New Mexico Caregivers Face Abuse Charges as State Struggles with Facility Oversight

Four caregivers in New Mexico have been criminally charged for allegedly abusing elderly residents in assisted living, group homes, and home care facilities in Rio Rancho, Las Vegas, and Santa Fe. The charges follow investigations by the state’s Department of Justice (NMDOJ). In three of the cases, disturbing video evidence of the abuse was captured, a rare occurrence according to experts, as such incidents often go unreported and unaddressed due to gaps in oversight at these facilities.

The four individuals charged include Salomon Sanchez, 20, a worker at Community Options, Inc. in Santa Fe; Lee Carrizales, 64, an employee at Pacifica Senior Living in Santa Fe; Edwards D. Bonilla-Aguinada, 34, a caregiver at MorningStar of Rio Rancho Assisted Living; and Linda Romero, 52, a paid home caregiver in Santa Fe. All are facing charges of abuse of a resident, a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. Two of the accused facilities have confirmed the employees were fired after the allegations surfaced.

“These charges send a clear message that abuse of vulnerable New Mexicans will not be tolerated,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez in a press release.

The NMDOJ has released two videos showing Sanchez and Carrizales engaging in abusive behavior. In one video, Sanchez is seen slapping and shoving a wheelchair-bound resident at the Community Options facility in Santa Fe. In another, Carrizales is caught yelling and cursing at two different residents at Pacifica Senior Living. In a separate, unrecorded incident, Bonilla-Aguinada is accused of forcing an 89-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s to disrobe after soiling herself.

Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long-Term Care Community Coalition (LTCCC), commented that people in such vulnerable conditions are often prime targets for abuse due to their inability to communicate effectively. Mollot, who has testified before Congress on elder care issues, noted that assisted living facilities are less regulated than nursing homes, and New Mexico lacks mandatory, scheduled inspections for these facilities. This regulatory gap often leaves residents unprotected.

Facilities like Community Options and Pacifica Senior Living have faced lawsuits from residents and their families regarding substandard conditions. A report revealed that many assisted living centers in New Mexico have been found to have inadequate resident safety measures, and instances of neglect and medical delays are common.

While the NMDOJ focuses on prosecuting the individual caregivers, experts like Mollot stress that systemic issues need to be addressed, such as improving oversight and holding facility administrators accountable. Mollot also advocates for unscheduled on-site inspections to catch abuse before it is covered up.

This is not the first instance of caregiver abuse in New Mexico this year, as a fifth caregiver was charged earlier in the year for similar allegations. The NMDOJ continues to investigate and prosecute these cases to ensure accountability in elder care facilities across the state.

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