The Schuylkill Center in Pottsville has something to brag about. Last week, it received the state’s second annual “Awards for Excellence in Health Care Compliance” from Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Michael Wolf.
Earlier this month, we had blogged that the death of a Weatherly nursing home resident was ruled a homicide by the Luzerne County Coroner’s Office. The coroner’s report said that an 86-year-old resident was allegedly pushed by another resident on April 20 at the Weatherwood Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center. The push caused her to fall and strike her head. She died 6 hours later at Hazleton General Hospital.
Now the CitizensVoice.com is reporting that the 53-year-old resident who pushed his fellow resident was charged Friday with involuntary manslaughter. He was committed to Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $150,000 straight cash bail.
The arrest papers said a worker at the nursing home observed the residents having a conversation. The worker said she saw the female resident waving her finger at the male resident, in what appeared to be some type of argument. The worker then saw the male resident push the female resident with both hands, causing her to fall backwards and hit her head on the floor. Both residents had a history of bouts of dementia.
According to the article, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office said charges were filed after going over the witness interviews with Weatherly Police Department officials. In the article, Weatherwood said, “This is a difficult day for the families of both involved residents. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them. We at Weatherwood will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities as this case moves through the legal process.”