Clearwater Nursing Home Employee Accused of Sexually Abusing Seven Patients

Stories about elderly or infirm patients being abused by the people charged with taking charge of them in nursing homes are as scary as they are heartbreaking.  You might think that the only way to protect your elderly parents from such a horrible fate is to continue taking care of them in their own home, no matter how ill they are or how much assistance they need.  The best solution, though, is not simply to avoid all nursing homes on principle.  Instead, before choosing a nursing home, conduct thorough research on its compliance with legal standards and on any history of misconduct by its employees.  While your relative is residing at the facility, be in frequent communication with your relative and with the nursing home staff, and speak up about your relative’s concerns.  A Florida nursing home planning attorney can help you at every stage of the process.

The Clearwater Sexual Battery Case

Falo Kane, a 32-year-old Certified Nursing Assistant, was arrested in September 2019 in connection to accusations that he sexually abused seven women at four nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the Clearwater area.  He faces seven counts of sexual battery of physically helpless persons.  Several of the incidents happened when Kane was changing the patients’ adult diapers; the alleged counts of sexual battery range from unwanted touching to attempting to force patients to perform oral sex.

ABC Action News reported that Kane has been licensed as a CNA since 2006, and the Department of Health does not have any disciplinary records on his file from a time before that covered by the current charges.  Meanwhile, Mease Countryside Hospital, where Kane was briefly employed in May 2018, said that he was fired two weeks into his employment after a patient complained that he had touched her inappropriately.  One of Kane’s neighbors expressed surprise and disbelief that Kane was capable of the actions of which he stands accused.  Meanwhile, a member of the Clearwater Police involved with the investigation says that Kane’s pattern of behavior toward the patients in his care is that of a “serial rapist.”

How to Protect Your Loved Ones from Nursing Home Abuse

The fact that someone was able to commit so many acts of sexual abuse against nursing home patients, and to continue to find work at nursing homes, is disturbing indeed.  When a patient complained about Kane to the administration of the facility, he was suspended immediately and fired soon after.  Whatever the outcome of the criminal case against Kane, the victims may be entitled to compensation if they file civil lawsuits against the facilities where the abuse took place.  Nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a legal responsibility to protect their patients from abuse by employees of the facility.

Contact an Attorney Today for Help

If you are concerned about your family member’s safety and wellbeing at a nursing home facility, you should consult an elder law attorney.  Contact Clearwater nursing home planning attorney William Rambaum to discuss your questions.

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