State levies fine on Naugatuck nursing home  

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NAUGATUCK — The state Department of Health has fined a Naugatuck nursing home and rehabilitation center for failing to prevent potential abuse of a vulnerable resident.

The DOH fined Beacon Brook Health Center on Weid Drive $1,530 in September following an investigation.

According to the citation, on July 13 a resident, identified only as Resident 1, complained that a second resident, identified as Resident 2, “came into the room and made an inappropriate sexual gesture toward him/her that made him/her feel afraid and uncomfortable.”

Resident 2 told employees that he/she was visiting another resident in the room, according to the citation. Resident 2 was instructed to remain out of the room and only meet with the other resident in common areas. Resident 2 agreed, according to the citation.

On Aug. 9, Resident 2 once again came into the room while Resident 1 was in bed and “rubbed his/her private parts” on Resident 1, according to the citation.

According to the citation, Resident 1 said he/she was on the phone when Resident 2 came in and asked about the location of the third resident that Resident 2 used to visit. Resident 2 put a hand on Resident 1’s stomach and Resident 1 “could feel [Resident 2’s] private part rubbing against him/her.”

Resident 1’s medical record from that day “identified that the resident was visibly upset, crying and shaking. The resident was assessed with no physical injury,” the citation states.

Following the second incident the health center placed Resident 2 on one-on-one supervision until the resident was discharged on Aug. 28.

The investigation found the health center never updated records stating Resident 2 was not allowed to enter the room. The DOH levied the fine because “the facility failed to ensure Resident 1 was free from abuse,” the citation states.

Beacon Brook administrator Linda Garcia said in a prepared statement that the nursing home isn’t at liberty to disclose any details due to a confidentiality agreement.