Jonathan Rosenfeld's Nursing Homes Abuse Blog : Jonathan Rosenfeld's Nursing Homes Abuse Blog | Lawyer & Attorney : Strellis & Field Law Firm | Bed Sores, Senior Neglect, Elder Abuse, Sexual Abuse: Chicago, Illinois

A recently filed lawsuit against Golden Living Centers in Merrillville, IN alleges that a CNA at the facility entered the room of a paralyzed stroke patient, took his clothes off and fondled the man against his will.  The CNA identified as, Ismael Golden, also faces criminal charges related to the alleged sexual abuse.  In addition to this incident, Mr. Golden is also accused of sexually assaulting another patient at the Indiana nursing home.

Read more about this case of alleged sexual abuse at a Golden Living Center here.

Related:

Lawsuit Claims That Nursing Home Failed To Intervene In Case Involving The Sexual Abuse Of A Patient

Nurse Charged With Rape Of Disabled Patient

In Wake Of Sexual Assault Of Elderly Woman, Chicago Nursing Home & Administrator Named In Civil Lawsuit

Update On Nursing Home Rape: Facility Made Errors In Investigation Of Incident

Golden Living Partners With Microsoft To Help Manage Patient Medical Records

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Karen Buck, a CNA in Muncie, Indiana, is facing Class D felony (abuse of individuals who are physically or mentally disabled) battery charges after allegedly slapping a 94-year-old nursing home resident in the mouth.  The alleged incident took place in June 2, 2007 at the Golden Living Center after the nursing home resident became agitated when Buck began to change the dressings on her feet with open wounds.  The resident was unable to speak due to complications from a stroke.  Authorities were tipped off to this incident following the report from Buck's co-worker who saw the nursing home abuse taking place. 

Officials from the nursing home claim the incident was investigated by officials from the state, ombudsman and police without any substantiated findings of abuse.  Despite the nursing homes claims, the case against Buck is proceeding to trial on April 24th.  Additionally, the family of the elderly woman who was involved in this incident has filed a civil lawsuit based on nursing home negligence against the the CNA as well as the nursing home for the woman's injuries.

Frequently, criminal cases like this never proceed to trial due to evidentary problems.  In this case, the prosecutor must rely exclusively on the CNA who allegedly witnessed this battery and reported it to authorities.  As with many nursing home workers who grip tight to their jobs, it will be interesting to see if this CNA will be willing to tell her story to a jury.  Read more about this case of nursing home abuse in Indiana here.

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Just 20 days after entering the Golden Living Center, 71-year-old Dean Cole lost 20 pounds due to malnutrition and dehydration.  According to Mark Wandersee of the Eldercare Rights Alliance, the nursing home staff is to blame for his rapid deterioration. "He wasn't getting the care he needed for food and water," said Wandersee.

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the nursing home alleging Cole's dehydration caused kidney failure and brain damage and ultimately his death.

Notes in Cole's medical chart verify that the nursing home staff was aware he was not eating.  The nursing home staff wrote:

• Resident picks at food
• Needed to be fed for supper
• Not eating well
• Resident refusing to eat

Despite the multiple notations of Cole's inability to eat while unsupervised, his records indicate that he ate the majority of his meals when engaged in mealtime conversation with nurses.  My guess is that this nursing home was seriously understaffed to care for residents such as Mr. Cole.

Here is a video of the news story related to this episode of dehydration and malnutrition.

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