A woman with cerebral palsy, mental retardation and swallowing difficulties was force-fed her dinner last May at a Maple Grove supervised-living facility, a Minnesota Office of Health Facility Complaints report concluded Nov. 9. The office substantiated a report of physical abuse by staff at the facility, Homeward Bound.
The investigator determined the employee who fed the client had been trained in the proper feeding procedures but didn't adhere to them on this occasion. By nodding or shaking her head in response to questions, the client told investigators that she experienced trouble breathing during the feeding and tried in vain to stop the staff member. A coworker, after allegedly telling the employee to stop, used her cell phone to videotape the incident.
According to the report, Homeward Bound fired the employee the day after the incident on the grounds that he violated the Vulnerable Adults Act by using excessive force. A police report was filed.
