Latest news with #PresbyterianSeniorLiving
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Surprising intruder breaks into Pennsylvania nursing home and gets into patients' beds
A Pennsylvania nursing home's staff was forced to grapple with an unexpected trespasser - a black bear who broke in through a window and got cozy in two residents' beds. The bizarre encounter at Presbyterian Senior Living at St. Andrew's Village in Indiana, Pennsylvania, began when an employee heard an alarming bang on Tuesday around 11pm. 'I was sitting there at our nurse's station and I heard a big crash,' Charlene Elliott, a lead certified nursing assistant on duty that night, recalled to WPXI. Assuming the jarring sound was another employee falling, Elliot quickly stood up to help her coworker. But instead of seeing an aide on the ground, she saw a bear marching down the hall toward her. The wild animal had leaped through a window, sending shattered glass flying through the hallway. Photos from the scene show claw marks on the windowsill. Elliot urged residents to immediately shut their doors to prevent the bear from leaving the hallway, but he still managed to cause even more commotion. During the chaotic 15 minutes the bear roamed the facility, he crawled into bed with two frightened residents - coming face-to-face with one of them, WPXI reported. 'Please do not move, touch him, because he could have mauled him. I mean, one swipe,' Elliot said she advised the patients. Fiercely defending the nursing home from the potential danger, Elliot said she used a walker to hit the bear and get him away from the people living at the home. Despite the terror many felt from the baffling intruder's presence, one patient was thrilled to see the bear and wanted to feed it, Elliot told the outlet. 'She's like "Well, go ahead and give it my sandwich!" and I'm like, "No, we can't do that!"' she recalled. Employees did end up giving the bear an edible incentive to leave the building - luring it outside with Rice Krispies Treats. Elliot explained she and other staffers also used a walker to nudge the bear out the door. Once he reached the exit, the bear was seen scurrying off into the night, leaving staff and residents relieved the jaw-dropping ordeal was finally over. The Pennsylvania Game Commission was able to catch the bear by Thursday morning - using the animal's apparent love for sweets to lure him into a trap. Officials reportedly used pastries and donuts to capture the bear to bring him to a 'more suitable' location, Lt. Andy Harvey of the PA Game Commission told WPXI. 'Hopefully, there's some food sources around there where it can thrive.' The commission said it is rare for bears to bust indoors, but evidently not impossible. In order to prevent bear break-ins, they advised people to secure their garbage so animals cannot get into it. Presbyterian Senior Living addressed the unusual situation in a statement to the outlet, writing: 'We are incredibly proud of our team's quick thinking and dedication to ensuring the safety of everyone in our community. 'To prevent future wildlife encounters, the game warden safely relocated the bear to a more suitable habitat today and all bird feeders on our campus were removed. 'We appreciate the support of our residents, families, and local authorities in managing this unique situation, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all.' The young bear, believed to be just one or two years old, has been moved to the Cambria County gamelands, the Indiana Gazette reported. 'We are incredibly proud of our team's quick thinking and dedication to ensuring the safety of everyone in our community,' the nursing home wrote to WPXI on Thursday. 'To prevent future wildlife encounters, the game warden safely relocated the bear to a more suitable habitat today and all bird feeders on our campus were removed.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Nurse Fends Off Bear With Walker In Wild Rice Krispie Standoff At Senior Living Home
A Pennsylvania nursing home had an unexpected, and wild, visitor earlier this week when a juvenile black bear broke through a window and entered the facility in search of food. The chaotic bear encounter took place late Tuesday night, June 3, at Presbyterian Senior Living. According to CBS News Pittsburgh, the bear made its way inside just after 11 p.m., leaving behind shattered glass and visible claw marks on window sills. But thanks to the bravery and quick thinking of the nursing staff, no residents were harmed during the ordeal. 'I grabbed a walker and was hitting him, trying to get him away from the residents,' Charlene Elliot, a nurse at the facility, told CBS News in an on-camera interview. 'Cause my thought was he was going to... maul them or swipe, slap at them. That was my worst fear.' Elliot said her priority was the safety of the elderly residents, and her instincts kicked in fast. She and her team eventually used Rice Krispies Treats to lure the roughly 150-pound cub away from the living area. Their clever snack strategy worked. The bear was safely led outside and later humanely captured by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, who relocated the animal to a more suitable location on Wednesday, June 4. The Game Commission noted that while Pennsylvania is home to approximately 18,000 black bears, the majority tend to avoid human interaction. Most encounters stem from curiosity or the search for food rather than aggression. Still, officials urge residents to remove potential attractants, like bird feeders and unsecured trash, to reduce the chances of future incidents. Elliot, reflecting on the experience, said she had no hesitation about putting herself on the line. 'I feel I went above and beyond for my residents and that's the way I feel,' she said. 'I would put my life on the line for them, and pretty much I did.' Unsurprisingly, the story has gone viral on social media, with users cracking jokes and sharing lighthearted takes on the bear's unexpected visit. "Sometimes even bears can't resist a good Rice Krispies treat," one X user said. "Most excitement that place has had EVER," another joked. "Don't screw around with nursing homes," a third said. "He messed with the wrong people!" someone else wrote. In a statement following the incident, Presbyterian Senior Living praised their staff for handling the situation with courage and compassion. 'We are incredibly proud of our team's quick thinking and dedication to ensuring the safety of everyone in our community,' the organization said. 'To prevent future wildlife encounters, the game warden safely relocated the bear to a more suitable habitat today and all bird feeders on our campus were removed.' As news of the black bear breaking into a Pennsylvania nursing home spreads, social media users have continued to share their reactions, ranging from stunned disbelief to heartfelt relief. 'That's crazy!' one commenter exclaimed, echoing the general shock many felt after learning that a 150-pound bear cub shattered a window and entered the facility late at night. Others were simply in awe of the bizarre headline. 'Omg wow,' a user wrote, while another added, 'Just when you thought you'd seen it all.' Many commenters also expressed gratitude toward the facility staff and wildlife officials who safely handled the situation. 'Thanks for moving the bear cub to a safer environment! So glad that everyone at the nursing home is okay!' one person posted. While the bear's entrance may have sparked fear, others took a more sympathetic tone. 'I don't think the bear meant any harm. The bird feeders would attract the cub for sure!' another user pointed out, referencing the Game Commission's explanation that most bears are curious rather than aggressive. Thanks to the staff's heroic efforts and a little help from some sweet treats, the late-night bear drama ended with everyone, human and bear, safe and sound.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bear Busts Through Nursing Home Window Before Being Lured Out with Rice Krispie Treats
Presbyterian Senior Living got an unusual visitor when a black bear burst through a window at the facility Staff lured it away with food after one person whacked it with a walker The Pennsylvania Game Commission safely captured and relocated the cubA nursing home in Pennsylvania had to evict an unwanted guest after a wild bear burst through their window looking for food. Staff and residents at Presbyterian Senior Living had a busy night on Tuesday, June 3 when a juvenile black bear broke through a window just after 11 p.m. One photo shared by CBS News Pittsburgh showed a shattered window, any showed claw marks by a different window sill. "I grabbed a walker and was hitting him, trying to get him away from the residents," Charlene Elliot told the news station exclusively during an on-camera interview. According to the nurse, her top priority was protecting the elderly residents: "Cause my thought was he was going to... maul them or swipe, slap at them.' 'That was my worst fear," she added. Elliot said her team did their best to get the bear out, using Rice Krispies Treats to lure the wild animal away from their Presbyterian Senior Living residents. Eventually their efforts worked, and they were able to get the animal out while keeping their residents safe. Pennsylvania Game Commission later arrived and set up a trap, which was able to humanely capture the approximately 150 pound cub and relocate it by Wednesday, June 4. Officials say of the estimated 18,000 black bears living in the state, most of them are generally afraid of humans and attacks rarely happen. The animals are typically just curious or looking for easy food. Elliot told the news station she was pleased with the work she did to keep her community safe. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I feel I went above and beyond for my residents and that's the way I feel. I would put my life on the line for them, and pretty much I did," the staffer said. "We are incredibly proud of our team's quick thinking and dedication to ensuring the safety of everyone in our community," Presbyterian Senior Living said in a news release, per CBS News Pittsburgh. "To prevent future wildlife encounters, the game warden safely relocated the bear to a more suitable habitat today and all bird feeders on our campus were removed." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bear Busts Through Nursing Home Window Before Being Lured Out with Rice Krispie Treats
Presbyterian Senior Living got an unusual visitor when a black bear burst through a window at the facility Staff lured it away with food after one person whacked it with a walker The Pennsylvania Game Commission safely captured and relocated the cubA nursing home in Pennsylvania had to evict an unwanted guest after a wild bear burst through their window looking for food. Staff and residents at Presbyterian Senior Living had a busy night on Tuesday, June 3 when a juvenile black bear broke through a window just after 11 p.m. One photo shared by CBS News Pittsburgh showed a shattered window, any showed claw marks by a different window sill. "I grabbed a walker and was hitting him, trying to get him away from the residents," Charlene Elliot told the news station exclusively during an on-camera interview. According to the nurse, her top priority was protecting the elderly residents: "Cause my thought was he was going to... maul them or swipe, slap at them.' 'That was my worst fear," she added. Elliot said her team did their best to get the bear out, using Rice Krispies Treats to lure the wild animal away from their Presbyterian Senior Living residents. Eventually their efforts worked, and they were able to get the animal out while keeping their residents safe. Pennsylvania Game Commission later arrived and set up a trap, which was able to humanely capture the approximately 150 pound cub and relocate it by Wednesday, June 4. Officials say of the estimated 18,000 black bears living in the state, most of them are generally afraid of humans and attacks rarely happen. The animals are typically just curious or looking for easy food. Elliot told the news station she was pleased with the work she did to keep her community safe. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I feel I went above and beyond for my residents and that's the way I feel. I would put my life on the line for them, and pretty much I did," the staffer said. "We are incredibly proud of our team's quick thinking and dedication to ensuring the safety of everyone in our community," Presbyterian Senior Living said in a news release, per CBS News Pittsburgh. "To prevent future wildlife encounters, the game warden safely relocated the bear to a more suitable habitat today and all bird feeders on our campus were removed." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
WATCH: Bear breaks into western Pennsylvania nursing home
(KDKA) – Nursing homes are used to having visitors, but a retirement community in western Pennsylvania had a rather unbearable guest on Tuesday night. Presbyterian Senior Living, which runs St. Andrew's Village in Indiana, Pennsylvania, said a juvenile male black bear broke through a window a little after 11 p.m. Officials said he was looking for food, but what he found was Charlene Elliot and a few other St. Andrew's nurses. 'I grabbed a walker and was hitting him, trying to get him away from the residents,' Elliot said. 'Cause my thought was he was going to, from quick reaction from them, he's going to maul them or swipe, slap at them. That was my worst fear.' Elliot said that some nurses tried to lure the bear out of rooms with things like Rice Krispies treats, but she said it took her and her team basically wrangling the bear and pushing it out of the door to get it to go. The Pennsylvania Game Commission later came and set up a bear trap. Early Wednesday morning, they were able to humanely catch and relocate the 150-pound yearling. 'I feel I went above and beyond for my residents and that's the way I feel. I would put my life on the line for them, and pretty much I did,' Elliot said. Elliot said that nothing like this has ever happened to her before, but no doubt, residents are happy that she acted quickly and was smarter than the average bear. 'We are incredibly proud of our team's quick thinking and dedication to ensuring the safety of everyone in our community. To prevent future wildlife encounters, the game warden safely relocated the bear to a more suitable habitat today and all bird feeders on our campus were removed,' Presbyterian Senior Living said in a news release. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are about 18,000 black bears in the state, and while they're usually afraid of humans, some that live close by can become habituated. If there are food sources like bird feeders or garbage cans, bears that are used to people can be drawn to backyards. The Game Commission says Pennsylvania's black bears are rather non-confrontational, and attacks are rare. Most of the time, black bears are just looking for an easy meal. While there's no real playbook for a bear breaking into a nursing home, the Game Commission says if you do find yourself in a situation like this, always protect yourself and always try to make sure there is an open door for the animal to go out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
