Nursing Home Abuse in Hopkins Caught on Camera

Written by Jeff Meyer on February 27, 2016

When it comes to trusting someone with the care of your loved ones, it’s hard to think of a situation where you could put more faith into another person. While you may have just thought of daycare, nursing home facilities involve a similar setup. Except, in that situation, people are putting their own parents into the hands of others and hoping for the best. Even when you take every standard precaution to ensure the health and safety of your parents, it can still take a long time to get comfortable with this type of arrangement. The following story out of Hopkins, MN doesn’t help matters either. While they definitely don’t happen often, it’s still chilling to think about.

A Hidden Camera Saves the Day

According to police, the smoking gun in this case was caught thanks to a family member setting up a hidden camera. Shockingly, the evidence this camera caught was of one of the caretakers repeatedly beating a woman who was entrusted to her care.

The resident who eventually set up the camera did so after she found unexplained bruises on her mother, an elderly woman who was living at the Glenn Hopkins senior home.

After seeing the footage for themselves on Sunday, February 7th, the family shared the video with Hopkins Police. Immediately, officers were dispatched to arrest the 55-year-old perpetrator. Later, she was identified as Cecilia Chebii Soi, a resident of Hopkins. Ms. Soi has been charged with two counts of assault in relation to the recorded incidents.

The Horrific Footage   

According to police, the nursing home employee can be seen on video striking the elderly woman in the head. The aide is said to have used her hand, elbow and even a hair brush to land blows. Another disturbing scene shows the elderly woman being yanked up from the floor by her hair.   

Lori McGuire, an administrator employed at Glenn Hopkins reported that the aide has been terminated as a result of the investigation into her conduct. Furthermore, McGuire pledged that the facility would be reviewing their practices related to hiring, training and supervising of employees.

Possible Punishment for the Crime

It will be some time before we find out Soi’s fate. However, the evidence is certainly tough to dispute and unlikely to leave any room for sympathy at sentencing.

If Soi is convicted, she will face up to a year in prison and could be fined as much as $3,000. That’s just for the fourth-degree assault charge though. She could face another 90 days in prison and an additional $1,000 in fines in relation to her fifth-degree assault charge.

Obviously, it probably goes without saying that Ms. Soi’s days of working at elderly care facilities are over no matter what.

A Sad Reminder

Unfortunately, this is a good reminder that you always need to check in on your elderly parents if they’re staying in a nursing home. Prior to admitting them, it’s a good idea to do your due diligence in investigating the place, but don’t stop there.

While it’s true that these types of incidents are, mercifully, rare, you’re definitely better off safe than sorry. Speak with your parents regularly and take them seriously if they report any types of abuse.

If your parent is unable to speak up or communicate effectively, then it’s even more important that you physically check in on them yourself. Should you suspect that something isn’t right, speak to management at the home, but consider contacting an attorney who specializes in this type of crime as well. They’ll be able to advise you in how to move forward with confirming your suspicions and seeking help.

Source:

http://kstp.com/news/hidden-camera-glenn-hopkins-nursing-home/4057299/

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