JERSEY CITY, NJ – A shocking video of a caregiver caught on camera physically assaulting a 91-year-old Filipino woman in her home in Jersey City, New Jersey made headlines when it was posted online.
Catalina Obaldo was slapped, smacked in the head, pushed and thrown around like a ragdoll. Food was forced into her mouth and her hair pulled by her caregiver, Carmen Pereira.
Pereira, of Loving Care Agency, had looked after Obaldo for 11 years.
The defenseless woman is suffering from various health ailments, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Local news reports say that Obaldo’s family set up a webcam to check on their Lola at any given time, but when suspicious bruises appeared on her, they started recording it.
The family could not believe what the webcam captured.
In a YouTube video, Obaldo’s daughter Bernardina Samin said, “I’m furious! It’s heartbreaking to see your own mother abused by a person whom you trusted for so many years.”
The family wanted the video released by the police to serve as a warning for others
Once the video was posted on online, some upset YouTubers immediately uploaded their video reactions.
Archie Masibay of Brentwood, California said, “You’re not supposed to do that to someone, imagine you when you get old, being tossed around like that and being banged in the head or being slapped, it’s just not right, I mean you’re working as a caregiver so you have to take care of your patients not abuse them.”
In San Francisco, Yoko Kurotani said, “It was really heartbreaking because I was thinking of my grandma…”
Pereira, the 52-year-old home health aide, was arrested by New Jersey Police around the same time she was fired from her job in September.
The Loving Care Agency’s spokesman Abe Kasbo issued a statement to Balitang America via email.
The statement read: “Loving Care Agency recognizes the gravity of this situation and wishes to convey its unequivocal position that this action committed by its former employee is reprehensible, unacceptable, and has resulted in the immediate termination of the employee.”
New Jersey Police said Pereira was charged with aggravated assault with extreme indifference, endangering the welfare of an incompetent person and neglect of an elderly. Police also said Pereira is now out on bail and is not clear yet when she will be arraigned.
The family has told authorities that they have the situation under control now with their Lola.
Balitang America is still trying to get in touch with the family with the help of Philippine Forum of Jersey City.
Likewise, Balitang America also tried to speak to Loving Care Agency but they did not provide any additional information and refused to talk about the case in person.
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