By 9:15 to 9:30, most of the residents have been put to bed, and the staff is on a break or doing paperwork. I haven't worked in an ICF for many years, but that was the routine then.
A staff member wouldn't be missed for a few minutes.
If someone knocked her out, or taped her mouth, she could have been tossed in the trunk of a car, and LE wasn't called till 10:50. Ten minutes later, swing shift was driving away.
I read not two weeks ago of a conviction of a perp who murdered the spouse of a nursing home resident, in the parking lot of the nursing home, and stuffed her in the trunk of her own car. He was an employee of the nursing home.
Here's the link on Jane Carol Britt;
http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62248&highlight=nursing+home+parking+lot
I hope LE has done some checks on the people working there.
I think a nursing home is an easy place to overlook though.
When I found out RNs are NOT required on staff in WA State, well, my thought was, ain't that the perfect place for maladjusted people who can't find work anywhere else to go, AND not be held accountable for infractions, or abuse, including neglect.
I know there are many dedicated people who work with the frail, but there are also many people, with low level consciences who work in jobs like that because they can't find work elsewhere, and there is little to no hassle getting it. They can call in, or not show, or show up stoned, intoxicated, and not lose their jobs.
This is only my opinion, but it is also based on experience.
To have a law that does not require a licensed RN to be on staff, to me, says that WA State watches out more for the companys who own them, then they do for the frail who live in them. MOO!
I'm grateful to you, jvk, for checking them out, for the one brave resident who got your attention, and to LE if when notified, go check the place and people out.
I'm also angry that the person living there felt they had to get the attention of a stranger on the street rather than a person who takes care of them. It tells me that person didn't trust or believe they would be listened to. I hope they are safe tonight.
ETA; obviously the resident was able to go out and talk to you without being seen, and no one noticied that he was gone. I say this b/c if it had been noticed, you would likely have seen a staff member coming to help him back in, or at least make sure he's ok, after all, you don't live there, you are a stranger to this small town, yes? If a resident can escape without notice for a few minutes, certainly a staff member can.
All of this jmo. of course