It is tragic that humans find more and unique ways to harm each other. From an article published in McKnight's Long Term Care News, we learn that an Illinois continuing care retirement community (CCRC) fired a certified nursing assistant for slapping a resident’s baby doll.
The incident at the St. Vincent’s Home, in Quincy, Illinois, first occurred in June, but reached the public eye only recently after the Illinois Department of Public Health released its quarterly violations report. State officials hit the home with a $2,200 penalty, after the CNA slapped a resident’s doll, reportedly to get her “riled up.”
According to the Herald-Whig, the resident had been diagnosed with dementia, anxiety and depression, and suffered from confusion and short- and long-term memory impairment.
Brian Inman, assistant administrator at the home, agreed the incident constituted mental abuse. St. Vincent’s suspended the CNA pending investigation, later deciding to terminate the CNA. Prior to the incident, the CNA had undergone special training for dementia treatment.
While the incident might seem minor to some, it meant a lot to the resident, who views the three dolls as her children, a family member said in an interview with state officials. Those baby dolls are her everything,” the family member said. “I know this [slapping the baby doll] would have really disturbed her. She thinks those baby dolls are her babies.”
The CNA reportedly told coworkers, who did not immediately report the incident, as required by the state, that slapping those dolls was good way to “keep from being bored during a shift,” later telling state investigators, “[i]t’s kind of cute but probably not to the resident.”
Hopefully the CNA will find another line of work.
No comments:
Post a Comment