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A woman is facing charges after she allegedly struck a 96-year-old woman at a senior living facility in Sun City.
Gloria Biamushinga, 27, was booked into jail Friday afternoon on one count of vulnerable adult abuse, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
The alleged incident occurred April 10 at The Woodmark at Sun City, north of Bell Road and Boswell Boulevard.
According to court documents, a man reported to MCSO on April 11 that his elderly mother, a resident/patient at The Woodmark, was the victim of an assault. The man's brother had reviewed surveillance video of their mother's room and found one of the caretakers had struck their mother several times in the head.
The family provided video of the incident to 12 News, which first reported on the incident. The 96-year-old's granddaughter told the TV station that her mother has dementia and has been at the facility since January.
A responding deputy noticed the elderly woman had bruising over her left eye and redness underneath. Her son told MCSO those were from a prior fall, records state. However, MCSO would later determine that was not the case.
Facility staff told MCSO the employee in question was Ms. Biamushinga, records state.
MCSO reviewed the video and learned the victim had asked the employee to place her power chair down so her feet could touch the floor, records state. After asking again, the elderly woman reportedly tossed water at the employee in her upper leg area. The employee then walked over to the woman and allegedly struck her twice in the head with her hand.
Ms. Biamushinga was not at the facility when MCSO was there, but staff informed deputies she was suspended pending termination.
On April 13, MCSO interviewed Ms. Biamushinga, who told them she had been employed at The Woodmark for four years. She reportedly admitted to working with the victim when she became upset because the elderly woman threw water at her. Ms. Biamushinga said she let her emotions get the best of her and she can't believe she did something like that, records state.
A deputy walked Ms. Biamushinga through the video and told her things she could have done rather than allegedly striking the victim, records state.
Ms. Biamushinga said she had not been in this position before in her four years working, records state.
MCSO on Friday afternoon arrested Ms. Biamushinga at her residence in Phoenix. She was released on her own recognizance with a court date May 4.
Independent Newsmedia has reached out to The Woodmark for comment.
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