Former Certified Nursing Home Assistant Charged with Felony Caretaker Abuse of Patients Allegedly Took Pictures of Victims with His Cell Phone
A former certified nursing home assistant at the Silver Lake Care Center has been charged with two counts of felony caretaker abuse and one misdemeanor charge of verbal abuse for his alleged mistreatment of a number residents while working at the long-term care facility. Last February, the wife of one patient told police that she noticed a scratch on her husband. He had reportedly been complaining that CNA Jason Lynn Pearl had taken off his clothes, spit on him, touched him inappropriately, and threatened to cause him injury, but family members initially didn’t believe him, thinking his stories were a result of his dementia, until they noticed the scratch. Ever since the alleged incidents, the elderly resident has reportedly had problems sleeping and is afraid for his wife’s safety.
Police then discovered that Pearl had used his cell phone to videotape three other patients at the nursing home. Footage shows the 31-year-old former nursing worker yelling at one elderly resident and violently taking off the shirt of another patient. Witnesses reportedly saw the footage before he erased them.
The criminal charges filed against Pearl are based on the testimony of the witnesses who saw the cell phone footage and the accounts of the victims. Staff members at the nursing home, however, contend that because of their condition, most patients are not capable of reporting any abuse incidents.
Pearl’s bail is set at $100,000 and he isn’t allowed to work in another nursing home.
Nursing Home Abuse
Abuse is any kind is harmful to the victim. Not only can nursing home abuse leave physical scars and wounds or cause injury or death, but the victims who survive such incidents can be mentally and emotionally scarred for life. Family members, many of whom may have already struggled with the decision of placing their sick or elderly loved one in another person’s care may also be scarred by such a traumatic event.
If you believe your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, you should remove him or her from the long-term care facility and report the incident. It is also important that you speak with an experienced Chicago nursing home abuse law firm about your case.
Silver Lake Care Center is being shut down and residents are being relocated to other facilities.
Nursing home owner answers allegations, Sequoyah County Times, April 17, 2009
Related Web Resource:
Nursing Home Abuse Overview, Justia
Contact our Chicago nursing home abuse law firm today.
