I still haven't been able to get into Change of Heart- instead I read this interesting article on six teenage girls being charged in a nursing home abuse case.
The charges that are these girls are facing include "fifth-degree assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact, disorderly conduct and failing to report suspected maltreatment." Each charge could have a penalty of up to $3,000. 2 of these girls face up to 10 or 11 charges.
What these girls did is absolutely horrendous. They have been reported to have "laughed together early this year as they spat in residents' mouths, poked and groped their breasts and genitals and at times taunted them until they screamed -- or witnessed those events." All of this was to "make work fun".
Reading this article literally made me feel sick. Those elderly people were someone's grandmother, mother, father, grandfather, brother, sister, aunt, or uncle. These people were taken advantage of , and in no way could they have helped themselves. The article also states that these teenage aides thought that they would not get caught-
"The Health Department's Office of Health Facilities Complaints investigated the allegations in May. It said all 15 of the abused residents had Alzheimer's disease or a similar dementia, and some were combative, easily agitated or blind."
They figured the elderly people could not tell on them because they WOULDN'T REALIZE what was going on. The girls all had a good laugh on breaks or at school about these "pranks", and not one of them stopped it until her job was on the line for swearing in front of a patient. She ratted the others out with these actions to save her own butt.
I cannot find a strong enough word to describe how angry these actions make me. Anyone insensitive enough to treat anyone, much less defenseless elderly patients they should be caring for, in this manner deserves to sit in jail, and deserves any press and criticism they may get for it!
How angry would you be if you heard that one of your grandmothers, whom you may have grown up with loving and caring for, who now has Alzheimer's, has been sexually assaulted and tortured until she screamed?! I am legitimately fuming. When I see elderly people in society, I think they are the cutest things ever and I want to help them in any way I can- especially if they cannot help themselves. It completely escapes me how ANYONE would feel differently than that.
Seriously, without a past there can be no future- cheesy, but so, so true.
If I could give these girls a piece of my mind...
Stacey
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4 comments:
Stacey, I thought it was interesting that you couldn't really get into the Jodi Picoult book you were trying to read, because I recently had a similar experience. Up to this point, I've read several of her books and loved every single one of them (Salem Falls being my favorite), but I recently picked up Picture Perfect and I just couldn't get into it at all! I'm thinking of picking it up again sometime soon though, and you should let me know if you ever do get into Change of Heart and if it is any good.
I completely agree with you Stacey. It's so strange that people even think of these things. I can't imagine even thinking about that. It's disgusting.
Stace! that is horrible! where was this? I can't even imagine people thinking of doing that? like what? This is so disturbing and you are so right, they should sit in jail for their actions! just terrible
It was in Albert Lea like, 2 or 3 hours from here.
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