Pennsylvania Nursing Home Supervisor Convicted of Abuse
We discussed the abuse of Thelma Bryant in our previous blog. If you will recall, five employees of the Glen Hazel facility, including nursing supervisor Mary Ann Bower, were arrested for the physical abuse of Thelma Bryant, an elderly Alzheimer's resident. Bower has been charged with harassment for throwing objects at Ms. Bryant and pouring water on her head. Three of her four nursing assistants, Shelly Keene, Karen Perry, and Shalaya Hatten, are accused of assaulting Ms. Bryant by elbowing her in the chest, punching her in the eye, stomping on her feet, and throwing whole oranges at her face. Charges against yet another nursing assistant, Danielle Taylor, were dropped for lack of evidence.
Mary Ann Bower was convicted of harassment on February 18, 2009 and fined $300. Bower, the night supervisor, did not stop the abuse or reprimand other involved nurses. Three other former nurses still face charges for striking Ms. Bryant.
Bower may still lose her nursing certification after a state investigation.
