Elders Bilked of Savings
by Many elderly people who choose to stay in their own homes rather than go into assisted-living are bilked out of their savings and even their homes by dishonest caregivers.
Most elderly people choose to stay in their own homes rather than going into Assisted-Living homes. And why wouldn’t they want to stay in the home they have worked for the larger portion of their lives. But sad to say as families spread out to distant places, there’s often no one left to overlook the welfare of the elderly person. That’s when a caregiver must be hired. Caregivers can be a lifesaver when they are good honest people but the reverse happens more often than we like to think. Too many hired caregivers come into the home and take advantage of the situation. The caregiver has the run of the house, access to bank account statements, check books, and all other financial documents.
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Jeanne Canavan head of the “White Collar Crime Unit” in Atlanta, is one of the few prosecutors in Georgia to use an obscure state law, The-Protection-of-Adults-and-Elder-Persons-Act, to send perpetraters away for up to five years in prison. “We are seeing elderly persons with their savings wiped out and their homes taken away.”Canavan said. “They take everything they have. We see it over and over.”
One example is Rukhsana Burton who operated Caregivers of Atlanta. Harold Williams 92 who is a widow and has no children hired Burton in 2007. Burton soon began forging his checks from investment accounts over to herself. Williams was alerted when some of his checks mailed in for utilities were returned stamped “no funds.” Williams called the police. Burton had forged $180,000 before she was caught. She said she paid medical bills and bought her self a car. $99,109 of Williams money was in Burton’s account at the time of her arrest. That money was returned to Williams and when Burton gets out of jail in seven years, she must begin paying back the $109,000 she stole from Williams.
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Canavan says she thinks of her late grandmother who taught her how to make cookies and play cards and how she would like to be treated in such a situation. So the DA’s office recently bought a wheel chair when Canavan realized one of their elderly victims who was 90 years old would have to struggle getting in and out of court. Investigators also drive to pick up elderly victims and take them to court. “We give them door to door service.” said Canavan.
Georgia has no licensing requirements for individuals who provide care in a private home.
An agency who provides personal care must be licensed through the state Office Regulatory Service and must screen, train, and supervise employees.
The Georgia Department of Human Resources offers these recommendations for those who want to hire a personal care giver:
- Consider using a licensed private care agency.
- Get a criminal background check at a local police office.
- Screen on the Sex Offenders Registry.
A suspected case of abuse, neglect or exploitation of the elderly who do not live in assisted-living homes should be directed to the Adult Protective Services Central Intake Unit.
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Post Commentken bultman
On June 16, 2009 at 4:08 am
Good article, Ruby.
Deep Blue
On June 16, 2009 at 4:17 am
Nice writing, may the paingivers be penalized.
RS Wing
On June 16, 2009 at 5:17 am
Those are acts of despicable and disgusting human beings….they forget the wheel of karma spins slowly and their day will come when they need help getting out of bed and their caregiver won’t be bothered…they’ll be too busy cleaning your accounts out and moving in….sad but true Ruby…..very poignant piece and more people should take notice of this ever going atrocity
Christine Ramsay
On June 16, 2009 at 5:35 am
I agree with Richard. These people are despicable. When I think of my elderly mother living in Italy, she is often charged huge amounts for simple jobs around the house and garden just because she has no family out there to help. A good post.
Christine
Swayam Siddha
On June 16, 2009 at 6:08 am
What you sow, so shall you reap. Every one most pay for what they do. Excellent article. The culprits will surely be taken care of.
Joe Dorish
On June 16, 2009 at 6:27 am
As the population ages the elderly need help to avoid this.
chitragopi
On June 16, 2009 at 7:37 am
Good article to bring positive responses as u have mentioned ways to help the elderly.Thank u for sharing.
Darla Cooke
On June 16, 2009 at 7:51 am
Very interesting article.
Daisy Peasblossom
On June 16, 2009 at 9:50 am
I am old enough to have just started getting senior discounts, and my hair is completely white. (That’s stress as much as age; I started graying early.) I’ve lost count of the number of people who have knocked on my door this spring wanting to know if I needed help with my yard or with repairs. I do my own yard work; my room mate is pretty handy. My kids aren’t real close geographically, but they do check in. This is something to think about as one grows older. Best to develop your support group before you are too old to defend yourself. Won’t work every time…but it does help.
CA Johnson
On June 16, 2009 at 10:21 am
This was a very good article. It’s a shame that some people can take advantage of people like that. That’s great that there is a law that can protect the elderly as well as other adults are not able to take care of themselves. I just found out that an elderly relative of mine passed away. She didn’t have anyone at her home to take care of her. I wasn’t close to her because I didn’t know her that well, but she could have benefitted from an honest caregiver. I thought you did a great job with this article.
Lex92
On June 16, 2009 at 10:23 am
that’s terrible!
Doug Oldfield
On June 16, 2009 at 11:03 am
Informative and needed article. Thanks for the read, Ruby.
HelloSiti
On June 16, 2009 at 11:23 am
Better stay at home!
Lostash
On June 16, 2009 at 3:24 pm
This happens so often over here too. A woman at my late Grandmas bank kindly helped herself to her money straight from the account! Shes now rotting in prison!
The care system needs an overhaul for sure. Great article.
Allana Calhoun
On June 16, 2009 at 3:54 pm
It’s terrible how there are so many people out there readily willing to take advantage of others. It’s just another example of how pieces of society have suffered morally.
Nice article Ruby!
Ruby Hawk
On June 16, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Thank you my friends, It is such a shame that we can’t take people at face value. We must check the background, sex offenders list, and anything else we can think of. I would say if you have a home care giver keep all your financial documents, checks, and bank statements locked up tight.If you are not able to take care of those things you are at their mercy.
CA, I’m so sory about your relative.
Daisy, we do have to think about those things, and speaking of gray hair, mine turned when I was in my thirties almost over night. There are some things we can do but in the long run it’s up to those closest to us. Unless we are super rich and can hire lawyers.
Ya’ll take care of your selves and don’t worry about it too much. It will work out.
Melody SJAL
On June 16, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Oh, what a shame! In my country, most old people stay with their families or relatives. I do hope for more laws to be in place and strictly implemented to protect the rights of senior citizens.
NA Staffieri
On June 16, 2009 at 9:01 pm
It’s sad to say, but I’ve seen even family members in care of their elderly parents or grandparents ciphen money from them.
I still say that there are lots of good people in this world that would take personal pride in assisting the elderly with such things. We just need to do a better job at finding them.
I, for one, would be very hesitant to see my aging parents in such care of anyone other than me or my brothers and sisters.
Sheila M
On June 16, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Horrible that someone would do that ~ great article
Poetic Enigma
On June 17, 2009 at 1:23 am
Great article, on a great topic
Thanks for sharing!
swatilohani
On June 17, 2009 at 1:25 am
well crafted
Nicholas Kenney
On June 17, 2009 at 7:55 am
Hearing things like this is heartbreaking. Most societies respect and honor their elderly…sadly too many here in the states see them as an avenue to wealth and riches. The only thought that keeps me sane when hearing about things like this is that God sees all and hears all…they’re not getting away with anything. In the end they will be punished. Maybe not in this lifetime but definitely when they stand before God.
PR Mace
On June 17, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Well done article. We have had the same problem in Pensacola. Our elderly should be treated with more respect. Remember one day it will be YOU! We all have to grow older.
sonnenblumen
On June 17, 2009 at 11:18 pm
interesting article..
thanks for sharing me!
Ruby Hawk
On June 21, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Not too many years ago the elderly did live with their families but not any more. Most folks that cannot care for themselves go into nursing homes nowadays. I think the major reason being that the children have to work to pay their own living expenses. It’s not like in years past when women stayed in the home to care for the family. Now she is out helping earn the living and in some cases earning the living by herself. There is no one left at home to care for the old people. In my case my mother in law went into a nursing home because she had health problems that could not be taken care of at home. Both my sister in law and I worked. My mother lived in her own home near some of her children until she was taken ill and died in the hospital.
CutestPrincess
On June 22, 2009 at 9:49 am
Melody is right, most old people stay at their family and relatives… we are very family oriented. we’re the one who take care to our eldest…