A retirement center nurse aide was arrested Friday night after a nurse told officers she saw the woman hit an 83-year-old patient.
Darian Lanfair, 21, worked at the Golden Living Center retirement community.
The nurse who made the report said the 83-year-old woman’s roommate — who communicates via sign language — told her she heard a slapping noise when Lanfair was with the patient.
When the nurse walked in the room, she told officers she saw the aide strike the patient across the right side of her face.
She told police the 83-year-old suffers from dementia and cognitive disabilities.
The nurse reported immediately escorting Lanfair from the patient’s room and ordering her to leave the facility.
When police arrived at the scene around 10 p.m., the aide returned. She told officers the patient tried to bite her finger so she pulled her hand back quickly. She denied hitting the woman.
Lanfair told police she didn’t know the nurse was in the room with her while this was happening. Bloomington Police Department Lt. Ryan Pedigo said she did not have an explanation for the report the patient’s roommate made.
Pedigo said the 83-year-old did not have any visible injuries.
Lanfair was arrested on the preliminary felony charge of battery on an endangered adult.
The Golden Living Center did not respond to a request for comment.
