A former certified nursing assistant was sentenced this week to five months in jail and five years of probation for the abuse of a nursing home resident that was captured by a hidden camera. Rose Dorlean Blaise, 36, was charged with one count of battery on the elderly after she was caught on tape with another CNA abusing a 76-year-old resident with Alzheimer's at Palm Garden of Winter Haven in Winter Haven, FL.   The video footage showed Blaise and Yashika Jones, 30, taunting, kicking and hitting the resident on three different occasions in 2015. Jones was sentenced to 18 months in prison and five years of probation in May.

The resident's family placed the hidden camera inside a clock in his room after they noticed bruising on his body. He has since died.

In addition to her sentence Blaise must undergo a 26-week batterer intervention program, write an apology letter to the man's family and forfeit her nursing license. She also is barred from future employment in a caretaking position.

Officials at Winter Haven were not available for comment on Thursday. In a statement released to Tampa Bay's 10 News following Blaise and Jones' initial arrest, Winter Haven Chief Operating Officer Jeff Bomberger said the company maintained an “overarching commitment” to providing a safe and welcoming care environment, and had suspended the two without pay.

“Upon the completion of this investigation and the satisfaction of all legal and law enforcement issues, we will determine and enact any necessary changes to prevent such actions from ever occurring again,” Bomberger wrote.

Currently Illinois, Washington, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico allow cameras to be installed in nursing home resident rooms. In addition, Utah this week moved closer to becoming the first state to pass legislation allowing cameras in assisted living resident rooms.

The Covert Eye strongly advocates the use of covert hidden cameras in all nursing homes and assisted living facilities for those who have elderly family members residing there. Make sure your loved ones are being looked after with the care and dignity they deserve when you can't be there.

I make mention of this story out of Scranton, PA., because it illustrates three things.  These burglaries were happening during the day when many of the victims were in the house.  The entries were made either through a window or through doors that were forced open. Many of the residents in the neighborhood didn't think it would happen to them.

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/burglary-investigated-in-scranton-1.2074431

Most home break-ins occur during the day.  Locking doors and windows won't deter a burglar.  Installing an inexpensive window and door alarm will.  And YES, it can happen to you, and it's probably only a manner of time until it does.  http://www.thecoverteye.com/Home_Alarms

Chances are, either you or someone you know has a home security system—and if your home is in Richardson, Texas, police there want to know, too.

With home surveillance systems dropping in price in recent years, security cameras have become more common… serving up ‘gotcha moments' at the push of a button: whether that's a delivery man behaving badly, or a crook caught in the act

The idea in Richardson is to map out a network of home security cameras in neighborhoods throughout the city to aid police in identifying and capturing burglars and other perpetrators. In the case of one local resident, Leo Pease, he found a neighbor lady crying as she came out of her house one day because she had discovered she had been robbed.  Pease calmed her down and then decided to check the footage from his own cameras.  Sure enough, he had caught the burglar on video.  Police used the evidence to eventually arrest the thief and return the stolen items back to the woman.    

This idea of keeping a database of residential security cameras to aid law enforcement to widen its own surveillance systems is likely to be adopted in other cities and towns around the country.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/08/08/home-surveillance-a-valuable-resource-for-police/

Tips for Home Invasion Safety..... While You're Home … •Arm your security system (if you have one). Not doing this is a common mistake homeowners make and home invasion robbers know it.

 •Do not open the door without question at the sound of a knock.

•If you are not expecting a package, delivery or service call do not answer the door. Insist that the deliverer provide you with verbal verification of his employment and call the company to confirm that the deliverer's impromptu visit is legitimate. Your front door should remain closed and locked!

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