Three employees of two separate New Jersey long-term care facilities were indicted this past month, highlighting grave concerns over resident safety and care standards in such facilities throughout the state.

Per the June 14 press release from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Joseph Robles, 23, of Tuckerton, and Maria Alcantara, 53, of Toms River, were recently named in a 10-count indictment, citing neglect, criminal restraint, and assault.

Following an investigation by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, “between January 13 and January 15, 2023, at an Alzheimer’s care facility in Toms River, Robles and Alcantara, both facility employees, allegedly physically restrained and attempted to cause or caused bodily injury to a 93-year-old patient. They also allegedly failed to make required wellness checks, but noted in the patient’s records that she was checked every 30 minutes.”

In a sperate investigation, Simone Goldsboro, an employee of Dwellside Care & Rehab, allegedly sprayed a nursing home resident in the face with bleach, causing serious bodily injury. Dwellside Care & Rehab is located in Cherry Hill, NJ, where the incident took place. Goldsboro is also alleged to have injured the victim by roughly undressing her and pulling her hair.

According to the press release, an estimated one in six people aged 60 or older are subjected to some type of abuse, including psychological abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse, and other forms of neglect. The abuse can often remain hidden because the victims are too afraid or embarrassed to seek help.

Cases of nursing home abuse and neglect often go unreported or mishandled, making legal intervention crucial in protecting the rights and dignity of residents. Families who suspect their loved ones may have suffered similar mistreatment are encouraged to seek legal advice promptly to safeguard their rights and explore avenues for justice.