto the mattress.”
No longer employed at the nursing home, both workers have been charged with neglect of a care dependent person, reckless endangerment, simple assault, and harassment. The facility’s license has also been revoked by the Department of Public Welfare.
Would you use a hidden camera to protect your loved ones in a nursing home ? What do you think should happen to the Pennsylvania workers if found guilty?
