NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – A former employee of a senior living facility in Nassau County was arrested and accused of abusing one of its residents, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
Uthmeier said the man, who is a certified nursing assistant, is accused of “violently shoving a disabled resident down to the ground” when he was employed as a healthcare worker at Dayspring Senior Living LLC, also known as Dayspring, in Hilliard.
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According to a release, Dayspring is an assisted living facility serving adult residents with multiple medical conditions, including mental health issues, who require assistance with daily activities.
In April, the employee was seen grabbing the disabled man’s neck and pushing him forward off his bed and onto the floor, according to the attorney general.
“Families count on caregivers to protect their loved ones, especially in the last stages of life, and this betrayal here is beyond unacceptable. We have a zero-tolerance policy for elder abuse in Florida, and this act of violence against a vulnerable Floridian will be met with the full force of justice,” Uthmeier said in a video posted on X.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement reviewed the man’s employment file, which showed that he had received a two-hour preservice orientation training on resident rights.
According to Uthmeier, the man was terminated from his employment at Dayspring following an internal investigation.
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office helped in the arrest of the former employee.
The man was charged with abuse of a disabled adult, which is a third-degree felony. He faces up to five years in prison.
News4JAX has reached out to Dayspring for comment on the former employee’s arrest, and we are waiting to hear back.