Health Aid Let Denville Alzheimer's Patient Lie On Floor Bleeding After Fall: Attorney General

DENVILLE, NJ — A health aid worker was indicted on charges she neglected and abused a 91-year-old woman with Alzheimer's at a Denville nursing home, the New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced on Friday.

Carla Caraballo, 59, of Louisiana, formerly of Plainfield, was indicted on third-degree charge of neglect of an elderly or disabled person by a caretake after she was caught on a hidden camera abusing her patient, Porrino said. The patient, who was not named, fell to the ground as she attempted to get out of bed last July, hitting her head and and body as Caraballo looked on.

Caraballo is seen in the video refusing to help the woman out of bed, telling her she'll leave her "on the floor all night" if she fell getting up on her own.

The woman did fall, hitting her head attempting to get out of bed. Caraballo let the woman lay on the floor, bleeding, as she sat with her feet propped up, playing on her cell phone, Porrino said.

After a "prolonged" period of time Caraballo "approached the elderly victim, wiped blood from her body, and made a remark to the effect that now the woman would remain in bed," Porrino said. Caraballo told the victim's daughter she was holding her hand when the fell happened.

“The shocking video in this case, along with several other similar videos, starkly brought home to us the need to implement the Safe Care Cam program to make micro-cameras available for families who suspect their loved ones are being mistreated by caregivers,” said Attorney General Porrino. “We’re committed to protecting the elderly and disabled, and we’re equally committed to holding those who neglect or abuse them strictly accountable for their conduct.”

The Safe Care Cam program, which makes micro-surveillance cameras available for free 30-day loans to individuals who suspect their loved ones are being abused by caregivers, was expanded to include families with relatives in nursing homes in early April.

Individuals who wish to participate in the Safe Care Cam program can call 973-504-6375 and leave a message in a voice mailbox that is monitored by Division of Consumer Affairs staff, or call the Division’s toll-free line 800-242-5846 and follow voice prompts to leave a message.

Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Image via Attorney General Office

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