FOX 5 Special Elderly Abuse
17 Feb 2010
Reported By: Deidra Dukes
Edited By: Leigha Baugham
Caregivers can be hired to help care for the elderly, but authorities say some help themselves to their clients' life savings instead. Some of these caregivers commit the ultimate betrayal and some pay for their crimes with prison time.
"My aunt developed Alzheimer's, I needed extra help at home," said Eleanor Flanagan of her aunt Frances Lindsey.
Lindsey's family turned to caregiver Felicia Harvey in 2006, when their then 87-year old aunt needed around the clock care.
"People are hard to find you feel like you can trust like that," said Flanagan.
Flanagan said she knew Harvey well, since she had once cared for her own mother. Flanagan said she was thrilled when Harvey agreed to care for her aunt. "We really trusted her, she was like family."
Nearly a year after Harvey took the job, the elderly woman's family made a devastating discovery. Thousands of dollars were missing from Lindsey's account.
"We were stunned when I first found the evidence on the bank statements. I thought the bank made a mistake. It honestly never crossed my mind that Felicia would do that. I just did not want to believe it," recalled Flanagan.
Flanagan said Harvey admitted to the family and Gwinnett County authorities, that she stole over $17,000 dollars from Lindsey over a seven week period in 2007.
Harvey admitted to investigators how she duped the elderly victim into giving her access to her account.
Harvey admitted to investigators how she duped the elderly victim into giving her access to her account.
Flanagan's aunt died last year. She never recovered any of the stolen money.
There are steps the elderly can take to reduce their risk of being victimized.
· Make sure you always receive and review your bank and credit card statements and check the accounts for unusual activity.
· Stay on top of the household finances.
· Make sure your caregiver is licensed and bonded, so you have a better chance of getting your money back if you're victimized.
· Have a criminal background check completed.
Abridged
SOURCE: My Fox Atlanta
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