CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (WBTV) – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services cited a Charlotte nursing home after the discovery of live maggots in the wound of a resident with dementia.

The University Place care and rehabilitation center was cited by DHHS on September 20, after inspectors launched a four-day investigation following a complaint from the resident’s grandson.

Justin Waddell says he first became aware of the situation of his grandmother’s injury after being alerted by affected staff working at the nursing home.

He said at first a member of staff called him and told him he had to watch his grandmother, Bernice Mayes. Then another staff member sent her a video that showed an open wound on her grandmother’s heel with live maggots crawling around.

“My stomach has turned. I would say a wide range of emotions came with me, ”Waddell said after seeing the video for the first time.

“You know, the video that I got, if you didn’t know better, you’d think it came from a third world country, not an establishment in the United States.”

Waddell took Mayes to the hospital to treat her injury, then was transferred to another facility. He also called regulators to report the incident.

On Thursday, a DHHS spokeswoman confirmed that inspectors had visited the facility and confirmed the incident involving Mayes’ heel injury.

According to an inspection report provided by DHHS, staff said they found between 50 and 100 maggots in Mayes’ heel when they discovered the infection.

Instead of taking Mayes to the hospital to have the wound cleaned, staff told inspectors, the nursing home’s director of nursing called the deputy director of nursing to clean the wound on the spot.

DHHS cited the retirement home.

The inspection report says the nursing home has already taken steps to address the issue, including spraying against flies, purchasing 46 new mosquito nets and adding lights to help spot insects.

Several emails to the nursing home for comment on this story were not returned.

Before the last inspection, records show University Place had been cited 21 times for violations by state inspectors over the past decade.

Justin Waddell said he is now speaking to remind the public that loved ones at nursing homes and similar facilities need constant monitoring.

“The main takeaway is you have to stay alert with, you know, caregivers, because it hit me like a blind side,” he said. “I did not expect that.”

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