Oakdale Nursing Home Employee Accused of Patient Abuse

OAKDALE, NY — An Oakdale nursing facility employee was arrested and arraigned last week, after she was seen on video rough handling and slapping a patient — who later died — in the face, ABC7 said.

Claire Garrovillas, a certified nursing assistant at Affinity Skilled Living and Rehabilitation Center in Oakdale, was charged with first-degree endangering an incompetent or disabled person, according to online court documents.

Garrovillas was an aide to Michael Mills, a resident at the facility, ABC7 said.

Felicia Chillak, Mills' girlfriend, claims that after seeing bruises on his body, she hired a private investigator to install a hidden camera in the facility, she told ABC7. She then said she saw disturbing footage of Garrovillas slapping and rough handling Mills.

He later died at another nursing home facility on Monday, after being transferred, ABC7 said.

Garrovillas was arrested on Aug. 19 and arraigned on Thursday. She is due back in court on Sept. 29.

Patch has reached out to Affinity Skilled Living and Rehabilitation Center for comment.