Family Says Caretaker’s Lap Dance for|Alzheimer’s Patient Was Posted on YouTube

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (CN) - The family of a 97-year-old Alzheimer's patient claims a caretaker did a lap dance for the demented man and posted the video on YouTube, invading his privacy and inflicting outrage, shame and humiliation for the purpose of entertainment.

The Donaldson family sued Mount Royal Towers nursing home, of Vestavia Hills, in Jefferson County Court.

The family's grandfather, W.R., lives at the home, which provides care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. His family claims that "while Mr. R. was in the social area of defendant's facility on or about June 5, 2011, a nurse and/or certified nursing assistant gave Mr. R. a 'lap dance.'

"Due to Mr. R.'s medical condition he could not consent to the 'lap dance.'

"Moreover, the 'lap dance' was captured on video and posted on YouTube without Mr. R.'s or his family's consent.

"Furthermore, upon information and belief, said video was shared among employees of defendant Mount Royal Towers for no other purpose than entertainment.

"Mr. R.'s family was not notified of the 'lap dance' or the posting of the video on YouTube by the defendant."

The family says Mount Royal Towers failed to train its "employees, staff or medical professionals in the proper procedures to ensure that residents of Mount Royal Towers were not exploited, abused or their privacy invaded and/or violated."

They add: "In an effort to induce the plaintiffs not to move W.R. from Mount Royal Towers, defendant Mount Royal Towers suppressed the fact that Mr. R. had been abused, exploited and/or his privacy violated and/or invaded at defendants' facility by defendants' employees."

The family seeks punitive damages for negligence, negligent hiring, supervision and retention, invasion of privacy, exploitation of an aged or disabled adult and suppression.

They are represented by Greg Foster with Hollis, Wright and Couch.

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