Former Assisted Living Facility Worker Charged in Patient Death (PA. USA)

June 18, 2009

By KEITH PHUCAS
Times Herald Staf

A former worker at a Montgomery County assisted living facility is accused of killing an elderly Alzheimer’s patient she allegedly force fed scalding hot cereal.
After suffering severe burns to his lips, mouth, tongue and throat, 79-year-old Ronald Meyers was unable to eat and died two weeks later, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.
“This is a very distressing situation,” she said.
Alvador Thompson, 55, of Hatfield, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, neglect of a care dependent person and related charges in Meyers’ death. At the time he was burned last year, he was living at the Cambridge-Brightfield Assisted Living Facility in Hatfield.
Thompson, who was working as a resident assistant at the assisted living center, put hot Cream of Wheat cereal into a cup and allegedly poured it into Meyers’ mouth while feeding him breakfast, according to court papers.

The woman did not immediately report the Oct. 8 feeding incident, and it was hours before Meyers was taken to a Central Montgomery Hospital for treatment. He remained hospitalized for four days before being released.
Meyers’ family and the facility’s other employees described him as having a hearty appetite, but after being injured, Meyers never ate again. He died on Oct. 23.

The assisted living employee was suspended by Cambridge-Brightfield pending an internal the investigation and eventually fired from her job.
Prosecutors had requested that the victim’s body be exhumed for an autopsy; however, the DA’s Office has since put that plan on hold.

On Tuesday, the defendant waived her preliminary hearing before District Judge David A. Keightly and was released. Her arraignment is scheduled for August 5. Assistant District Attorney Bradford Richman, captain of the DA’s Elder Abuse Unit, will prosecute the case.
Ferman created the Elder Abuse Unit fifteen months ago to address a rise in reported crimes against the elderly, including physical and sexual assaults, neglect, theft and financial explo
“Now that we have the Elder Abuse Unit, we’re looking in a much more comprehensive way at these kinds of deaths,” she said.

Besides training police and prosecutors about elder abuse investigative techniques, the DA also works with elder care providers and community groups to teach them how to recognize signs of suspected abuse.
To contact the Elder Abuse Hotline call 1-800-734-2020.

Abridged

SOURCE: Norristown Times Herald - Norristown,PA,USA

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