Kentucky Injury Law Blog

In Kentucky’s Madison District Court, a former nursing home aide pleaded not guilty to charges she neglected an elderly resident. Jaclyn Dawn VanWinkle was charged with wanton endangerment for the lack of care that Armeda Thomas received while staying at the Madison Manor Nursing Home in Richmond.

Thomas’s family members hid a camera in her room after they found 36 unexplained bruises on her body. The video footage showed nursing workers physically and verbally abusing the elderly resident, as well as neglecting to clean and feed her. Thomas has Alzheimer’s.

While VanWinkle is not accused of physically assaulting Thomas, the charges against the 25-year-old stem from an incident when a nursing danced in front of the 84-year-old resident while another nursing worker held her arms. The former nursing aide was also accused of failing to use a gait belt when moving Thomas from her bed to a wheelchair.

Nine nursing aides were fired after the alleged Kentucky nursing home abuse incidents were reported. VanWinkle, however, says that she took good care of Thomas and was shocked when she was let go from her job. She says that people misunderstood what they were seeing when they watched the footage of someone dancing and singing in front of the elderly resident. At the time the alleged abuse incident occurred, VanWinkle had not yet received her certified nursing assistant’s license.

Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services has cited Madison Manor over the alleged nursing abuse incidents. The Kentucky nursing home says it has taken action to remedy the problems.

Former nursing home aide pleads not guilty, Richmond Register, December 23, 2008

Former Richmond nursing home aide is charged with neglect, Kentucky.com, December 19, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Read Madison Manor's Statement About the Abuse Charge Filed Against VanWinkle, December 18, 2008 (PDF)

Madison Manor