Windsor Locks, Connecticut — The death of a 93-year-old nursing home resident who froze after wandering outside has sparked renewed scrutiny over hiring practices in long-term care facilities after court records revealed that one of the former employees charged in the case had previously faced serious criminal allegations.
The case involving Margaret Healey, who died after leaving the Bickford Health Care Center during dangerously cold weather, has reignited debate among Connecticut lawmakers about whether employees caring for vulnerable residents should undergo ongoing background checks rather than only pre-employment screenings.
Court Records Reveal Prior Criminal Charges Against Former Supervisor
Authorities have charged former shift supervisor Papy Bibo and another former employee in connection with Healey’s death.
Questions about the facility’s hiring practices intensified after court records showed that Bibo was arrested in 2020 on multiple sexual assault charges.
According to court documents, a female relative accused Bibo of sexually assaulting her over several years beginning when she was in the seventh grade. Police records indicate Bibo denied at least some of the allegations.
It remains unclear whether those pending charges were known to the nursing home or whether additional background checks were conducted after Bibo was hired.
Current federal regulations generally disqualify applicants based on certain criminal convictions, but pending charges may not automatically prevent employment in long-term care settings.
Lawmakers Push for Stronger Background Check Requirements
The case has prompted lawmakers to call for changes aimed at strengthening protections for nursing home residents.
State Sen. Heather Somers said facilities should consider conducting periodic background checks instead of relying solely on screenings completed before hiring.
“You have to get a background check before you’re hired, but there needs to be intermittent background checks along the way just to confirm that nobody has been charged with something as egregious as sexual assault,” Somers said.
State Rep. Jane Garibay also called for legislative action that would prevent people facing serious violent felony charges from working with vulnerable populations.
“I think there has to be legislation that if you’re under charges of felony violent felonies that you can’t be hired where people are vulnerable,” Garibay said.
Family Says the Tragedy Could Have Been Prevented
For Healey’s family, the revelations have deepened the pain of losing a loved one they believe should have been protected.
Healey’s niece, Eileen Mucha, who also worked at the nursing home but was away on vacation when the incident occurred, said she still remembers speaking with her aunt before leaving.
“I said, ‘I’m going to Florida. I love you. I’ll see you in two weeks.’ She said, ‘I love you, too.’ Blew me a kiss,” Mucha recalled.
She believes the tragedy could have been avoided if proper procedures had been followed.
“It didn’t have to happen. It really did not have to happen,” Mucha said.
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Investigation Continues as Facility Closes
Investigators allege that after Healey was discovered outside, Bibo waited more than an hour before calling 911, raising additional questions about the response to the emergency.
Mucha said accountability remains important for her family.
“Somebody needs to be held accountable for what happened. That’s my reaction. And I think that they didn’t follow procedures and policies,” she said.
The Bickford Health Care Center has since closed, and all remaining residents have been relocated to other long-term care facilities.
The case continues to fuel discussions over whether existing hiring standards and employee monitoring practices are sufficient to protect elderly residents in nursing homes across Connecticut.
Do you think nursing homes should conduct recurring background checks on employees instead of only screening them before hiring? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
