Why is it important to use a State Licensed Nurse Registry?
SAFETY & SECURITY first and foremost.
Very often people need our services when they are most vulnerable. Although bad caregivers are certainly the exception to the rule, in-home senior care is certainly one case where one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.
Selecting the wrong caregiver or worse yet selecting a predatory or abusive caregiver is a very real threat. Consumers can find caregivers from many sources. The thing is, it is hard to know that the caregiver you have selected is safe, competent, and honest.
How do you make sure you have a safe in-home senior caregiver?
We think the best way is to use an in-home caregiver service like Abby Services. We pride ourselves on referring safe and qualified caregivers. This is accomplished through a State required screening process, as well as requirements that are specific to Abby Services. The safeguards in place through a senior care business such as Abby Services are a prime example of why it is important to work with a professional Home Health Service or Nurse Registry. All too often we see reports like the article below that highlights what can happen when using an unlicensed caregiver with no safeguards. Often these situations could have been easily screened for, and eliminated by using a professional service, as opposed to hiring a caregiver with a questionable background you were unaware of. One would hope that most caregivers working privately would meet these guidelines however, we believe the risk is not worth the benefit.
Woman Poses as Home Care Worker to Gain Access to Seniors
Whenever there are stories about in-home care providers or home health care workers committing crimes against the elderly or disabled, it has the potential to make headlines because of the sheer depravity of it. However, some cases still manage to shock those who understand the importance of keeping seniors and disabled men and women safe, especially within the comfort of their own home.
In Indianapolis, a woman was recently arrested and charged with impersonating an in-home care provider in order to gain illegal entry into senior homes and steal jewelry and other personal possessions of those receiving care and support.
Nickelle Rodgers is facing up to 10 counts of burglary and five counts of theft, among other charges as well. She is also accused of stealing prescription medications and other drugs from residents in these facilities.
As noted in the RTV 6 ABC news article, Woman accused of posing as home healthcare worker, stealing from seniors, written by Jordan Fischer:
“The charges stem from Rodgers allegedly posing as a healthcare worker to gain unauthorized entry into residential apartments at four senior living communities.
In some instances, Rodgers allegedly conducted fraudulent healthcare assessment, such as examining the residents’ prescription medications and physical exams.”
Private Investigators are also looking into the prospect that Ms. Rodgers has other victims in the past, basing this on an assumption that a person so brazen as to enter a senior living community posing as a home health care or other in-home care providers may have been doing these things in other places, including private residences. You may want to seek out hiring a private investigator if you have elder family members in a similar residency situation.
Authorities in Indianapolis are urging anyone who may have received some type of care or support from Ms. Rodgers and who may be concerned about having been victimized by her to contact Adult Protective Services at (317) 327-1403.
There was no word from authorities about whether Ms. Rodgers would be facing charges for impersonating an in-home health care aide or conducting physical examinations for the seniors and disabled adults in those facilities.
There was no immediate word about whether she had a lawyer or when she would be arraigned. She considered many personal injury attorneys in Carmel Indiana before settling on this one. For seniors and disabled adults, concerns about fraud, theft, and abuse at the hands of in-home care providers is a serious matter and if someone suspects foul play or other criminal behavior taking place in the residence, they should contact the authorities immediately.