Friday

The Esplanade at Battery Park in NYC

Received Friday, November 2, 2007
I just returned from an outing with my child and witnessed something deeply disturbing. I am only of the area 3 months, so I am going to report this everywhere I can. I hope you will let me report it here, even though it does not involve a nanny or a child. I witnessed two nursing aides/ adult companions earlier this morning. One was wearing a blue smock that had two large front pockets and buttoned up the front and a peach l/s shirt underneath. She was white and on the heavy side, with blonde hair and an attractive face. The other was Hispanic with an athletic build, pretty face and dressed in grey stretch pants with a black corduroy jacket. She may have been visiting the other, but did seem connected to the patient or at the least very familiar. The patient was in a wheelchair, a white woman, thin, with a quilt across her lap, she had a short white, tight perm in her hair, very pale skin, blue eyes, was sitting very upright in her chair and she had a nervous energy. She was layered in a number of clothes including a blue/grey down looking jacket. From a distance everything seemed fine, as I passed near, I overheard what was going on. The patient may have had dementia or something because she said, 'who is that man. is there a man in the bushes'. There clearly was no man. The two girls were laughing at her and saying things like, "yes, there is a man", "Oh, my God, he looks so scary", The already nervous woman said, 'what, what does he want with us" and the two women were still laughing and pretending to see him and talk to him. I really don't want to write it all down, but some of what was said by the two women were, "what do you want with us", "oh you don't want anything with us", "oh her, oh no", "what are you going to do to her", "Oh my God", "No, please don't rape her". I hope I am making this clear the two were pretending to have a conversation with a frightening man who the woman thought was in the near and they were trying to convince the already nervous and scared woman that the man was there specifically to hurt her. The two were having a great laugh at this woman's expense. I should have done something then and there, but I didn't.

19 comments:

Rheannon said...

Oh my God...

:(

That is the worst. I HATE people like that. The poor poor woman. Grr people who do that to elderly people should be hurt. Truly hurt. That is true evil right there.

Anonymous said...

Gives me goosebumps.

Anonymous said...

if you see them again you should ask where they work because you would like to put your mother in a home or something. then you can get the info and alert their workplace of this abuse. good luck to you, this made me so sad to read and i hope these women get fired!

Anonymous said...

This is just disgusting. Please try to find out where these ladies work...is there a care facility nearby where you saw them? Their employer needs to know.

Anonymous said...

the only comfort you can get from this, is that when these women are that age it will be people who are teenagers today caring for them.

and what is scarier then that?

Anonymous said...

This made me tear up. I don't think I could've stopped myself from telling them how disgusting I thought they were, but I guess not everyone is as confrontational as I am when it comes to the helpless.I think you might still be able to do something, maybe go back to that place and hope that it's a daily outing for them. It's good that you are posting this though, maybe someone will know what to do.

Anonymous said...

There is an assisted living on North End Avenue near the esplanade. The home is called "The Hallmark of battery park city" -- maybe the OP can contact them with the descriptions and a report:

http://www.thehallmark-bpc.com

Anonymous said...

OMG this is truelly discusting. I can't even imagine, I work in health care and this so horrible. She was probably someones grandma, it makes me want to cry.

Please find these ladies that did this.

Anonymous said...

Seriously, what is wrong with people?!

Unknown said...

Why the hell didn't the OP confront these people?? Obviously the OP was there long enough to witness this emotional abuse.
Why do so many posters come here and write "I didn't do anything"? God that upsets me.

Anonymous said...

I'm disgusted- THIS is what happens when you allow your elderly relatives to be put into a facility. Take care of your family! I am a patient advocate for the elderly population and I cannot tell u how often I see neglect and elder abuse- but lets just say- your family members are NOT safe in facilities OR left alone during hospitalizations- PERIOD.

Anonymous said...

I know you are new to the neighborhood, but I used to live in BPC and there is usually the same parks and NYC police who patrol regularly. Please look for one of the officers tomorrow, tell them what you saw and give them the description so they are aware of the incident. If the women are regulars on the esplenade, they may even know where they are from.

Anonymous said...

I am not sure being confrontational would have really helped the old lady - they might even take it out on her after you leave. These sadistic people should not be in this line of work. I hope someone can identify them.

Anonymous said...

That old lady must have been a real winner to have her children dumb her into a second rate old folks home.

Is that the only home medicaid will pay for?

Why do Americans treat their parents like trash?

Anonymous said...

I meant dump

Anonymous said...

Not all Americans treat their parents like trash, but 9 times out of 10- it's KARMA.

You reap what you sow.

Take that Mom.

Anonymous said...

5:10 and 5:13,
Do you have any compassion at all? How do people get so hard?

OP, can you go back to the place and look for people dressed in the same uniform? Or go to the facility people have mentioned here and see if that is the uniform?

You may be able to find the woman or regognize the caregivers who did this to her.
The home may fear a lawsuit or governmental trouble and so be unwilling to help you out. Tell the police if necessary. Or maybe mention to the somebody in charge at the home that you will take whatever public action necessary if they do not allow you to point the women out to them and have them fired. (The media might well be interested in such a story as this. Document your every encounter and every attempt to get in contact with the right people at the home.)
Somehow the family of this woman needs to be notified.
Other old people there are also likely being mistreated.

Anonymous said...

5:13pm
totally agree, KARMA
most of the time thats the case

Anonymous said...

The Hallmark is an excellent elder care facility. But those two sound like bad apples. I hope whoever posted this sees them again. Take a picture, walk over to the Hallmark (it's on North End between Warren and Chambers) and ask to speak to the manager or director. Or, report it to the police if you see them.