Man Allegedly Locked in Cage on Bed in Retirement Home

Four people were put under house arrest on February 20 after the retirement home they managed in Caltanissetta was found to be unsuitable for guests, and one elderly man was allegedly locked in a cage on his bed, Italy’s policing agency said.

The four people, three of whom are part of the same family, were charged with a number of offences, including kidnapping, abuse of the medical profession, and neglect of vulnerable people.

The arrests were the result of an investigation that started in June 2023 and found that the elderly in the facility were abandoned for several hours a day, even when they were asking for help, especially during the night, police said.

The facility guests were allegedly given tranquilizers without prescriptions so that they wouldn’t wake up during the night. CCTV footage shows one man was allegedly locked in his bed with metal bars, creating a structure resembling a cage.

The facility didn’t have suitable bathrooms and the investigators also found a lack of professionally trained employees.

The retirement home is currently under inspection.

Footage released by Arma dei Carabinieri shows the arrests operation as well as the CCTV showing one person placing the metal bars on the bed of one of the residency’s elderly guests. Credit: Arma dei Carabinieri via Storyful

Video transcript

[NO AUDIO]