According to Reuters, a 73-year-old resident of a suburban New Jersey nursing home was arrested on June 12 for an alleged assault on a fellow tenant nearly 20 years older.
The alleged attack occurred at the Pine Acres Nursing Home in Madison. Investigators reportedly found the man accused of the crime sitting naked in a wheelchair outside the room of the victim, who was bleeding from head and facial injuries.
The Madison Police Department said that Richard Szabo, 73, allegedly attacked John Foster, 92, by striking him several times with a leg support from his wheelchair. The incident reportedly occurred around 4 a.m.
A motive behind the attack has not been determined, and the incident remains under investigation. Szabo was arrested—he was charged with aggravated assault and weapon possession. Both men were reportedly taken to a hospital for evaluation.
What Should I Do If My Loved One Is Injured in a New York or New Jersey Nursing Home?
Nursing home abuse and neglect is something that needs to be investigated thoroughly. This includes incidents of roommates or residents attacking each other, as the homes have a duty to keep potentially violent individuals out of the general population.
If a nursing home fails to protect its residents from assaults, then it should be held liable for carelessness. Aside from assault or abuse, other signs of nursing home injuries include bedsores, malnutrition or dehydration, head injuries and infections. All of these issues are intolerable.
Your loved one should not have to endure a heinous attack or experience abuse while residing at a nursing home. Hold the facility liable if neglect occurred. For more information, you can also visit our Facebook page, LinkedIn page, Google+ page or our Twitter page. Contact us today.
Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman, P.C. – Bergen County Injury Lawyers
KGG’s Corner: An ABC News report in 2013 revealed that almost 30 percent of nursing homes in the U.S. have been cited for instances of neglect.