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Police: Video shows Lake County caretaker abusing elderly patient in her care

TAVARES, Fla. — A caretaker at a facility in Tavares is accused of abusing an elderly patient who was in her care.

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The family of the 94-year-old patient at Brookdale Senior Living says she has very limited mobility.

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According to police, the woman is barely able to stretch her legs without pain because it basically rubs bone on bone.

Her family says they had a camera inside her room because they liked to look after her while she was  at the facility, but they didn’t expect what they saw this week.

Police say a Brookdale staff member, identified as 27-year-old Josalyne Worthy, can be seen going into the victim’s room Wednesday morning and attempting to get her to get up for the day.

The 94-year-old didn’t want to get up at that point.

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Police say the video shows Worthy moving her legs before an argument breaks out between the two.

At different times, the elderly patient screamed in pain because of Worthy trying to stretch her legs out.

Police say it appears at one point Worthy put extra effort into stretching the legs while the patient screamed.

Worthy was arrested Thursday and charged with battery and assault on a person 65-years of age or older.

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She’s since been released on bond.

In a statement, a Brookdale spokesperson said they take any allegations seriously, and that Worthy no longer works there.

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Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.