Indictment: Employees restrained, slapped elders at Alzheimer's care home

JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. — A new 90-count indictment details the alleged elder abuse at the Alzheimer’s Care Home of Commerce.

Shocking accusations include employees restraining patients in chairs and one worker slapping a man. The indictment also states several of the workers were convicted felons.

Channel 2 Action News reported the raid at the residential care home in Jackson County last summer.

Authorities say a former employee first reported the alleged abuse. They raided the care home after a three-month investigation.

The new indictment alleges 18 workers abused and neglected patients or failed to report abuse.

In one false imprisonment count, an employee is accused of detaining a victim by “restraining him to a chair.”

The allegations also include illegally distributing drugs including morphine, hydrocodone and lorazepam.

Another worker is accused of simple battery for “pouring water on a victim.”

Another count alleges an employee abused an elderly man “by slapping him.”

At the time of the raid, family members said they had no idea there were any problems.

“We always thought they took excellent care of them,” said Gwen Ivester, a relative of one of the residents at the home.

Gayle Meagher said she thought her relative received good care as well.

“He’s received very good care here as far as I’m concerned and have been able to see,” Meagher said.

The indictment also alleges several of the employees are convicted felons. The convictions include voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and financial identity fraud.

A former attorney for the care home has called the case exaggerated, overblown and unmerited.

WSBTV