Eleanor Flowers, a former employee at United Medical Center in Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 24 months of probation for criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult and attempted threats. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.

The sentence was delivered by Superior Court Judge Deborah J. Israel. In addition to probation, Flowers is required to avoid contact with the victim and is barred from working or volunteering in environments involving the elderly, vulnerable individuals, cognitively disabled persons, or children. This includes hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors’ offices, urgent care centers, and daycare facilities.

Court documents revealed that Flowers worked as a Patient Sitter at United Medical Center when the incident occurred on January 4, 2021. While attempting to change the clothing of a 68-year-old patient who had suffered a stroke and was classified as a "vulnerable adult," Flowers repeatedly struck him with a hospital bed's remote controller. The patient was paralyzed on one side and unable to speak.

The assault was recorded on cellphone video by another Patient Sitter present in the room. Following this incident captured on video showing visible distress caused to the victim, Flowers was terminated from her position after it was reported to hospital authorities and investigated by the D.C. Office of Inspector General.

The case prosecution involved collaboration between several entities under the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Initiative alongside the D.C. Office of Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). This unit investigates Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse or neglect within healthcare settings.

In their announcement regarding sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves and Inspector General Lucas acknowledged those who contributed to investigating and prosecuting this case including efforts from Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Facci detailed from D.C OIG.

Studies indicate that elder abuse often goes unreported; approximately 24 cases remain undetected for every one reported instance according to research cited by officials (Seehttps://ncea.acl.gov/prevalenceofeldermistreatment#gsc.tab=0).

Anyone with information about similar offenses can contact D.C.'s Office of Inspector General at 202-724-TIPS [202-724-8477].