‘Nanny cam’ catches elder abuse at upscale retirement home

A Delaware County woman has been charged in a case of elder abuse at a well-known retirement home after she was allegedly caught on tape by the family's "nanny cam."

Samirah Traynham, 22, of Yeadon, an employee of the Quadrangle in Haverford, was charged with aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, harassment and neglect of a care-dependant person, according to court documents. Bail was set and Traynham was remanded to the Delaware County jail.

Lois McCallister, a 78-year-old woman with dementia, told her daughter Mary French, that she was being "punched and slapped" by staff at the nursing facility. The family reported the incident to the administration, who attributed the allegations to McCallister's dementia, according to court documents.

The family installed a "nanny cam" hidden in a clock in McCallister's room after finding bruising on her left hand and wrist at a later date. The video showed Traynham striking the victim in the face and head area while attempting to pull a shirt over her head, according to court documents.

The video also showed Traynham, along with two other employees, laughing, and mocking the mental condition of McCallister for 12 minutes while the victim "stood naked from the waist up attempting to cover her breasts." One of the other employees danced holding on to the post of McCallister's bed "as if she were dancing on a 'stripper pole,'" according to court documents.

Additional arrests are expected, said Michael Mattson, assistant district attorney.

Calls to the Quadrangle were not immediately returned.

Contact staff writer Mari A. Schaefer at 610-892-9149 or mschaefer@phillynews.com.

Follow the Inquirer at www.Twitter.com/PhillyInquirer and www.Facebook.com/PhillyInquirer