Three Health Care Workers Chargedwith Elder Abuse At Erie County Nursing Home

Attorney General Spitzer today announced the arrest of a registered nurse and two nurse’s aides employed at a Williamsville, NY nursing home for illegally tying an elderly senile patient to his wheelchair and leaving him unattended. The two aides were also charged with similarly mistreating a second patient.

Appearing May 4th for arraignment in Amherst Justice Court before Judge Geoffrey Klein, RN Patricia Worwa and CNAs Shawn Garrett and Cynthia Adams were charged with the crimes of Wilful Violation of Health Laws and Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person. If convicted, they each face up to one year in jail.

According to the Information filed in the case, while working at the Williamsville Suburban Nursing Home on January 6, 2005, RN Worwa and CNAs Garrett and Adams tied an 80-year-old male patient to his wheelchair with a bed sheet. The patient, who suffers from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes, was later discovered bound and sitting across from the nurse’s station wearing only a tee shirt and briefs.

The Information further charged that, later on the same day, Garrett and Adams similarly restrained a 90-year-old female patient who suffers from dementia, depression, hypertension, osteoporosis, and chronic pain syndrome.

The charges against Worwa, Garrett and Adams are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

By law, physical restraints may only be used upon a physician’s order or in an emergency. Restraints are used as a last resort, after less restrictive options have proven unsuccessful, because they pose risks to the patient.

Spitzer thanked the state Health Department for referring the matter to his office.

Worwa, 45, lives at 62 Ontario drive in Cheektowaga, New York. She was employed at the nursing home from February 9, 1994, until January 11, 2005.

Garrett, 38, lives at 33 Milborn Street in Buffalo. She was employed at the nursing home from April 30, 2003, until January 13, 2005.

Adams, 45, lives at 59 LeRoy Avenue in Buffalo. She was employed at the nursing home from June 23, 2003, until January 13, 2005.

Williamsville Suburban Nursing Home is located at 165 South Union Road in Williamsville.

Special Assistant Attorney General Laurie A. Frank, of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s Buffalo Regional Office, is prosecuting the cases. Senior Special Investigator Joseph Coyne assisted in the investigation.