Assisted living facility being investigated for abuse claims

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL Fox 35 News) - An Orlando man wants to know was it abuse or restraint after finding out his disabled brother was severely injured while under the care of an assisted living facility in Orange County.

The alleged abuse happened last Wednesday at the Springs Group Home on Wekiwa Springs Road in Apopka. The injured man Bryan Barborka, 26, is being treated at Florida Hospital for a fractured shoulder and some very severe bruising.

Barborka suffers from cerebral palsy and is paralyzed except for the use of his left arm. He had been living at the spring group home in Apopka for four years until Thursday when his brother received a phone call from the Florida Abuse Hotline that his brother had been hospitalized.

“I wanted to cry. I just don’t understand why someone would go and hurt him like this he’s helpless. There’s no reason in the world for someone in his condition to be treated like that,” said the injured man's brother David Barborka.

Bryan’s injuries include substantial bruising from his right arm over his shoulder around his neck and down his chest. His right shoulder had been fractured. The home told Barborka the injuries were from staff trying to restrain Bryan after he had gotten upset before going to bed.

Barborka says the incident happened Wednesday, but it wasn't reported by staff to the abuse hotline until Thursday. Bryan stayed in bed all night with a fractured shoulder.

Fox 35 went to Springs Group Home for a comment but no one answered the door. The home is run by Quest Incorporated, a non-profit group that runs a handful of other facilities for the physically and mentally impaired.

A spokesperson for the group said they are investigating what happened and that the people involved have been removed from work duty.

Barborka said he reported the incident to Orange County Sheriff's Office.

“This obviously wasn’t an accident; this was up and beyond restraint, somebody hurt him and they need to be found and they need to pay,” said Barborka.

Orange County Sheriff's Office is not releasing information on this case until Monday but, Barborka said detectives have been to the hospital twice now to take pictures of his brothers injuries.