The Strangers in Our Parents' Homes

The Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts read the Newsweek articles of November 28, 2007 (???The Strangers in Our Parents??? Homes??? and ???Safeguard Your Loves Ones???) with interest and with concern. We are disturbed, of course, about the abuse and fraud perpetrated against elders. But we also want readers to know that millions of frail and elder citizens are served annually by home care agencies that meet strict state and federal standards for training, worker screening, and supervision. The Home Care Alliance would like to ensure that the majority of these health care workers, who are honest, hardworking and who care for the loved ones of so many families, not become tarnished by the egregious acts of a few bad apples.

Pat Kelleher, Executive Director
Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts

I work as a Home Health Care aide (this includes caring for hospice patients who are at home) in MN. It hasn't even been rumored that this is/was happening where I work. I can't imagine what would take place (consequences to the aide) if it were. We love our clients and protect them as if they were our own family.
Before I was hired, I waited 2 weeks while my past (work history, criminal history, education history) was being looked at After reading this story, I am thankful that my employer goes to such lengths to assure the most competent are hired to care for these people. It just blows me away to imagine the pain these people are subjected to while this is happening to them, not to mention their families after the abuse is discovered.

An industry that is geared to making quick bottom-line profits is not going to have much motivation to perform the level of due diligence and supervision required to keep our seniors safe from predators. The providers should be required to not only do background checks (which after all will only show prior convictions) but also reference checks. These references should have to include supervisory personnel from prior employers. Then once an aide is on the job, they should be forbidden from entering into any other kind of legal relationship with their clients (e.g., assuming power of attorney). Supervisors should closely monitor the activities of aides.

It is DISGUSTING what kind of VULTURES there are out there, and especially old people and ill people are the first victims. Leave all that aside, if you hire a babysitter that too is a problem, the sitters abuse your kids and your home, and if you have little children, imagine how much trauma they go through and they cannot even talk! What about daycare providers and nannies - they are all just the same. If you cannot look out for your family 24/7, you have to be REALLY REALLY sure that someone else will. It is very hard all over the world to do this. People have lost all sense of decency nowadays.

I am a case mgr. for a long term care service. this story really brings to light what we need to do as professionals to take a more in depth look into the care providers who are hired, off the street; it seems by home health agencies. This is really a scary thought that things like this are happening around us. Thanks for the story. I will be be more vigilant in scrutinizing the care providers who work with my elderly client.

In a economy built on greed, regulations is needed. Until some sort of check and balance system is installed it is up to family members to watch out for the greedy. It is just a sign of the times and complete failure of our current government.

My own sister did this...disgusting. Adult Protective Care in FL was useless...she ran up every credit card, looted the bank acct (3 ATM's a day....cash. cash, cash) and the banks and cc company just sat back and let it happen...refused calls from the rest of the family....wrote it all off when mother died.

Three letters "N.H.S." Michael Moore can make a difference! All politicians are corrupt!

My 94 year old mother-in-law was determined to stay at home - My husband and I tried multiple times to move her into a retirement center since we live two states away. Finally she agreed to in-home help with housekeeping, meals and baths. We all met at her home with a local agency called "Home Instead". A bonded and insured caregiver was assigned based on my mother-in-law's needs and preferences. We kept in touch via email with the agency every week about problems and changes. I must say this worked out extremely well until a fall at home forced my mother-in-law to move into nursing care.