Allegations of nursing home staff taking inappropriate cell phone photos of nursing home residents is again making news, this time in Washington State.
Previous TN nursing home neglect blogs had tracked the developments in the case against two Tennessee female employees at Pigeon Forge nursing home inappropriate nursing home photo investigation where a cell phone was used at the Tennessee nursing home nursing to record nude images of nursing home residents.
In the most recent case of nursing home photos, three employees at a Bremerton nursing home were fired from Kitsap Health & Rehabilitation Center. The nursing home reported the alleged abuse to police and the state Department of Social and Health Services is conducting an investigation. Prosecutors for the County are not charging the three nursing home employees as there appears no crime committed.
The allegedly inappropriate cell phone photos in question were taken around Christmas. One of the three, a 41-year-old licensed practical nurse, stated he and the other two fired had sent “funny pictures” to each other while denying the inappropriateness of photos taken of nursing home residents.
An example of a “funny” photo was taken of one nursing home resident sticking out his tongue. Less funny is the photo he received of a resident of unknown gender bent over exposing his or her naked buttocks. Other nursing home employees reported seeing other photographs.
Administrators at the Washington nursing home said residents were not aware their photos were being taken. All but one have severe dementia.
The other suspects are female nurses aides, ages 26 and 27. The three nursing home employees have been reported to a medical panel for review of alleged violations.