TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Caregiver Accused Of Leaving Facility Unattended

ADVERTISEMENT

By SHERRI ACKERMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 1, 2008

Largo - A caregiver was arrested late Friday after she left an assisted-living facility unattended and an elderly woman was injured.

Episania Fitzgerald told Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies she left another resident of the facility in charge when she went to provide home health care services elsewhere.

Deputies say Fitzgerald, 60, of 10299 113th St. N. in Largo, was gone for more than two hours. During her absence, an 88-year-old resident fell on the bathroom floor and asked another resident to call 911.

When Pinellas Suncoast Fire Rescue arrived, workers determined no one was tending the facility and called the sheriff's office to investigate. A total of 21 residents were at the facility.

Fitzgerald was charged with one count of abuse and neglect of an elderly person, a second-degree felony. She also was charged for possession of Vicodin, jail records show.

She was being held this morning at Pinellas County jail with bail set at $12,000.

Additional charges have been referred to the State Attorney's Office.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT