Columbia nursing home cited for assault on resident

A Columbia nursing home quickly fired an employee who assaulted a resident.

A state health department review in October found that Parkside Manor did not ensure that the resident “remained free from physical abuse.” Several staff members and residents spoke about a certified nursing assistant hitting a resident. The CNA denied ever hitting the person, but the facility “substantiated” the claim and fired the employee.

ABC 17 News Investigates previously highlighted the state’s review of Parkside Manor after a resident died in a whirlpool tub. The nursing home did not have federally required alarms next to the bathtub at the time of her death.

According to the report, a resident at Parkside Manor asked for help getting out of bed at 4:25 a.m. on Sept. 30, 2018. While a nursing assistant went to get a pad for the resident’s wheelchair, the CNA told them both that “day shift is responsible to get the resident up.” The CNA then tried to put the resident’s feet back in the bed.

The resident told investigators that the CNA began hitting them in the chest three times. The resident’s roommate told investigators that they did not see it happen, but that they heard the altercation. An internal investigation at Parkside Manor found that the resident showed no physical sign of injury, besides the resident’s reported pain.

The CNA told facility staff that the resident attacked them, and denied ever hitting the resident.

State investigators came two days later, on Oct. 2, to interview those involved. Parkside Manor agreed to train its staff in dealing with reports of abuse. The facility said it would also report those claims to the state within two hours and clock out any on-duty staff accused of abusing a resident.

Parkside Manor did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.