A Colorado health care worker, Patience Jackson, 33, has been arrested on charges related to elder abuse after a 92-year-old woman with severe dementia suffered serious injuries. Jackson, along with Zainab Namale, 32, is accused of being involved in the woman’s injuries at a nursing home.
The investigation began after hospital staff raised concerns about the inconsistencies in the explanation of the elderly woman’s injuries, which included two broken bones in her lower leg. Authorities believe Jackson and Namale might have been involved in covering up what really happened to the woman.
The Alleged Elder Abuse
The case began on May 9 when an investigator from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office was called to Sky Ridge Medical Center after hospital staff reported concerns about potential elder abuse. The 92-year-old woman, who had severe dementia, was brought to the hospital with broken bones in both her shinbone and calf.
The injuries were serious, and the hospital staff noted that the circumstances surrounding the injury didn’t match the explanation provided by the Orchard Park Health Care Center, where the woman had been staying.
The care facility reported that the elderly woman was found “screaming for help in terrible pain” while sitting in her wheelchair. However, no one at the facility could explain what happened or how the injury occurred. Various staff members tried to explain the situation, with some suggesting that the woman was hurt while being moved from her wheelchair to her bed.
However, this account didn’t align with the nature of the woman’s fractures, which hospital staff and a surgeon described as “clean breaks” rather than the spiral fractures that might be expected if she had been moved in the manner described.
The Role of Jackson and Namale
Patience Jackson, a certified nursing assistant, and Zainab Namale, a licensed practical nurse, were both involved in the care of the woman at Orchard Park Health Care Center. They initially claimed that the woman’s injuries occurred while she was sitting in her wheelchair.
However, further investigation revealed that their accounts were inconsistent with the evidence, leading authorities to believe that the two women may have been trying to cover up the truth about what had happened.
A surgeon who examined the victim’s injuries stated that the fractures were more severe than those typically associated with a fall or twisting motion from a wheelchair, further casting doubt on the caregivers’ explanations. The sheriff’s office also found that Jackson and Namale were likely not truthful about the incident, and they were suspected of being complicit in hiding what actually took place.
Arrest and Investigation
Patience Jackson was arrested at her home on Wednesday and charged with criminal negligence, crimes against an at-risk person, and complicity—all felonies. She was placed in the Arapahoe County Detention Center with a bond set at $2,500. Meanwhile, an arrest warrant was issued for Zainab Namale, who was reported to be in Miami at the time of the investigation.
Namale was given 24 hours to turn herself in, though it is unclear whether she has been arrested by Thursday. The investigation into the elder abuse remains ongoing as authorities work to uncover more details.
The case of elder abuse involving Patience Jackson and Zainab Namale highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals in care facilities and the need for vigilant oversight. The investigation continues to unfold, and it remains unclear exactly what led to the 92-year-old woman’s injuries.
Jackson’s arrest has brought attention to the responsibility of healthcare workers to protect the elderly, especially those suffering from dementia who are unable to advocate for themselves. As the investigation progresses, more details may emerge about the events surrounding this troubling case.
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