'They will die': More allegations of abuse, neglect at a Milwaukee group home organization, after CBS 58 story airs
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- After CBS 58 published an exclusive piece on Sept. 2 of abuse and neglect allegations toward a Milwaukee group home organization, several others called in the following day with similar stories involving the same homes over the years.
CBS 58 spoke with one caregiver on Sunday night, who requested anonymity, but said they have spent years working for Helping Hands on 75th at multiple of their locations.
"This is like a real-life movie," they explained. "It's just a horrific experience."
According to the caregiver, there have been many instances of emotional and physical abuse.
“People having black eyes, people having hot sauce poured in their mouth," they said. "I'm fed up. I'm tired. It's ridiculous."
A protest was held Saturday afternoon outside of one of the homes, after cellphone video appeared to show a client, who family confirmed was "severely autistic and nonverbal," being violently hit by one of his caregivers.
The caregiver referenced this video, adding that what was seen is just the tip of the iceberg.
“What’s on the video, he’s not only the one that hits these people. It’s females here that be abusing these people, it’s females here that be putting hands on these people," they said. "They just haven’t got caught.”
They sent CBS 58 several pictures of bruising on clients they said come from other caregivers, and video showing a basement with a bed in one of the homes they claim is for employees to engage in sexual encounters in.
This, while they said the homes are understaffed, with typically one caregiver working with four to five clients at the same time.
They also claimed caregivers are caught smoking marijuana before entering the homes, that they've heard verbal abuse hurled at the clients, and that some of the clients are simply neglected, like one who is now back in a home after a recent trip to the doctor.
“She just came out the hospital and had maggots coming out of her, falling out of her, because she had, excuse my language, s**t and pee and flies and all of that stuff in her chair, and they didn’t take the time out to clean her," they said. “Terrible, terrible, terrible, abuse and neglect is happening right now and y’all need to shut these places down before these people die.”
The caregiver said they are planning on quitting soon.
“I love caregiving because I love helping elderlies, I love being there for people and I don’t like seeing nobody hurt or anything like that," they said.
We have made attempts to contact the owners of the organization but to no avail. The caregiver said the owners are aware of the horrific conditions inside of the homes, and of the story CBS 58 aired on Saturday.
If you or a loved one have any information, please email [email protected].