Home Industries Health Services 2 nursing assistants surrender license for allegedly locking client with developmental disabilities...

2 nursing assistants surrender license for allegedly locking client with developmental disabilities in room

By

Katie Castellani

-

09/22/2025

RIDOH — TWO NURSING assistants have voluntarily surrendered their licenses after being investigated by R.I. Department of Health for allegations of “unprofessional conduct.”

PROVIDENCE – Two nursing assistants have voluntarily surrendered their licenses after being investigated by the R.I. Department of Health for allegations of “unprofessional conduct.” Teresa Mercado Rojas and Pamela Brito Mercado both locked a client in a “small and dark” room while working for Providence-based Joy Home Care, according to separate consent orders filed by

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PROVIDENCE – Two nursing assistants have voluntarily surrendered their licenses after being investigated by the R.I. Department of Health for allegations of “unprofessional conduct.” Teresa Mercado Rojas and Pamela Brito Mercado both locked a client in a “small and dark” room while working for Providence-based Joy Home Care, according to separate consent orders filed by RIDOH on Sept. 17. The client, identified as Client A in both consent orders, is a young adult with a developmental disability and has both bowel and bladder incontinence. The client needed help from a nursing assistant with bathing, grooming, keeping a clean-living space – by changing bed linens, doing laundry and taking out the trash – as well as incontinence care. Rojas was scheduled to care for the client Mondays through Fridays from 6-8 a.m. and 3-9 p.m. Mercado was scheduled to care for the client on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. On Mar. 17, RIDOH conducted two unannounced site visits of the client’s home. After that, both Rojas and Mercado were accused of failing to provide the client with a “clean and sanitary environment and living conditions.” More specifically, it was alleged that the client was kept in a small and dark room that was locked from the outside so the client could not leave. Also, the client’s room was allegedly filled with storage boxes, had no working light and it was furnished with “a bare twin mattress on the floor,” according to the consent orders. RIDOH found this conduct would legally count as abuse – defined in state law as “any conduct which harms or is likely to harm a patient.” To avoid disciplinary proceedings, both Rojas and Mercado voluntarily entered into the consent order with RIDOH to surrender their licenses without admitting the charged actions. Under the consent orders, neither Rojas or Mercado can seek renewals or reinstatement of the nursing assistant licenses in Rhode Island. A representative for Joy Home Care did not respond to PBN’s request for comment. Katie Castellani is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Castellani@PBN.com.