Florida nursing home employee arrested, charged with abusing disabled elderly patient

(Orchid Cove at Palm Harbor, Image credit: Google Maps)

On May 25, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office headquartered in Largo, Florida, reported that their deputies took a nursing home employee into custody after she was accused of abusing one of the nursing residents who was described as an elderly and disabled adult.  On May 24, deputies began an investigation after a report that an employee had battered that vulnerable adult resident at Orchid Cove at Palm Harbor, located at 2600 Highlands Boulevard in Palm Harbor.

According to deputies, the administrative coordinator for the facility reported the incident, which occurred earlier in the day on May 24.

Throughout the course of the criminal investigation, it was discovered that 51-year-old Delana Dallas-Hudson, who is a certified nursing assistant, had pushed the victim to the ground after the victim requested ice from Dallas-Hudson multiple times. Several witnesses indicated they heard the victim request ice and then recounted hearing someone falling to the ground.

One staff member advised that they heard Dallas-Hudson state, “Go ahead, hit me!”

It was learned that the victim requested only ice, but Dallas-Hudson provided the victim with a cup of ice and water. The victim, who is nearly non-verbal, began following Dallas-Hudson, stating “ice” when Dallas-Hudson grabbed and crushed the cup the victim was holding, causing the ice water to spray all over the victim. Dallas-Hudson then pushed the victim to the ground.

Deputies located Dallas-Hudson, and while she was interviewed, she admitted to crushing the cup the victim was holding, causing ice water to strike the victim.  Dallas-Hudson also admitted to pushing the victim in the chest even though the victim offered no threat of violence to her. Dallas-Hudson has since been fired from the nursing home.

Dallas-Hudson, who resides in Holiday, Florida, was arrested and charged with one count of Abuse of a Disabled Adult. Deputies reported that the unidentified victim received minor Injuries.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, their investigation into the abuse remains ongoing and no further information regarding the elder victim is being released.

(Source: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram