Nursing Home Employee Gets Life in Prison for Abuse
A former employee at a Los Angeles-area senior living facility has been sentenced to life in prison for abusing several elderly residents. 21-year-old Cesar Ulloa was convicted of toture and seven counts of elder abuse. The victims all suffered from dementia and were unable to speak or report the abuse.
Ulloa was a caregiver at the Calabasas Silverado Senior Living home, which specializes in caring for residents with dementia and other memory-impairing diseases. Ulloa abused four residents between February and November 2007. The abuse first came to light after a Silverado staff member called the widow of a deceased resident and told her that her husband's death had been the result of abuse. After authorities were alerted, they conducted a yearlong investigation before arresting Ulloa and 2008.
This case illustrates the importance of family members and staff members always being on the lookout for abuse. Ulloa's abuse may not have come to light if not for the actions of the staff member and the victim's widow. This is especially true in the case of residents with dementia or other illnesses that interfere with their ability to communicate.
For more information on detecting abuse, visit the Nursing Home Advocates' Detection Tips webpage.
