Nursing Home Worker Charged with Failure to Report Abuse
The Lexington, Kentucky NBC Affiliate, LEX18 has reported that an administrator for Hazard Nursing Home Incorporated and the company itself have been charged with failure to report suspected elder abuse. The report states that 61-year-old Sheila Noe was allegedly aware of a possible case of elder sexual abuse from one patient to another and did not report the incident to proper authorities.
Not reporting abuse of any nature is considered a Class B Misdemeanor, which, in the state of Kentucky, is punishable by up to 90 days in prison and/or a fine of up to $250. Court dates for Noe and representatives for Hazard Nursing Home Inc. have been set for September 13th.
Unfortunately, cases of elder abuse go unreported on a constant basis, leaving the victims in those cases without the justice that they deserve. Many cases are left unreported for fear that they will be left alone to care for themselves, primarily when the caregiver is a family member. In incidents where the abuser is a nursing facility, the victim fears that reporting abuse will only make things worse and that there will be further retaliation from the abuser. Sometimes the victims in these situations feel there will be no support to remedy the situation, and therefore don’t report the situation or get others to report it for them. However, it is extremely important to report any act of elder abuse to proper authorities in order to remedy the situation. If your loved ones have been affected by elder abuse of any kind, you should report any incidents to the proper authorities and contact an attorney who can assist you in getting compensation for damages.
