July 02, 2013
Search Warrant Executed at Alzheimer’s Care of Commerce, Seventy Arrest Warrants Issued for Employees of the Facility
Commerce, GA – A search warrant was executed this morning at Alzheimer’s Care of Commerce 200 Bolton Drive, Commerce, Jackson County, Georgia. The search warrant resulted from a three month investigation into the facility stemming from allegations of abuse and neglect of Alzheimer’s patients staying at the facility. Former and present employees have been interviewed and provided detailed information concerning abuse and neglect of patients at the facility. Information obtained through the investigation indicated that patients were restrained with bed sheets and subjected to inhumane and undignified conditions to include “double diapering”, which is a practice whereby multiple diapers were placed on the patients at once to keep the staff from changing soiled diapers as often. There were accounts of physical abuse, such as staff members striking patients and throwing water on them.
On April 2, 2013, the GBI was requested by the Commerce Police Department to conduct an investigation into the Alzheimer’s Care of Commerce in reference to allegations of abuse and neglect.
Warrants for the arrests of twenty-one former and present employees have been issued. There are over seventy charges including Cruelty to a Person 65 Years of Age or Older; and Abuse, Neglect, Financial Exploitation and Failure to Report which are charges under the Protection of Disabled Adults and Elderly Persons statute.
During the investigation, the GBI learned patients were also being cared for by people with prior felony convictions ranging from voluntary manslaughter to drug charges to identity theft. It is against state regulations to have convicted felons working in a personal care facility. There were also unauthorized personnel administering medications to the patients and medication prescribed to the patients were found to be missing or unaccounted for during an audit of the facility in May of 2013.
The Alzheimer’s Care of Commerce is owned by Donna Wright, who is also being charged with Cruelty to a Person 65 Years of Age or Older; and Abuse, Neglect, Financial Exploitation and Failure to Report under the Protection of Disabled Adults and Elderly Persons.
Numerous agencies have assisted with the investigation: the Commerce Police Department, The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, the Georgia Department of Human Services Forensic Special Investigations, the Georgia Department of Revenue, the Georgia Healthcare Facility Regulation Division, the Georgia Department of Aging, Adult Protective Services, the Athens Community Council on Aging, U.S. Social Security Administration, and the Jackson County Emergency Medical Services.