New York "Granny Cams" Catch Abuse Again
"Granny" cams are working for New York in catching nursing home abusers. Three more nursing home employee arrests were announced on December 8, 2008 by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. The accused are as follows:
- Corey Austin, a former CNA at Gowanda Nursing Home, was fired in February 2007 after a violent episode with a resident. Austin used racial epithets and attacked the resident, who had become agitated and defiant when another staff member tried to administer medication. Austin assisted in returning the resident to his room, where he attacked the resident, shoved the resident to the floor, and pinned the resident to his bed using his knee in the resident's back. He was convicted of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person and willful violation of health laws. He faces a maximum of two years in jail when sentenced in January 2009.
- Patricia Penman, a CNA at Rosa Coplon Jewish Home and Infirmary in Getzville, is accused of physically abusing a 100 year-old resident. Penman is accused of slapping the resident, who is unable to care for herself and suffers from dementia and physical disabilities, in the face during care. She has pled not guilty and is due back in Court in December 2008.
- Jeffrey Perry, a CNA at Gowanda Nursing Home, allegedly tied an elderly dementia resident to a chair with a belt for two nights. The resident was found alone in his room tied to a chair on the second night. He has pled not guilty and is due back in Court in December 2008.
- Jeanette Sovereign, a LPN at Gowanda Nursing Home, allegedly knew of the acts of Jeffrey Perry at Gowanda and did not report it. She has pled not guilty and is due back in Court this month.
The "granny" cams also assisted in the arrest of a CNA who stomped on an 84 year-old resident of Kaleida Health Deaconess Skilled Nursing in Buffalo who was lying in a fetal position and the sentencing of a CNA who stole $8,000 from a 97 year-old resident at The Waters of Orchard Park in Orchard Park. The CNA needed the cash to pay a cocaine debt.
