Manslaughter Charge Against Nursing Home Aide

Maureen Flowers, a certified nurse aide, was charged in New York with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for the 2012 death of an 86-year-old resident at Tarrytown Hall Care Center, where she worked.

If convicted of the top count Flowers, 54 of the Bronx, faces up to 15 years in state prison.

“Because of this aide’s disregard of basic safety measures and precautions meant to protect the vulnerable seniors she served, a woman died,” said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “The egregious lack of care afforded this frail resident warrants the serious charges against this aide. It is my office’s duty and obligation to investigate and prosecute those that place our seniors at risk.”

On February 15, 2012, Flowers was assigned to provide care for the resident who suffered from several debilitating physical ailments which prevented her from walking or speaking and rendered her totally dependent upon the staff for her care.

Due to her condition, the resident’s care plan required a mechanical lift and two persons to move her from her bed to a wheelchair.

Flowers, who was then responsible for the daily care of residents at the center, had been trained extensively in the use of mechanical lifts — including the necessity of two persons in performing any transfer and other safety measures — to ensure the safety of the resident.

Nonetheless, Flowers allegedly used the lift by herself and ignored other safety measures when she transferred the resident.

During the transfer, she dropped the resident to the floor causing her to suffer fractures to her spine and right leg as well as a broken nose and bruising on her face.

Instead of seeking immediate help for the woman, Flowers left her bleeding on the floor while she sought out another aide, Donna Pagan, and asked her to lie and say she had assisted her when she transferred the resident.

It was only after the other aide agreed to the cover up that Flowers obtained medical attention for the resident, who died two hours later at Westchester Medical Center.

In interviews and written statements provided to supervisory staff of the Care Center, Flowers stated that the other aide had been present during the transfer.

Flowers was arraigned before Westchester County Court Judge Susan Cacace. She faces a maximum of five to fifteen years in state prison.

Pagan plead guilty on March 20 in Tarrytown Justice Court to falsifying business records in the second degree — a misdemeanor.

She faces a sentence of three years probation when she is sentenced.

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