Sex Abuse Investigation Leads to Arrest of 14 Nursing Home Workers
An investigation into sexual abuse by a nurse at an Albany nursing home led to the arrest of 14 additional employees on various neglect charges. To gather evidence against the aid suspected of sexual abuse, investigators placed a hidden camera in the nursing home. In addition to leading to the prosecution of the sex offender, the hidden camera also revealed several other cases of neglect.
In early 2009, the office of New York Attorney General started an investigation of Robert Gundersen, a certified nurse at Northwoods Rehabilitation Center who was suspected of sexually abusing a 78-year-old resident. In March and April of that year, the attorney general's office planted a hidden camera at the facility and conducted a six-week investigation.
What they saw on the hidden camera led the attorney general's office to arrest 14 nurses and aides at the facility on a variety of charges related to neglect of residents. The 175 charges included falsifying records, endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, and willful violation of health laws.
Among the specific acts of neglect that were documented on the hidden camera video were failure to administer medication, improperly treating bedsores, and failure to check residents for incontinence.
Gundersen pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse and was sentenced to 10 years probation and is no longer allowed to work in nursing homes. Five of the 14 other workers have already pleaded guilty. The other nine pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial, which is scheduled to start January 31.
This case is a shocking demonstration of the pervasiveness of nursing home neglect. The six week investigation turned up 175 distinct acts of neglect by 14 different staff members, in addition to the sexual assault that prompted the investigation. It demonstrates that nursing home residents and their families should always be vigilant about detecting and reporting abuse.
