A state investigation has concluded that three employees of an assisted living facility in Virginia, Minn., pinched and slapped several elderly residents, called them abusive names and taunted one patient with dementia by saying that her husband had died, according to documents made public Tuesday.
The abuse occurred at Edgewood Vista Virginia, part of a chain with assisted living facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Nebraska, according to a report by the Office of Health Facility Complaints at the Minnesota Health Department.
A state investigator found the three aides responsible for verbal, physical and emotional abuse, which means that they could be disqualified from patient care in the future under state law. In addition, the facility was found to have inadequate procedures for internal reporting of suspected maltreatment by staff members.
The staff members, who were not named, have been suspended.
Officials of the home could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
Witnesses told state investigators they had seen, among other incidents, one employee tell a client who had dementia and acute depression to shut up, call him a "retard" and place him in a corner in a sun room because he was "naughty."
Witnesses also said they saw two employees hit another client, who had Alzheimer's disease and osteoarthritis, with foam water "noodles" and put their cold hands on the client's neck to startle her.
A witness said one employee told a resident who had Alzheimer's and anxiety that her husband was dead.
