Bronx Nursing Aide Charged With Patient's Death

Maureen Flowers, 53

Two Tarrytown Hall Care Center nursing aides are accused of covering up the circumstances surrounding the February death of an 86-year-old woman in their care.

Maureen Flowers, 53, of Bronx is charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person, and Donna Pagan, 35, of Peekskill is charged with first-degree falsifying business records, the state Attorney General’s Office said in a statement.

Flowers is accused of attempting to move the resident from her bed to a wheelchair on Feb. 15 without someone assisting her and without using a mechanical lift as the resident’s care plan at the Tarrytown nursing home required.

It prompted the resident to fall and fracture her spine and right leg and suffer a broken nose, the release said. Authorities said instead of immediately calling for help, Flowers asked Pagan to lie and claim she assisted in the transfer. Once Pagan agreed, Flowers got medical attention for the victim, the release said.

The resident, whose name was not released, died two hours later at Westchester Medical Center.

The state Department of Health received a complaint and inspected the Tarrytown nursing home the next day, spokesman Peter Constantakes said.