Plainfield Woman Caught On Hidden Camera Abusing Elderly Woman With Alzheimer’s: AG

PLAINFIELD, NJ — A home health aide, formerly of Plainfield, was indicted for allegedly abusing and neglecting an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s who was under her care, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced.

Her actions were caught on a hidden camera set up by the victim's family and the alleged crime became one of the cases that led the Attorney General’s Office to create the new Safe Care Cam program.

Carla Caraballo, 59, of Louisiana, formerly of Plainfield, was indicted Thursday by a Morris County grand jury on a third-degree charge of neglect of an elderly or disabled person by a caretaker.

Caraballo worked as a home health aide at a senior living community in Denville where the 91-year-old victim, who suffered from dementia and Alzheimer’s, lived.

The victim’s family installed hidden cameras in her home to monitor her care and on July 6, 2016, Caraballo is seen not helping the victim as she tries to get out of bed.

Caraballo instead demands that the victim stay in bed and threatens to leave the elderly patient “on the floor all night” if she got up by herself and fell, according to Porrino.

The victim continues to try to get out of bed, falls and hits her head and body on either the floor or wall, suffering a head injury. Caraballo refuses to help the victim as she lies on the floor mere feet from her, Porrino said.

Caraballo then remains sitting in her chair with her legs up on the victim's wheelchair while she scrolls through her cell phone.

The victim allegedly remained on the floor for a prolonged period of time. Eventually Caraballo goes up to the elderly victim, wipes blood from her body, and says something to the effect that now the woman would remain in bed, Porrino said.

Caraballo eventually called the victim’s daughter and told her that the mother fell. The daughter then called for help and the victim was transported to a hospital. Caraballo falsely claimed to have been holding the victim’s hand when she fell, Porrino said.

Caraballo was arrested on July 9, 2016 by Denville Police.

This videotaped incident was one of several cases cited in December when Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced a new initiative called 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.

The cameras initially were available only for in-home use, but on Tuesday, May 9, the Attorney General announced a program expansion to make the cameras available to families whose loved ones are in nursing homes.

“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 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.”

Caraballo could face three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000 for the third-degree charges.

The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Paul Armstrong in Morris County, where Caraballo will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment on the charge.

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 they can call the Division’s toll-free line 800-242-5846 and follow voice prompts to leave a message.

(Image via Attorney General Office: Carla Caraballo, 59, of Louisiana, formerly of Plainfield)

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