Nursing Home Abuse: Worker Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Patients
Police have charged a certified nursing assistant with six counts of third-degree assault. Mark A. Genetiano, 24, worked at the Hiolani Care Center where the three victims live. He was fired from the nursing home on the day of his arrest.
One victim is 89 and the other two women are 92. All of them have dementia. Police say the sexual assaults took place over a one-month period, between May 1 and June 1, and witnesses reportedly saw the assault incidents happen.
A court document states that on May 29, a co-worker saw the 24-year-old hold down a resident’s arms while he pinched her bare left nipple. The co-worker and Genetiano were changing the patient at the time. The victim reportedly yelled at him to leave her alone and “stop” while he laughed at her.
Genetiano is accused of fondling the other residents. The Star Bulletin reports that Genetiano has admitted to pinching one resident because she hit his head and he wanted to hurt her in return.
Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing homes have a responsibility to make sure that there is adequate security on the premise so that patients do not become the victims of sexual assault or physical abuse. This means that they need to screen nursing home workers to make sure they don't have criminal records while maintaining an environment that doesn't make it easy for anyone—not just a nursing home worker—to assault anyone.
Just this week, a man was arrested for allegedly raping a female patient. The incident occurred at the Bradford Square Rehabilitation And Nursing Center. Harrison Blankenship was charged with first degree sexual abuse.
A nursing home worker reportedly walked in on Blankenship having sex with the resident. Blankenship denies the allegations.
The 84-year-old is a registered sex offender. He raped a 13-year-old girl in 1995.
Ex-nursing aide allegedly pinched, fondled 3 patients, Star Bulletin, June 20, 2009
Man Arrested In Nursing Home Abuse Case, WTVQ, June 23, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Elder Abuse, Helpguide.org
A long-term care facility can be held liable for nursing home neglect if it failed to do enough to protect one of its residents from becoming the victim of physical abuse or sexual assault. Contact our Chicago nursing home sexual assault law firm to discuss your case.
