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Nurses Aide Admits Slapping Patient

January 30, 2007

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Former Northern Riverview Nursing Home certified nurse aide (CNA) Yolette Joseph pled guilty in New York's Village of Haverstraw Justice Court to violating the Public Health Laws in connection with her abuse of an elderly patient, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced.

Ms. Joseph faces up to one year in jail.

Joseph, 49, of Spring Valley, NY, admitted that on July 20, 2006, she was arguing with a sixty-nine year old wheelchair-bound patient, who suffered from dementia, while she and another CNA were placing him in bed. Joseph admitted that the argument escalated and that she eventually slapped the resident in his face.

As a result of the assault, the patient sustained swelling and bruising under his eye. Joseph also admitted that she falsely reported the incident to her superiors in an attempt to cover up her actions because she feared losing her job.

It was only when the bruising on the victim's face became apparent on the following day that Joseph admitted to her superiors that she had slapped the patient.

"My office is committed to protecting nursing home residents who are particularly vulnerable to neglect and abuse," Cuomo said. "Those entrusted with caring for the sick or elderly must be held accountable for abusing patients."

Northern Riverview Nursing Home is located at 87 Route 9W in Haverstraw, New York. Joseph worked at the facility from April 26, 2001 to July 21, 2006, when she was immediately terminated as a result of this incident.

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