Nursing Home Barred from Accepting New Patients Following Sexual Abuse Allegations

By Daniel Hawn

Published on February 24, 2006

During an annual investigation of the Peace River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center last month, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration discovered a series of unreported sexual abuse allegations that spanned from May to September. The allegations centered on a single male resident who reportedly kissed and groped several female residents of the nursing home's Alzheimer's and dementia unit.

Health Management Associates, which operates the facility, said that the man was mentally ill and, prior to the events, had been taken off his medication. Joshua S. Putter, regional vice president of Health Management Associates, said that administrators felt the man was incapable of comprehending his actions. The patient has since been transferred to another center.

Following the investigation, nursing home officials created a plan to address the issues. The new plan included increasing staff training, and informing residents' family members about changes in the facility's abuse policy.

An investigation conducted earlier this month, however, revealed that the facility had not carried out its plan. State officials also reported new problems, including a male resident who was found in the rooms of three female residents.

The agency subsequently filed an emergency order to prevent the nursing home from accepting new patients until a plan is implemented to deal with the problems. In response, administrators intend to house only female Alzheimer's and dementia patients in the facility's designated unit.

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