Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

A 26-year-old man allegedly removed a fentanyl pain patch from a nursing home resident’s back and ate it, Pennsylvania police said Thursday.

Anthony Hessler is accused of taking the 66-year-old woman on a walk Wednesday afternoon, removing the patch and eating it after she refused to take it off her back, Penn Live reported. Fentanyl skin patches are used to relieve moderate to severe pain that cannot be treated with other pain medications.

The woman was a resident at Rest Haven Nursing Home in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, about a quarter mile south from Pennsylvania State University’s campus in Schuylkill County.

Hessler was charged with robbery and being held at the Schuylkill County Prison.

Rest Haven did not respond to inquiries as of McKnight’s press time.