Two More Kentucky Nurse Aides Indicted for Nursing Home Abuse
Armeda Thomas is getting justice. Abuse of the 84 year old resident of Madison Manor Nursing Home, also known as Richmond Health and Rehabilitation Center, was caught on tape by a hidden "granny cam" in August 2008 after family members found dozens of bruises all over her body and facility staff could not provide satisfactory answers as to their origin. The ensuing investigation revealed 17 cognitively impaired residents experienced "injuries of unknown origin".
The camera caught facility staff "pulling the resident out of bed by her wrists and neck" and "roughly moving the resident from side to side". Ms. Thomas suffered fractures in her lumbar vertebrae after being handled roughly by facility employees. Among other things, the camera captured images of a staff member showing her fist to Ms. Thomas after she was combative and, on another occasion, a staff member dancing in front of Ms. Thomas while another staff member held her down. The camera also captured Ms. Thomas lying on the floor for an hour before being discovered by staff.
According to published reports, Jaclyn Dawn VanWinkle was the nurse aide captured on videotape singing and dancing while another employee held Ms. Thomas' arms. She was arrested in December 2008 and charged with wanton neglect. In a plea agreement, she pled guilty to an amended charge of reckless abuse or neglect of an adult. In addition to the amended charge, she was required to cooperate with the state's investigation into the accusations against the facility and was sentenced to twelve months in jail and forbidden from working a job in which she would care for "vulnerable adults". Her sentence will be conditionally discharged for a two year period if she does not commit another offense and cooperates with prosecutors.
Now, two additional former nurse aides at the facility have been indicted on abuse and neglect charges stemming from the August 2008 incident. Amanda Salee is charged with wanton abuse and neglect of an adult and Valerie Lamb is charged with reckless abuse and neglect of an adult. Salee, due to be arraigned on May 15, 2009, is being held on $10,000 cash bond. Lamb is scheduled to appear in court on April 27, 2009.
David Terry at the Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please feel free to contact our office at at 1 (888) 317-2525 with any questions or concerns you might have or visit our web site at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
