Caregiver in Nursing Home Places Patient in Scalding Hot Water
A caregiver in a group home has been accused of abuse of a vulnerable adult after he allegedly placed a 53-year-old man suffering from physical and mental disabilities in scalding hot water. The man suffered second-degree burns to his legs, feet, back and buttocks according to the report on Hometownlife.com.
The 53-year-old was taken to a medical facility in critical condition following the incident. The caregiver, 38-year-old Willie Lee Shorter Jr. was released from custody on $5,000 bond and could possibly face a trial pending the results of a preliminary exam. Another caregiver working at the facility noticed the burns on the victim’s body following the incident.
In some cases, incidents such as this one occur by accident. The caregiver may be trying to help the resident bathe and does not notice the temperature of the water they are using. However, incidents like this can easily be avoided and there is no excuse for not checking the water temperature in the first place. It is the legal obligation of any nursing home or assisted living center employee to ensure the safety and health of the facility’s residents. Anybody that does not take the time to ensure that their residents are safe and will not be harmed in any way should be held accountable for their actions.
