Fraud/Elder Abuse: Couple Sentenced (CA. USA)

Victorville Couple Sentenced in

Real Estate Fraud/Elder Abuse Case

A Victorville couple was sentenced to county jail on felony charges connected to real estate fraud and financial elder abuse. Joe Warf (51) and Tracy Warf (41) appeared in Victorville Superior Court on Friday, April 10, 2009. The pair was sentenced to 250 days and 365 days county jail, respectively, for financial elder abuse. Both will be placed on formal supervised probation for five years at the conclusion of their sentences.

 

   In June 2008, Joe and Tracy Warf deceived the 94-year-old victim into signing over his San Bernardino home to them.  The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Unit conducted an investigation and arrested Joe and Tracy Warf on November 24, 2008.

   The court has already ordered that title to the San Bernardino house be transferred back into the victim's name.

SOURCE:    Big Bear Valley News - Big Bear Lake,CA,USA

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Carer Guilty of Elder Abuse (CA. USA)

Holloway guilty of elder abuse

Apr 16 2009

By Michael S. Green

William Lowe’s family visited his grave Thursday to share some very good news.

Lowe’s former caretaker, Linda Suzan Holloway, was convicted of elder abuse nearly three years after the 76-year-old man’s body was found in his Colusa home.

“We’re ecstatic,” Lynnda Lowe-Salek of Newton, Mass., said after the verdict was handed down in Colusa County Superior Court after a non-jury trial. “He died  in ‘06, so we’ve been waiting for three years. It’s been a long time coming.”

Lowe-Salek, Lowe’s eldest daughter, was joined by her sister Laura Lowe of Colusa and Laura’s daughter Lindsey. “We’re just thrilled with the verdict, and happy,” Laura Lowe said.

Holloway faces up to 13 years in prison when she’s sentenced May 12, according to Colusa County District Attorney John Poyner. She was convicted of elder abuse with a “strike” for a previous robbery conviction and an enhancement for great bodily injury.

Abridged

SOURCE:     Colusa County Sun Herald - Colusa,CA,USA

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Nursing Home Crusader Calls for Change (MN. USA)

Nursing Home Crusader Calls for Change

He says ratings don’t function well to explain abuse

By Sarah Stultz

 Albert Lea Tribune

April 17, 2009

The Oklahoman founder of a national watchdog group for nursing homes on Thursday called state and national governments to action to change how substantiated abuse cases are cited and how they influence the rating of nursing homes on the federal Medicare.gov Web site.

Because families of nursing home residents rely heavily on this rating system, the information there needs to be accurate and complete, he said. Otherwise, the whole system should be taken away.

During what was the third town hall meeting at the Albert Lea Inn regarding allegations of abuse from January to May of last year at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea, Bledsoe walked through examples of state health department reports and showed how the Medicare.gov nursing home rating system works.

He went through numerous Minnesota Department of Health reports, including the report released last August alleging abuse at Good Sam. Many, including that report, showed there was substantiated abuse. But because the facilities self reported the incidents and implemented a plan of correction before the state health department arrived, they were not cited any deficiencies, he said.

In fact, more than 80 percent of the cases where abuse was substantiated in Minnesota over the last four years, there were not any deficiencies cited.

“This just blows my mind,” he said.

Bledsoe said he thinks all substantiated abuse cases should be included on a federal database. That way people searching for a nursing home are able to see a more accurate picture of what has happened.

Abridged

SOURCE:    Albert Lea Tribune - Albert Lea,MN,USA

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It is Not the Economy that Makes Them Do It (AB. CANADA)

It is not the economy that makes them do it

BY NAOMI LAKRITZ

CALGARY HERALD

APRIL 17, 2009

There's a new and troubling catchphrase in danger of picking up steam out there: the recession made me do it.

This week, Margaret Grant, 48, of Moncton, was sent to prison for four years for failing to provide the necessities of life for her elderly mother, whom she kept in a chair for long months in her filthy home. Grant's mom, Kathleen, 78, developed advanced gangrene, and pressure sores so terrible that the judge said parts of her bones and some of her internal organs were visible. Rescue came too late, and the mother died shortly after being taken to the hospital.

There seems to be an expectation that more cases like this could surface. Laura Watts, national director of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law, noting that seniors have the assets, told reporters that "in this economy, how much more tempting is it when you can't get credit elsewhere, but when you have power of attorney?"

Maybe. But since when does the economy turn good, decent people into inhuman beasts who would treat their mothers so vilely? The potential for doing such terrible things has to be within that person all along. A recession cannot turn Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde. Rather, Mr. Hyde was lurking in Dr. Jekyll long before the economic downturn gave him a new excuse to trot out that ugly behaviour.

Also this week, it was reported that the recession is causing a huge spike in domestic abuse.

However, when Alberta was in the midst of its boom, not that long ago, we were told that the boom was responsible for this province's high rates of domestic abuse.

This news is a two-edged sword--not only does it give abusers a new excuse to justify their behaviour, but it also gives their victims a new reason to explain away the abuse --something that, sadly, they're already used to doing. From long conditioning by their abusers, the victims come to believe that they themselves are to blame for the abuse heaped upon them. 

Abridged

SOURCE:    Calgary Herald - Calgary,AB,Canada

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Three Accused of Extorting Money from Elder Woman (NY. USA)

By Stephen T. Watson

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

04/17/09

Three people used charm, lies and threats to persuade an elderly Buffalo woman to give them more than $100,000 before they were arrested this week, according to Buffalo police.

Possibly as far back as 2002, the three became acquainted with the victim and came up with a variety of reasons why she needed to give them thousands of dollars at a time from her bank account.

Their hard-luck tales turned to threats of violence if the flow of money stopped, and the scheme ended only after Erie County Adult Protective Services alerted police.

Senior citizens who don’t have anyone checking in on their living conditions, their health and their finances face the greatest risk of abuse, said Wiktorski-Reynolds, who spoke generally and not about this case.

Scam artists and other abusers make themselves indispensable to elderly victims, who might need help or feel lonely, she said.

Abridged

SOURCE:     Buffalo News - Buffalo,NY,USA

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Britain's Homecare Scandal (UK)

Britain’s Homecare Scandal

 BBC News

 April 9, 2009

Care of the elderly is a professional job. Assisting medication, feeding, changing, bathing, even using hoists demands a level of expertise we expect in the care of some of our most vulnerable people. But when Panorama went undercover in some of Britain's biggest homecare suppliers we found carers with little more training than they needed for a job in a burger bar. 

Our undercover carers were sent into companies where during months of research, we had heard first hand accounts of serious systemic failings. They completed four days of training with Age Concern Training, exceeding the government's national minimum standards. Emergency medical cover was on standby throughout the time they were working. 

When applying for jobs, both Hayley Cutts and Arifa Farooq said they had some caring experience but no formal training. It wasn't long before they got work. Hayley's first job was with a company claiming to be Britain's fastest growing care provider with around 15,000 elderly clients. 

Administrative errors 

Hayley's training at Carewatch consisted of four 20-minute DVDs and a tutorial lasting 90 minutes. A check with the Criminal Records Bureau is a legal requirement but Hayley was allowed to work 14 shifts before she was cleared. The company apologised for what they said was an administrative error. 

Abridged

SOURCE:   BBC NEWS

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Please go to source for full-text.  It is disturbing to note that seniors are put at risks. The government must act to rectify shortcomings in the system.

Over-worked of carers cannot do their job properly.  If we were serious about preventing elder neglect and abuse, we must ensure that carers are properly trained and screened.

......................  AC

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Elder Abuse on the Rise in Massachusetts (USA)

Senior Cares: Elder Abuse on the Rise in Massachusetts

By Jack Cross

Apr 16, 2009

ARLINGTON, MASS. - Mary is 86 and lives alone in a small cluttered apartment. The food in the refrigerator looks long passed its “sell by” date. Mary has been wearing the same dress for weeks, and she cannot remember when she last had a shower or a nutritious meal. Her adult son lives near but is not interested. Her adult daughter also lives near. She is somewhat involved with her mother, but she has a family and career and is unwilling or unable to improve the situation.

Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common today. It’s an example of elder abuse by neglect, and elder abuse is on the rise in Massachusetts. 

According to literature from the Protective Services Office, you should seek help if your caregiver or a family member or acquaintance:

· Is hurting you or threatening to hurt you

· Won’t let you see friends, family or your doctor

· Is not providing food and medications (or is having medications stolen)

· Is taking money or things of value

· Is signing your name without permission

· Is asking you to sign papers you don’t understand

The reporting process, as Marissa describes it, is very straightforward. It is designed to encourage anyone who sees a possible cause for concern to take action, or anyone who feels threatened to feel secure about asking for help. At the Elder Abuse Minuteman hotline number 781-272-7177 or the statewide hotline 800-922-2275, the caller can remain anonymous.

Abridged

SOURCE:     Arlington Advocate - Lexington,MA,USA

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Reporting Elder Abuse - A Cautionary Note

By Andrew C

The case of a nurse (UK) who was de-registered because she secretly filmed neglect and elder abuse in a nursing home for the BBC Panoramic program; brought back memories of the stories received.

Unfair Treatment of Reporters of Elder Abuse

 

It is most disturbing that reporters of elder abuse cases to authorities in various countries, often resulted in the reporters themselves been investigated! Motives are questioned.

Why? May be it is easier for authorities to suspect the motive of the reporter than to investigate the reported case.

I was given details of a few cases, where the reporters of elder abuse have been suspected of ‘unsavory motive’ and investigated. One was dismissed from his job for ‘other reasons’.

My own experience with reporting the Frank Punito Case; brought accusations of ‘hidden agenda, lies and deceit’. Instead of looking carefully into the case, they ‘shot the messenger’.  May be it was easier to believe that the reporter had ulterior motives than to accept that the abusers did what they did in that case.

It is NOT encouraging for any potential ‘whistle-blowers’ or reporters of Elder Abuse; when they come to know how reporters of elder abuse are treated.

Reporters need support NOT investigation into our motives, or be punished.

If the government or other organizations were genuine about their various programs to prevent and to stop elder abuse; they should ensure that reporters are not punished.

How else can one get evidence of abuse or neglect; if not secretly gathering evidence? Give the abusers a yellow card as a warning?

Perhaps, the message that the Nursing Council in UK in the Ms Haywood’s case is:  ‘Look the other way, if you discover elder abuse or neglect’ Or,

‘Be prepared for investigations or deregistration’.

Preventing and stopping elder abuse – REPORTERS BEWARE.

A reporter of elder abuse should:

•  Be prepared for false accusations of your ‘hidden agenda’;
  
• Be convinced that what you are going to do, is to highlight an injustice/violation of human rights and that hopefully, what happened to the ‘victim(s) will not be repeated. Or, that you can help stop the abuse of the friend, neighbor or family member.
  
• Gather evidence with care. 
• Ensure that you have the permission of the ‘victim’.
• Hard evidence – e.g. photographs, videos and documents will go a long way in supporting your case.
  
•  Ensure you have some sort of support from family, friends or elder rights advocates. Do not try without support, the process of reporting elder abuse will wear you out emotionally, or even financially.

(Please note that the above list is not exhaustive.  They came from my own experience - use them at your own discretion)

GoGood Luck!

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Whistle-blower Nurse Struck Off Register (UK)

Secret filming nurse struck off

Margaret Haywood worked undercover on a Panorama documentary A nurse who secretly filmed for the BBC to reveal the neglect of elderly patients at a hospital has been struck off for misconduct. Margaret Haywood, 58, filmed at the Royal Sussex Hospital  in Brighton for a BBC Panorama programme in July 2005.   She was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council which said she failed to "follow her obligations as a nurse". Ms Haywood, a nurse for over 20 years, said she thought she had been treated harshly and had put patients first. Ms Haywood, from Liverpool, said: "I am absolutely devastated and upset by it all. I think I have been treated very harshly. "It is a serious issue and I knew it was a risk I was taking but I thought the filming was justified and it was in the public interest. "I always made it clear to the BBC that patients would come first at all times." She said she had voiced her concerns through her immediate line manager "but nothing was really taken on board" and the whole process now needed to be reviewed. 'Patients' dignity compromised' A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Whistle-blowers already have full protection under the Public Interest Disclosure Act passed by this Government. "We expect that any member of staff who reports concerns about the safety or quality of care to be listened to by their managers and action taken to address their concerns." She was found guilty of misconduct on Wednesday following a fitness to practise hearing. The panel said she "followed the behest of the filmmakers... rather than her obligations as a nurse". The chair of the panel, Linda Read, said Ms Haywood had prioritised the filming, which in the view of the panel "was a major breach of the code of conduct". She said: "A patient should be able to trust a nurse with his/her physical condition and psychological wellbeing without that confidential information being disclosed to others.

Abridged

SOURCE:   BBC News UK

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This is another example of a reporter of elder abuse and neglect been punished.  If the authorities involved are really serious about protecting the welfare and rights of seniors; they MUST protect reporters of elder abuse. 

It is time for the panel of that Council to rethink and re-work their rules. I bet they do not have anything in their rule book, regarding reporting elder abuse and neglect. 

Nurse Haywood should be commended NOT punished.

..................  AC

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Montevideo Woman Pleads Guilty in Elder Abuse Case (MN. USA)

Montevideo woman pleads guilty in elder abuse case

Associated Press 

04/15/2009

MONTEVIDEO, Minn.-- A former nursing home aide from Montevideo has pleaded guilty to three counts of disorderly conduct against vulnerable adults.

Maria Josephine Bjerke, 25, pleaded guilty on Monday to three of the six original abuse counts against her. The charges are all gross misdemeanors.

District Judge Bruce Christopherson accepted the plea agreement. Prosecutors said it would have been a difficult case to try, since two victims are dead and some others have dementia.

In the plea, Bjerke admitted wrongdoing against three residents of the Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo from late 2006 to mid-2008.

Among other things, the complaint alleged sexual humiliation of one man, laughing and screaming at residents and hurting a resident by poking into a cancerous wound.

SOURCE:    Twin Cities News

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