Former Employee At Ray Graham Association (RGA) in Bensenville Charged After Elderly Patient Injured In Shower

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect - February 11, 2025

Former Caregiver at Ray Graham Association (RGA) in Bensenville Facing Multiple Felonies After Disabled Patient Injured in Hot Shower

BENSENVILLE, ILLINOIS (February 10, 2025) – A 58-year-old woman identified as Darnitia Conner is facing multiple felony charges after an elderly patient was injured in a hot shower.

The incident allegedly took place at the Ray Graham Association (RGA) in Bensenville. Authorities are saying that the defendant allegedly failed to check the water temperature before she placed the resident in the shower.

The elderly patient suffered second-degree burns across most of their lower body. Allegedly, the caregiver also failed to notify medical staff about the severity of the patient’s injuries.

Darnitia Conner has since been charged with multiple felonies, including three counts of abuse of a resident at a long-term care facility. A full investigation into the incident at Ray Graham Association (RGA) in Bensenville remains ongoing.

Liability for Elder Abuse at Long-Term Care Facilities

Elder abuse and neglect at long-term care facilities is unfortunately very common. According to the National Institutes of Health, “A systematic review of elder abuse prevalence in community settings revealed that 1 out of 6 older adults (aged 60 years and above) report experiencing abuse of various forms. For older adults living in residential and long-term care facilities, the prevalence and experience are worse with evidence reporting that two-thirds of aged care staff admit committing abuse in the past year.” Abuse and neglect can come in many different forms.

• Elderly patients may experience physical abuse, including hitting, slapping, or punching.
• Elderly patients may experience sexual abuse, such as groping or coerced nudity.
• Elderly patients may experience neglect, including not being turned over if they are immobile. This can lead to very serious pressure ulcers.

Long-term care facilities have a legal obligation to protect their residents from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting them from abuse and mistreatment at the hands of staff. It is critical that the staff at these facilities are well trained in all of the safety procedures necessary to keep residents safe. Patients with cognitive and physical disabilities tend to be the most at risk for abuse or neglect. A great deal of care should be taken to ensure that they are safe. If a patient at one of these long-term care facilities is injured due to abuse or neglect, the facility responsible for caring for them could be held accountable through a negligence claim. It is important that certain steps are taken after any suspected instance of abuse at a care facility.

• Medical records related to the abuse should be collected.
• Physical records related to the abuse should be preserved, including photos and videos.
• The history of misconduct allegations at the facility should be reviewed.
• An experienced nursing home abuse attorney should be contacted.

It can be hard to know what to do if a loved one has been injured at a long-term care facility. People trust these facilities to care for their loved ones, many of whom have very severe mental or physical disabilities. To make matters worse, these businesses often do everything that they can to deny responsibility if one of their employees injures a resident. This is why it is so important that abuse victims and their families consult with an experienced attorney. Any person who is abused or neglected at a care facility may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Investigating Elder Abuse at Long-Term Care Facilities

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the patient injured in this incident. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. Any person that may have more information should reach out to the Rockford Police Department.

Have you or someone that you care about been harmed at a long-term care facility in DuPage County? You may have legal recourse. Our team of nursing home abuse attorneys is here to help you in any way that we can. We’ve spent decades fighting on behalf of accident victims and those injured at long-term care facilities. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we may be able to help. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.