NEW HOPE — Two employees at a nursing home in New Hope are out of work and face criminal charges resulting from secret video taken by the family of two residents who were abused, according to police.
The Saint Therese Senior Care Facility employees were arrested on gross misdemeanor charges, and additional workers who were seen in the video could also be charged, police said.
The two employees were fired June 29 following confirmation of allegations that they abused the residents, according to the facility.
"When Saint Therese management learned about the allegations, we immediately suspended the employees, notified the state health department and New Hope police, which investigated the reports, as did management. The two former employees were charged with mistreatment of residents, a gross misdemeanor, and dismissed from employment," a statement from Saint Therese Senior Care Facility states.
Since then, eight other nursing assistants have been fired due to failure to report the abuse or violating a staff rule prohibiting the use of cellphones in residents' rooms, the facility said.
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Family members set up the hidden camera after the facility notified police of possible abuse to the two residents.
"The family was concerned about some injuries, some bruising, some skin injuries they were suspicious of," said New Hope Police Capt. Scott Slawson.
What was caught on the video recorded in the residents' rooms was shocking to both authorities and the facility, he said.
"Definitely mistreatment, probably assault were found on the video," Slawson said.
Saint Therese Senior Care Facility officials are taking steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, the statement said.
"Any abuse of residents is intolerable, which is why the two employees involved were suspended immediately and then dismissed. We have extended our heartfelt apologies to the residents and their family. They remain residents at Saint Therese of New Hope," it reads.
Prosecutors are now in control of the video and the case has been referred to the city attorney's office.
