New law will take effect Jan. 1 to streamline reports of elder abuse
By Kristina Davis
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 19, 2008
Debra Carson's mother never takes off her rings, especially her beloved diamond wedding band.
But on a Memorial Day weekend, when Carson visited the Oceanside nursing home where her mother was living, she noticed the 81-year-old woman's hands were bare.
“I was heartbroken because I knew what had happened,” Carson said.
The diamond ring had been stolen.
“I was kicking myself. She has Alzheimer's. Why didn't I take them off her hands?” Carson said.
Vulnerable men and women regularly fall victim to theft while in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and even their own homes – often targeted by the caretakers they trust most.
A new state law going into effect Jan. 1 will require police and local ombudsmen for the elderly to immediately report cases of known or suspected elder abuse – including theft – to the District Attorney's Office.
Nursing home administrators say that incidents of theft are few and far between, with most lost items turning up less than 24 hours later.
Hiring independent home health care workers can be especially risky.
“Unfortunately, it's not illegal for a felon to get a job caring for elders,” Carver said.
A nurse's aid at a Lakeside nursing home recently pleaded guilty to stealing several checks from at least three residents, draining about $24,000 from their accounts, Greenwood said.
Niegel Laxamana, 27, faces up to two years in prison.
Abridged
SOURCE: Sign on San Diego
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