Posted
on March 1, 2010, 1:26 pm,
by Larry Zilliox,
under Financial Abuse.
The Oakland Tribune brings us another story about a caregiver stealing from an elder. San Francisco police detectives arrested Niumai Lawanivalu, 48, from Santa Rosa for allegedly stealing more than $138,000 from her 83 year old client.
This is another example of why it is so important for family and guardians to complete full in-depth background investigations on any caregivers hired to work in the home. In this case the family used a referral service to hire Lawanivalu. Shortly after taking the position Lawanivalu approached the family and agreed to work for them directly at a lower rate than what they were paying the service. This should have been a red flag for the family. The family hired Lawanivalu after she told the service she was going on an extended vacation.
Families have to understand that commercial care services and referral services do the absolute minimum background check required by law. These checks are usually not worth the money paid for them. This is especially true if the caregiver is a foreign national just recently in the country.
TMZ.com is reporting that the Chief Medical Examiner in Middlesex County has ruled that Daniel Kerrigan died from cardiac dysrhythmia after suffering a neck injury during a physical altercation. Police arrested Nancy Kerrigan’s brother Mark after they were called to the elder Kerrigan’s residence. Police reported Mark Kerrigan was intoxicated and had to be pepper sprayed to be taken into custody.
The Albert Lea Tribune has an excellent story about a recent lawsuit filed by victims of abuse at the Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea nursing home. Here is an article about the original incident and the arrest of nursing assistants for abuse.
The father of former Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan died this weekend after a fight with his son. Police arrested 45 year old Mark Kerrigan for Assault and Battery resulting in harm to an elder after Mark told police his 70 year old father Daniel fell during a fight over the use of a telephone.
The seven page police report of the incident indicates police found the elder Kerrigan unconscious on the kitchen floor when they arrived. The report noted that Mark Kerrigan was noticeably intoxicated and belligerent toward the police. He had to be pepper sprayed and forcibly removed from the home. An autopsy will determine if additional charges will be brought.
Posted
on January 10, 2010, 11:51 pm,
by Larry Zilliox,
under Financial Abuse.
A panel of arbitrators through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has awarded a 95-year old man $1.6 million in damages against StockCross Financial Services in a stock broker fraud claim that resulted in triple damages based on a finding of elder abuse.
A Brooklyn nursing home will have to fork over nearly $19 million in damages to the family of a 76-year-old patient neglected so badly that he left with more than 20 bedsores.
This is a substantial verdict and the first time a plaintiff has been awarded punitive damages against a nursing home in New York state. Now comes the hard part, trying to collect the judgment. It is not likely the owners had 19 million dollars worth of insurance coverage.
Fresno Police have arrested 63-year-old James Saccheri of Clovis, for elder abuse charges. Saccheri, an attorney for the victim’s family, was appointed as a trustee for an elderly woman who is in a full-time care facility.
Authorities say that between 2002 and 2008 Saccheri is accused of embezzling more than $100,000 over several years. Saccheri was booked into the Fresno County jail on counts of theft from an elder adult. Bail was set at $1.7 million.
A record of disciplinary action against Saccheri by the California Bar Association in 2000 can be found here. In November 2009 the California Department of Corporations issued Saccheri a Desist and Refrain Oder for selling unregistered securities and making untrue statements of material facts.
Genesee County Michigan authorities announced they have charged 30-year-old Andrea Neil of Flint Township with embezzlement and obtaining money under false pretenses.Neil is accused of stealing several million dollars from retired Dr. Dorothy Mulkey.
TriCities.com is reporting that state inspectors paid an unannounced visit to the National Healthcare Corporation nursing home in Bristol Virginia in October and found that an alarming number of employees did not know they were mandatory reporters when they witness or suspect any form of abuse at the facility. The inspector noted that twenty-one of the 35 staff members interviewed were not aware they were required to report allegations of abuse to the appropriate state agency.
The inspection came after the arrest of James William Wright, 35, on four counts of aggravated sexual battery in late August. Wright is accused of abusing residents during the eight years he worked at the facility. A copy of the Virginia Board of Nursing Consent Order revoking his CNA certificate can be found here.
Posted
on November 13, 2009, 1:45 pm,
by Larry Zilliox,
under Resources.
Kimberly-Clark Health Care has started a campaign to bring more awareness about Healthcare-Associated Infections to medical professionals. Hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities wanting more information about the program, titled Healthcare-Associated Infections: Not On My Watch, can find resources at the web page www.haiwatchnews.com.
