Two certified nursing assistants accused of abusing a patient with Alzheimer's remain behind bars, and more people could be facing charges.
Rose Dorlean Blaise, 35, and Yashika Jones, 28, are facing charges of battery of an elderly person. Blaise remains in jail on $25,000 bond, while Jones is in jail on $100,000 bond.
The two women are accused of tormenting and hitting 76-year-old William Wilson, who has advanced Alzheimer's disease. The women, who are employed by Palm Gardens Nursing Home, were arrested after Wilson's son, Dale, set up a nanny cam in his room.
The resulting video showed the women rubbing Wilson's face, making punching motions at his face, lunging at home and making motions as if to slap him in the face, police said.
Police say that between two and four more people could be arrested in this case. Detectives are working to bring charges against other nursing assistants shown on the video, who police say failed to report the abuse.
“We have had strong reactions from the public about this,” said Jaime Brown, Public Information Officer for Winter Haven Police. “There was a lot of outrage, not only from people who have loved ones in a long-term care facility, but from other healthcare workers who take their job very seriously and can’t even fathom something like this.”
If you are considering placing a hidden camera inside a nursing home, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs advises seeking legal counsel first.
It is legal to videotape with the patient’s or guardian’s consent, as long as there is no audio. However, if the patents shares a room, you may be violating the other patient’s privacy.