Charges: Albert Lea caregiver slapped dementia patient, called him a ‘pussy’

(Albert Lea, MN) – An Albert Lea woman is facing accusations that she treated a dementia patient inappropriately.

Samantha Elizabeth Weldon, 23, was charged Tuesday in Freeborn County Court with gross misdemeanor disorderly conduct by a caregiver against a vulnerable adult.

According to court documents, Weldon’s co-worker alerted authorities after she witnessed what she described as “an assault on an elderly person” on Weldon’s part. The co-worker said the man doesn’t like to be touched and can be aggressive, sometimes pinching and striking employees. The patient is in his 70’s.

Investigators reviewed an audio recording of Weldon’s interaction with the patient from Woodland’s in Albert Lea. Weldon is heard calling the man a “pussy,” and referring to him as “you little puss nugget” or “you little bitch nugget,” according to the complaint.

Police say the man is heard throughout the recording moaning and saying “get off me,” to which Weldon replied, “Why? What’s your problem? Do you think you’ve got a hole in your brain?”

Weldon’s co-worker told police she witnessed Weldon forcefully slapping the patient on each side of his face the day prior, then asking the man how he liked it.

Weldon admitted to police that she’d called the man names, but said she didn’t recall asking him whether he had a hole in his head or slapping him. She agreed with police that it was not professional or appropriate bedside manner, according to the complaint.

Click here to follow us on Facebook

Click here to FOLLOW @SouthernMNnews on Twitter.