Caretaker accused of abusing elderly patient
Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006
A caretaker at the Fayetteville Health and Rehab Center was arrested Tuesday for allegedly abusing a 77-yearold nursing home patient suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Dison Kalio, 41, of 128 E. Poplar in Fayetteville faces a felony charge of seconddegree battery for allegedly abusing an elderly patient on June 10 at the Fayetteville Health and Rehab Center, 2100 N. Old Missouri Road.
According to the arrest report, Kalio grabbed and shoved a 77-year-old nursing home resident after the patient tried to strike him. The elderly man reportedly toppled over a bed and onto the floor, resulting in injuries to his head and arms. Kalio then closed the door to the hospital room, and a witness reportedly heard “ bumping” coming through the walls. A witness reported Kalio emerged from the hospital room and stated, “ I guess he learned his lesson. ” The elderly man was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center’s emergency room.
According to Lt. Mike Reynolds of the Fayetteville Police Department, the victim sustained a laceration to the back of his head, along with cuts and bruises on his arms.
Representatives from Fayetteville Health and Rehab Corporate Office declined to comment pending the completion of the investigation, but stated that Kalio was immediately terminated following the alleged abuse.
Since January 2005, Reynolds said, police officers have responded to Fayetteville Health and Rehab on 13 occasions in reference to assault and battery complaints.
“ Of those, only one or two alleged that an employee mistreated a resident, ” he said. “ The majority were fights between residents. So there’s no real pattern. ”
Reynolds said Kalio has no criminal history out of the Fayetteville Police Department. He is currently being held in the Washington County Jail on a $ 10, 000 bond and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday.
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