Hidden Camera Shows How WWII Veteran Died After Calling for Help, Gasping for Air

ATLANTA — A decorated World War II veteran died gasping for breath while staff at his nursing home laughed in front of him, according to hidden camera video revealed in a lawsuit against the facility.

James Dempsey, 89, of Woodstock, Ga., called for help six times Feb. 27, 2014, before becoming unconscious while gasping for air, according to the video, released to WXIA-TV after lawyers representing Northeast Atlanta Health and Rehabilitation were unsuccessful in asking a DeKalb County judge to keep the material sealed.

Dempsey's survivors include two sons and two grandchildren. Family members had installed the camera in Dempsey's room before his death, and because of nursing home officials' actions after his death, it is clear that his family would not have known what happened without their own surveillance. 

The nursing home's lawyers attempted, then withdrew, an appeal to the Georgia State Supreme Court to keep the video under wraps.

VETERAN DIED CALLING FOR HELP

HIDDEN CAMERA

Hugh Barnett dies after recently celebrating 105th birthday

Hugh Barnett of Rock Hill was described as “different, and interesting, and amazing” by a friend during his 105th birthday party.

Barnett died Monday at Westminster Towers Health and Rehab Center in Rock Hill. A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church.

Barnett, born Aug. 14, 1912 in Hallandale, Fla., was named for his father.







http://benamarine.blogspot.com/2014/08/hugh-barnett-jr-102-year-old-still.html



http://benamarine.blogspot.com/2012/07/100-year-old-does-electric-slide-6.html

RIP Hugh

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/article174575446.html#storylink=cpy

Taking care of those who took care of you

Seniors who face elder abuse have 3 times the risk of death compared to those not facing abuse. Joe Kuczynski reports.

A study conducted by the Metlife Market Institute estimates that elder abuse costs American’s about $3 billion dollars a year, and that number, they believe, is conservative.

Even more concerning is that seniors who face elder abuse have three times the risk of death compared to those not facing abuse. That is why it’s critical to pay attention to the warning signs.

“Physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect issues are usually a part of an elder abuse situation," Eileen Rodden said. "Abusers use those tactics to acquire access to money and to homes.”

Rodden works as Project Coordinator at the Women’s Center of Jacksonville, an organization offering support and education to woman about abuse. She also works to educate people on providing the proper care for an incapacitated loved one, and the challenges facing guardians, something she knows about personally.

“I took care of my own mother who had Alzheimer’s for 5 years before she passed away..." Rodden said. "As a caregiver it is a frustrating situation you feel like you could do more you try to do more but then you have all your other duties.”

Rodden said that most negligence or abuse does come from nonprofessional care givers, family members or neighbors. That’s not necessarily because of wicked intent, but more often it’s because they’re inexperienced in taking care of a senior. 

Fortunately, there are workshops that can teach and support those taking on the responsibility, but if you suspect someone of committing elder abuse, it’s important to know that there are resources out there to put an end to it.

Read more: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/life/taking-care-of-those-who-took-care-of-you/460410550

Couple sentenced; Asheville x2; Carers who do not care

Couple
PRINCETON — A Bluefield, Va. husband and wife were sentenced Monday for the severe neglect of an 87-year-old woman which resulted in severe bed sores and broken bones.

A Mercer County jury found Monty Bone, 58, and his wife Sonja Bone, 51, both of Bluefield, Va. guilty last May of charges including abuse of an incapacitated adult resulting in bodily injury.

Both the husband and wife were charged with felony abuse of an incapacitated adult, felony neglect of incapacitated adult malicious assault and conspiracy. The case started on July 17, 2015 when Detective K.L. Adams of the Bluefield Police Department was contacted by physicians at Bluefield Regional Medical Center about a Bluefield woman, 87-year-old Nancy Bone, who was brought to the hospital on July 11, 2015. Doctors said she showed signs of abuse.

ASHEVILLE, NC
Asheville police report that a 77-year-old woman suffering from dementia was victimized by a man she tells News 13 was her longtime handyman.

“Part of it is my fault,” said the victim, who asked not to be identified, “because he got my credit card.”

She explained what she says led to police charging her former handyman, Terry Gibson, with exploitation of an elder and harassment.

According to police warrants, Gibson is charged with using over $5600 of the victim’s money without her permission.

“I got alerted from my bank,” said the victim, who said she came to depend on Gibson to help her in her home.

Carers
At first glance they have little in common: men and women of disparate ages and racial backgrounds, from all four corners of the country.

But they share one utterly shameful bond; they have all mistreated vulnerable elderly people in their care, with a depravity that is truly sickening.

Two weeks ago, a Mail investigation highlighted shocking levels of abuse of the elderly by so-called carers in Britain, as well as the derisory sentences handed down to those who are caught.

The charity Action on Elder Abuse (elderabuse.org.uk; 080 8808 8141) is campaigning for a change in the law so that crimes against senior citizens are recognised as aggravated offences. 

Dementia Patient Repeatedly Punched by Medical Worker

The family of an 89-year-old dementia patient has released horrifying video that shows the man being punched repeatedly by a nursing home employee.

“It was gut-wrenching,” the man’s grandson, Daniel Nassrallah, told InsideEdition.com Wednesday. “Literally, my legs collapsed” after viewing the footage, he said.

Relatives of Georges Karam installed a video camera in his room at the Garry J. Armstrong long-term care center in Ottawa, Canada, after the elderly man suffered numerous, unexplained injuries, they said.

Nassrallah said the facility “never really gave us an answer” about the bruises and cuts they found on Karam’s body, so with the center’s permission, a baseball-sized camera was installed on the wall facing the man's bed in February, said Nassrallah, an attorney. The staff was told about the device, he said.

A few weeks later, Nassrallah said, he and his wife were watching the footage from his grandfather’s room when they saw a caregiver enter, and act aggressively. “He threw him around the bed,” Nassrallah said.

“My grandfather started to flail and tried to bat him away,” he said. “Then he started punching my grandfather in the head.”

The video shows the employee, Jie Xiao, hitting the man 11 times. Nassrallah said his grandfather is non-verbal and confined to a wheelchair.

Read more: 89-Year-Old Dementia Patient Repeatedly Punched

Elder Abuse continues...

The lawsuit in Ventura County Superior Court alleges the hospital didn't notify Mandelman's family of his fall. 

http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2017/05/21/elder-abuse-suit-filed-against-to-hospital/101885976/

Napa care facility sued for elder abuse, negligence following patient’s death

The lawsuit alleges that the staff at Napa Valley Care Center on Villa Lane did not provide necessary care to Caroline Johnson, an 82-year-old patient who was at the facility for nine days before having a stroke and falling into a coma. 

http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/napa-care-facility-sued-for-elder-abuse-negligence-following-patient/article_4d6cf544-e17f-52ba-a1be-a3699ec855cf.html

Jury finds couple guilty in elder abuse case

A Bluefield, Va. husband and wife face decades in prison after a Mercer County jury found them guilty Friday of charges including abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult.

The trial of Monty Bone, 58, and his wife Sonja Bone, 51, both of Bluefield, Va. started Tuesday before Circuit Court Judge William Sadler. Both the husband and wife were charged with felony abuse of an incapacitated adult, felony neglect of incapacitated adult malicious assault and conspiracy. The case started on July 17, 2015 when Detective K.L. Adams of the Bluefield Police Department was contacted by physicians at Bluefield Regional Medical Center about a Bluefield woman, 87-year-old Nancy Bone, who was brought to the hospital on July 11, 2015. Physicians said she showed signs of abuse.

Adams described in his case report how physicians told him that Nancy Bone was extremely dehydrated with low sodium levels and had severe bed sores on her right hip and shoulder along with bruises on her right ear and face; the injuries would have occurred if she had been lying on her right side "for a prolonged period of time such as days." Physicians also said she had some broken ribs in different stages of healing.

http://www.bdtonline.com/news/jury-finds-couple-guilty-in-elder-abuse-case/article_3e03cc38-3ce4-11e7-a2ef-9b666b57c4d1.html

Elder abuse victims suffering in silence

The Commission on Aging says one in 10 people over the age of 50 is the victim of abuse, and half of all men and women suffering from dementia are abused. The abuse can happen in a senior living facility, but the Nampa Family Justice Center says most times, family members are the perpetrators. 

"People don't want to think about it," said Lana McCullough, senior resource coordinator at the justice center.

McCullough says elder abuse can happen in the form of domestic violence, neglect, financial exploitation or any another form abuse.

"I was a wreck," said Barbara Ann Hoffman-Valdetero, who was a victim of elder abuse. "I know it wasn't good."

Hoffman-Valdetero was a victim of emotional and financial abuse by her partner for many years, until she says it got physical and her teeth were knocked out.

"I called the police scared to death behind a closed door in my home," she said.

Dee Bingman's story is much different. Her parents were victimized by her brother.

"My mom called and said 'help me, I'm locked in and nobody is here. I'm afraid'," said Bingman.

After her mother passed away, Bingman says her dad was the sole victim.

"I think he really didn't want to admit it was his own son doing the things..."

http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/elder-abuse-victims-suffering-in-silence/439651264

Judge adds to sentence of woman convicted of elder abuse

A Gwinnett County judge had the same question as everyone else when sentencing a woman convicted of abusing a disabled patient in her care.

Judge Tom Davis wanted to know why Lisa Williams punched, kicked and tried to use a dementia patient’s shirt to strangle her back in April.

“Didn’t she have enough going on without you adding to her burdens?” Davis asked in court, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Williams was caught when the patient’s son hid a camera and recorded the attacks. 

In the video, Williams grabs the disabled woman by neck, pulls her forward and back and lets her drop to the floor.

She screams something in the woman’s face, turns toward the door for a few moments, and leaves.

The disabled woman sobs on the floor.

Woman charged with murder, elder abuse in mother's death

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Judy Ann Smothers was arrested Friday on suspicion of second-degree murder and second-degree elder abuse in the death of her mother, 87-year-old Theresa Smothers.

Judy Ann Smothers pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to Missouri Casenet, no future court date had been scheduled as of Sunday.

The younger Smothers was released on bond.

The 65-year-old Smothers originally was arrested Dec. 29 on suspicion of assault and elder abuse after police found her mother malnourished and lying in a bed soaked in fecal matter and urine.

http://www.semissourian.com/story/2375177.html