WHEATFIELD, N.Y. - A New York State Health Department report obtained by 2 On Your Side details a disturbing case of abuse that occurred last Spring at a nursing facility in Wheatfield.
The documents show that two employees at the Northgate Health Care Facility were immediately fired after the incident was reported and verified through security cameras.
According to the report, nursing assistant Alicia Clemens and fellow employee Gloria Maxwell placed two elderly and impaired patients in the same bed, attempted to convince them they were husband and wife, and tried to coax them into inappropriate contact. Clemens took cell phone pictures of the two in bed.
One patient was blind and suffered from dementia, the other suffers from mild retardation and schizophrenia.
Facility Administrator Terry Collins tells WGRZ that the incident took place last April, and once it was brought to their attention, the two were fired and it was reported to the State Health Department.
State Health Department Spokesman Jeffrey Hammond says that the behavior did not rise to the level of criminality, but the two nursing assistants' status with the Department now states they are no longer "in good standing", meaning they can no longer work in a nursing home environment.
The State Health Department concluded it's 10-month investigation in February, and states that the administration at Northgate responded appropriately to the situation.