Belgian Care Worker Sentenced to 40 Months for Nursing Home Abuse

A 27-year-old care worker has been sentenced to 40 months in prison by a Belgian court for the physical and psychological abuse of three elderly residents at nursing homes in Brasschaat and Deurne, in the Antwerp region of Flanders. The court found the caregiver guilty of intentional assault and battery with aggravating circumstances, citing the vulnerability of the victims as a key factor in the ruling.

The Verdict

According to VRT NWS, the sentence matches the term requested by the public prosecutor’s office. The court also ordered the caregiver to pay compensation to the victims’ families. The defense had argued for a suspended sentence, claiming the assaults were unintentional.

In its ruling, the court stated: “The defendant used physical violence against very elderly and needy victims who could not defend themselves. A nursing home should be a safe place. The defendant flagrantly violated his duty of care.”

The Victims and Their Ordeals

The abuse took place at Woonzorgcentrum Salvé in Brasschaat, operated by the Armonea group, and at a separate nursing home in Deurne where the caregiver had previously worked. The three victims included:

• An 88-year-old woman who suffered a bleeding eye, bruising, scratch lesions, hematomas, and strangulation marks on her neck. She reportedly became blind in one eye due to the beating and died several months later.
• A 90-year-old woman whose arms required bandaging for weeks due to open wounds.
• An elderly male resident at the Deurne facility, who died shortly after the abuse, though a causal link could not be proven.

A Family’s Testimony

Peter De Groof, son of the 88-year-old victim, gave harrowing testimony to VRT NWS in September 2025. “She had a large scar above her left eye, her right eye was constantly bleeding, and she was completely black and blue,” he said. “It was terrible to see. We initially assumed that one of the demented fellow residents had done this, because you don’t expect something like that from the staff.”

“My mother’s joy in life is gone and replaced by fear,” De Groof added. “It’s indescribable what must possess a person to be capable of something like this. I hope the perpetrator never gets the chance to do this again to the weakest people in society.”

How the Abuse Was Uncovered

The investigation began after a family member of the Deurne victim installed a hidden camera in the resident’s room, capturing the abuse. At the Brasschaat facility, CCTV footage proved critical. On June 11, 2025, the caregiver escorted both elderly women from the cafeteria to their rooms. Half an hour later, the 88-year-old had bandages on her arms, scratch lesions, hematomas, and strangulation marks. The 90-year-old was found trembling with a bloody eye and her dentures on the bed.

The caregiver was arrested on June 13, 2025, initially placed under electronic monitoring, and later released under conditions pending trial.

Contributing Factors

During the trial, the caregiver admitted to using “more forceful actions than necessary” with the Deurne victim. He cited alcohol problems, relationship and financial stress, and staff shortages as contributing factors. The court found all charges proven, and the caregiver is no longer employed in healthcare.

Broader Implications for Elderly Care

The case has reignited debate about oversight in Flemish nursing homes. The Flemish healthcare sector has faced chronic staffing shortages, with high turnover rates and difficulty attracting workers to elderly care. Both the Brasschaat and Deurne cases were uncovered through camera footage, raising questions about how much abuse goes undetected in facilities without such surveillance.

Just three days before this sentencing, another VRT NWS report detailed the conviction of Woonzorgcentrum De Vlaamse Ardennen in Horebeke for involuntary manslaughter after two residents died in falls, highlighting a pattern of accountability concerns across the sector.

What’s Next

The 40-month sentence sends a strong signal that abuse of vulnerable elderly residents will be met with severe punishment. However, the case leaves open broader questions about systemic oversight, staff-to-resident ratios, and the responsibility of nursing home operators to create safe environments. Advocates are calling for stricter background checks, mandatory CCTV in common areas, and more frequent unannounced inspections to prevent future tragedies.