Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist and Fourteenth Circuit State Attorney Steve Meadows announced the arrest of a nurse employed by a Holmes County nursing home on charges of neglect of an elderly adult.
Sheila Bush, 52, of Bonifay, was arrested following an investigation by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with assistance from the Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services.
The investigation revealed that Bush failed to properly care for two residents at Bonifay Nursing and Rehab Center.
Nurses employed by the facility on the midnight shift noticed suspicious changes in the medical conditions of two diabetic residents, including improper blood sugar levels. After providing necessary insulin injections, the nurses reported their suspicions to the nursing director, who in turn reported the information to the Abuse Registry Hotline.
Further investigation by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that Bush was not providing necessary and proper medical care to the residents, but documented that the care was being given.
"Nursing home residents expect their caregivers to look after their needs, not look the other way," said Crist. "Neglect cannot be allowed to continue."
The case will be prosecuted by the Holmes County State Attorney's Office. Bush could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $30,000 fine if found guilty of all charges.
