A black nurse’s aide has been arrested after she was caught on video abusing an elderly Alzheimer’s patient

Sandra Kerr, 55, has been charged with three counts of willful violation of the public health law and three counts of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced. The victim’s granddaughter, Diana Valentin, became concerned about grandmother Ana Louisa Medina’s care and placed a hidden video camera inside a plant in her room at the Gold Crest Care Center on Bruckner Avenue. “I put the camera in thinking something was going on. When I actually saw it I was horrified and heartbroken,” Valentin said. “She grabbed my grandmother’s arm, twisted it back, lifted her up and slammed her into the bed.” Nursing home administrators told Valentin that her grandmother was injuring herself, but she said she didn't believe it. On September 12, 2012 Kerr was caught on video snapping the victim’s arm back, pushing her into the metal railing of her bed and pushing the padding from the resident’s bed down onto her body, Schneiderman said. Two days later, Kerr was seen on video striking the victim twice on her side, Schneiderman said. “My office has zero tolerance for nursing home aides who abuse, neglect or harm the people in their care,” said Schneiderman. “Medical professionals have a responsibility to properly care for their patients and must be held accountable when they fail to protect our most vulnerable citizens.” Valentin said that she immediately transferred her grandmother to another facility after she got a glimpse of the abuse. “You could see the sense of relief in her face. She looked so happy,” she said. “She basically took care of me. I was very close with her. Now it’s my turn to take care of her.” Kerr could face a year in jail if convicted.