Nurse at Kentucky Nursing Home Enters Alford Plea After Allegations of Abuse

A licensed practical nurse at a Madisonville nursing home, was indicted for slapping a resident and pinching their arm. The Department for Community Based Services, Adult Protective Services and the Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse of the Kentucky Attorney’s General’s Office investigated the abuse allegations. The charges for knowingly abusing an adult is a Class C felony, and Maypray faced a potential ten-year prison sentence if found guilty.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the nurse accepted an Alford Plea, meaning there’s no admission of guilt but an acknowledgment of the sufficient evidence that could convict her. Per the Kentucky attorney general’s office, the plea agreement reduced the charges to a misdemeanor of reckless abuse or neglect of an adult. Instead of a prison sentence, the Hopkins Circuit Court sentenced Maypray to 12 months of probation.

A news release confirmed that she also agreed to remain on the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ Caregiver Misconduct Registry for seven years. Although court records didn’t include the name of the nursing home where she worked at the time of the abuse, it indicated that she was ordered to stay off Ridgewood Terrace Health and Rehabilitation Center premises.

Nursing Home Abuse Can Have Long-Lasting Effects

Elder abuse is all-too-common in nursing homes. Older residents may have physical or mental limitations that prevent them from defending themselves against physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

While some physical injuries can heal with medical care, psychological injuries can last a lifetime. Many patients develop anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They live in fear of their abuser and feel ashamed by the events that took place. They also might withdraw from family, friends, and activities they once enjoyed.

Abuse can have a significant impact on a person’s happiness and general well-being. Injuries that don’t heal can lead to permanent disability or impairment. Some nursing home patients require ongoing medical treatment to manage pain or improve compromised physical mobility. It can also create a financial strain for the individual paying the medical bills and associated costs.