Here is yet another story of an elderly patient being abused by someone hired to help them.
GAINES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A 21-year-old caregiver is accused of throwing shoes and water at a 86-year-old patient, as well as threatening to sexually assault the victim with a stuffed animal.
Tyler Malone, 21, of Grand Rapids is charged with second-degree vulnerable adult abuse and stalking against a patient at the Lifehouse Crystal Springs Retirement Home — second-degree vulnerable adult abuse is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison. Stalking is a one year misdemeanor. His bond was set at $25,000, and he is being held at the Kent County Correctional Facility.
David is one of the victim’s sons. He said his mom was checked into the Lifehouse Crystal Springs Retirement home last year because she has Alzheimer’s.
“We started to notice a lot of phone calls and complaints coming into us, telling us about some strange and weird stories like someone is throwing shoes at her and throwing water on her. And she’s crying and wants to get out of there so badly,” David said.
The family was told by staff not to worry, that it was the disease talking.
“We came over to visits and the room was just a cyclone, shoes thrown and glass and busted things all over. Lamps broken and she denied it all the time but before we checked her in she wasn’t doing that kind of stuff,” David explained.
“And you just attributed all of this to her Alzheimer’s?” asked 24 Hour News 8’s Tom Hillen.
“Right, right, that’s what the people in charge at the home said,” David replied.
According to court records, Malone was a resident assistant at the home, and treated the 86-year-old patient. The victim’s family says that Malone threatened to sexually assault the victim with a stuffed animal. The victim’s family contacted police, saying Malone was harassing the victim by repeatedly calling her phone, throwing shoes and throwing water on her.
It was so bad the victim would frantically call her children in the middle of the night requesting that she be picked up and remove her from the home.
“She used to say get me out of here. I beg you got to get me out. And they would say don’t take her out. It can be really hard on them kind,” her son said.
Another staff member tells police she overheard Malone tell the victim he was “the doctor” and was going to sexually assault her. When the staff member walked into the room, the victim stated “don’t let the doctor hurt me.”
“I’m not really that hateful of a person and vindictive. It’s just terrible how he would go pick on someone that’s so weak and venerable I just can’t imagine how someone would do that,” David said.
Court records show the alleged abuse happened between May 1, 2014 and August 22, 2014 when it was reported to the Kent County Sheriff’s Department.
It was an employee David says that pulled his sister aside one day and told her they needed to believe their mother. David says he wishes they would have believed his mom sooner.
“If you get any unusual complaints from any person in a nursing home, definitely pay attention and believe them and prove that their wrong instead of just taking a doctors word or nurses word,” said David.
Malone was fired from Lifehouse Crystal Springs Retirement Home and was later hired by American House Senior Living Communities, located at 5980 Eastern Avenue SE in Kentwood.
Kristen Keller with American House Senior Living Communities told 24 Hour News 8 Malone was hired in September 2014, and was still an employee. As soon as the facility learned about the allegations, they suspended Malone pending the conclusion of the criminal investigation and their own internal investigation.
American House Senior Living Communities did a background check on Malone’s criminal record as well as with state licensing bureau — and didn’t find any problems, according to Keller.
Keller says they have had no reports of abuse at their facility but plan to check back with families. She says the safety of their residents is their top priority.
Any resident or family member at American House Senior Living Communities who has concerns about Malone and his care should contact the facility as well as the Kent County Sheriff’s Department.
Though this case happened in Michigan, nursing home abuse can take place in any state (and likely does) .
If you suspect your loved one is suffering abuse, contact local authorizes and a local attorney to help you.
The Law office of Patrick Bull gives free consultations concerning elder abuse and neglect.
Call 978-457-9090