Investigation Launched into Elder Abuse Case in Florida
The Lehigh Acres Citizen reports that an investigation in Cape Coral, Florida has been launched as a result of alleged elder abuse. On November 16th, Cape Coral police were contacted after two people reported that they received information that their relatives were being abused in the facility.
One of the residents had to be transported to a hospital after suffering a punch to the chest. Joe Arcurio and John Barletta stated that their relatives suffered various forms of abuse. Arcurio stated his relative suffered bruises on his face and nose while Barletta’s relative claimed that an employee grabbed his thumb and would not release it. The results of the investigation will be handed over to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. The Administration will then inspect the facility to determine if any violations have occurred. Any subsequent failed inspections could lead to the facility losing its license for health care.
The operator of the agency that licenses the facility, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration had already conducted an inspection and found no violations. However, if the reports of abuse presented by the facility employee are true, the operator’s statements could be construed as an attempt to hide the truth. If that is the case, the repercussions could be extensive including forcing the facility to forfeit its license. According to the report, a previous incident of abuse was reported by an employee of the facility and that employee was promptly fired. This would lead someone to believe that the facility deliberately tries to hide any incidents from the public. If this is the case, the facility should be held responsible for their actions and the victims of these incidents deserve some form of justice for their suffering.
