Three Nursing Home Residents in Wheelchairs Injured After Intruder Assaults Them
Three nursing home residents in wheelchairs suffered facial bruises after they were punched by a man who walked into the Tulare Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The intruder, 28-year-old Marcos Alderete, was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony elder abuse, public intoxication, and battery.
Police officers think that Alderete sniffed paint before he attacked the residents, an 82-year-old man and two 92-year-old women. They say he was able to enter the nursing home through the front door, which was unlocked.
Alderete encountered the three residents in the lobby, where he attacked them. The elderly man’s cheeks became swollen from the assault, while the two females sustained bruises around the eyes. It is not known why they were sitting close to the front door.
Alderete stopped his assault after he was confronted by a nursing home staff member. He then ran outside where he was detained at a nearby hospital by a security guard.
Inadequate Security at US Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are supposed to ensure the safety of their residents. This means that nursing home abuse and neglect must strictly be prohibited and safety and security precautions must be taken to make sure that residents and nursing home workers do not become the victim of violent, sexual, or robbery crimes.
Steps that nursing homes can take to secure the premise:
• Installing decurity cameras and other surveillance equipment
• Setting up alarm systems
• Separating violent residents from other residents
• Making sure there is adequate resident and staff supervision
• Conducting criminal background checks when hiring nurses and other nursing home staffers
• Securing entrances and exits
• Establishing a visitor sign-in policy
If your loved one was injured because of nursing home abuse or neglect or because an Illinois nursing home was negligent about providing adequate security on the premise, you may be able to claim damages for personal injury.
Tulare man arrested in assaults on three nursing-home residents, Visalia Times-Delta, January 15, 2009
Man busts into Tulare nursing home, assaults 3, Visalia Times-Delta, January 14, 2009
Contact Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Neglect Attorney Steve Malman today.
