Christus St. Joseph Villa in Salt Lake City is the only Catholic, not-for-profit senior care facility in the State of Utah. The facility's web site is highlighted by the happy faces of representative residents, the caring smiles of health care and service providers, and statements acknowledging the proponent's dedication to their clients, and their families.
Nowhere, is there any mention made of rape, or sexual assault. But that's what happened when an employee of the facility sexually attacked an 85-year-old woman, in July of last year.That woman could have been somebody's mother, wife. She certainly is a human being, proud but vulnerable and not deserving of such heinous treatment. The woman's family would have assumed that their loved one was safe, cocooned in a protective and protected environment.
But that would not be the case, thanks to an employee who worked there. What is it they say? 'Your product is only as good as your workforce.'
Indeed, Christus St. Joseph Villa may not have known they had hired a potential rapist. But they do now, after Jacob Mut Bolith, 31, pleased guilty June 16th 2008 to a charge of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse in the raping of his hapless and helpless victim, whom at 85 would have been no match for a hale and robust 31-year-old man. Bolith was originally charged with first-degree felony rape, as well as the second-degree charge and lewdness, which is a class A misdemeanor. He was to go on trial this week, but the trial was deferred after Bolith agreed to a plea bargain that may still see him sentenced to anywhere from one, to 15 years in prison.
But that's not the point. The point is that it happened, and elder and nursing home abuse in various forms is an escalating concern across the country. It's not enough for adult children to stop at mere comfort when searching for an appropriate nursing, or eldercare home. A nicely appointed room, a sunny community room to play cards, attentive staff and three square meals a day is not enough…
Further, you have to look at safety, at staffing and track records. What hiring criteria are taken into account? How could an individual capable of such a heinous act, wind up in the employ of such a proud, caring institution? Are references taken into account, and criminal records, if any? Should prospective employees be subjected to psychiatric analysis, in an effort to uncover any hidden mental, emotional or behavioral condition that could put patients, or residents at risk?
How about probing into an employee's background, in an effort to uncover any potential bias that may stem from an unhappy, prior relationship with a grandparent, or other elderly person? Was the employee abused physically, or emotionally by an elderly person, as a child?
What checks and balances are in place, to supervise the employees?
READ MORE NURSING HOME ABUSE LEGAL NEWS
And sometimes, they are raped. Mr. Bolith may have gotten away with pleading guilty to second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse—but what he did, was rape the poor woman. A lovely, defenseless, trusting 85-year-old woman. Somebody's mother, somebody's wife and somebody's friend. A human being who had earned her rest and comfort after 85 years, taken advantage of by a man she would have trusted as an employee of the facility, in a place where she felt safe.
As of June 17th Bolith is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail on $250,000 bail, and is awaiting sentencing. Meanwhile, it is not known if the woman's family is planning on suing Christus St. Joseph Villa for allowing such a crime to happen on their premises.
If it were me…