The director of nursing (DON) at a New Jersey nursing home was arraigned on charges of assaulting one of the facility’s residents and attempting to cover it up, according to an announcement made by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) on October 8, 2025.
The DON, 59, was indicted by a state grand jury on two counts of aggravated assault (2nd and 3rd degree), neglect of an elderly or disabled adult (3rd degree), tampering with witnesses (3rd degree), assault on an institutionalized elderly person (4th degree), and falsifying records (4th degree). She was arrested on July 24, 2025, and arraigned on October 6, 2025.
According to documents filed in the case, a physical altercation occurred on June 24, 2023, between the DON and a resident at a nursing home in Ocean County, New Jersey. A nurse recorded a video of the incident, which took place in a hallway on the facility’s fifth floor. In the video, the DON is allegedly seen hitting the resident with a broom, with blood dripping from the resident’s left hand. The DON is also allegedly heard saying, “Call [staff member]… before I kill this man.”
The DON later completed an incident report, stating that the event occurred on June 20, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. She allegedly claimed the resident attempted to scratch her using the head of a blue disposable razor and that she used the broom to swat the object away. However, the video does not show the resident holding a razor or any object in either hand. Staff members present during the incident reportedly said they did not see a weapon.
The DON also allegedly wrote that police and emergency services were called and that the resident was transported by ambulance to the hospital for evaluation. According to current and former staff members, she had told them not to call police, claiming the situation had been handled. She also stated in the report that she notified the Department of Health (DOH), the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO), the Office of Public Guardian (OPG), and the resident’s physician. The LTCO, OPG, and DOH confirmed that they were not notified.
After the video was released publicly, the Berkeley Township Police Department (BTPD) and the OIFP’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) began investigating. On December 21, 2024, as BTPD officers spoke with the on-duty supervisor about the incident, the DON allegedly called in response to a message about the officers’ presence. When the supervisor answered and stated she was not on speakerphone, officers allegedly heard the DON say, “You don’t remember anything, right?”
“Residents of adult care facilities need to be treated with respect and dignity, and be safe,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Physically assaulting a resident is inexcusable, and we will not stand by and allow such conduct to go undetected.”
Compliance Perspective
Issue
All care providers serving vulnerable individuals have an obligation to protect them from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Abuse may be perpetrated by staff, other residents, or even visitors, and can include physical, emotional, or psychological harm. Regardless of intent, any action that results in injury, fear, or distress should be treated seriously. Facilities must have a structured approach to abuse prevention, including clear protocols for responding to allegations, protecting the alleged victim, and conducting thorough investigations. Timely reporting and documentation are essential—not only to comply with state laws and licensing requirements, but to ensure the safety and dignity of all individuals in care.
Discussion Points
- Review your policies and procedures related to abuse prevention, reporting, and response. These should clearly define abuse, outline staff responsibilities, and establish timelines for both internal reporting and external notification. Consider working with a qualified consultant to evaluate whether existing protocols align with current regulatory expectations and best practices. Regular policy reviews, especially after internal incidents or regulatory changes, can help identify gaps and mitigate risk exposure.
- Provide abuse prevention and response training to all employees during onboarding and at least annually thereafter. Training should include definitions and examples of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse, and make clear that any form of physical retaliation is unacceptable. Staff should be equipped with de-escalation strategies and supported through resources such as incident debriefings or behavioral intervention training. Med-Net Academy offers the course Elder Physical Abuse, which covers injury patterns, reporting requirements, and common reasons abuse goes unreported.
- Regularly audit staff understanding of abuse prevention procedures, and ensure actual care practices are consistent with policy. Audits may involve staff interviews, direct observation, and review of incident reports or investigation documentation. When trends or recurring concerns are identified, facilities may benefit from the support of an external consultant who can perform focused mock surveys or assist in evaluating specific risk areas, either on-site or virtually.
*This news alert has been prepared by Med-Net Concepts, Inc. for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.*