May 19, 2022
Thom Carroll/For PhillyVoice
Two managers of the Landing of Southampton, a Bucks County nursing home, have been charged for allegedly failing to report three sexual assaults that happened in the facility's memory care unit last July.
Two former managers of the Landing of Southampton are facing criminal charges because they allegedly failed to report three sexual assaults committed at the Bucks County nursing home last summer.
Ashley Harker, 37, the general manager, and Joy Alfonsi, 47, the director of health and wellness, did not notify law enforcement, protective services or the Pennsylvania Department of Human services, as required by law, after staffers notified them of the incidents, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Thursday.
A male resident with dementia had sexually assaulted three women with dementia who lived in the memory care unit over the course of three days in late July, authorities said.
When workers at the facility notified Harker and Alfonsi about these incidents, the managers allegedly assured staff they would handle the situation and instructed witnesses not to document or report the assaults themselves.
Because they didn't report the first incident immediately, the male resident was allowed to remain in the memory unit without necessary safeguards and commit the other assaults, authorities said.
Harker and Alfonsi each have been charged with neglect of a care-dependent person, reckless endangerment, criminal conspiracy and failure to report abuse. They have not worked at the Landing since October, according to Leisure Care, the company that owns the Landing.
"Leisure Care remains committed to holding our community to the highest of standards of safe, quality care," Vice President of Operations Michael Juno said. "The trust of our residents, their families and our staff is of vital importance to us, which is why we took immediate action to conduct a thorough investigation and transition to a new management team in October 2021. We continue to work in close coordination with state and local authorities, as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Health, to ensure all of our residents continue to experience the exceptional care they deserve and expect."
