How do you deal with caregiver theft on a Holiday weekend?
So this morning, in email there was an email from Capital One stating 2 new subscriptions were charged to an account, one for porn and one for BET+ on Roku. We tore the house apart looking for the credit card and it was under the cushion where workers sit. So, the credit card company was called. A Roku was bought and there were several Amazon charges for movies, exercise equipment and personal care. Amazon cannot look up purchases by credit card number, only by account information which I do not believe, but whatever. I sent an email to Roku and am waiting back.
So, the agency was called, they said all they can do is ask employees if they have Roku. They said it happens often and they cannot do anything if their employees lie to them. They so stated it is a holiday weekend, they are short staffed and it would have to wait until HR comes in Tuesday.
The day all of the purchases started, there was a nasty worker at the house. She had attitude because I told her there was Covid exposure at the time in house and she needed to wear a mask. She said she lost hers. So I put a box of 50 disposable out. After the shift, the whole box was gone with one wrapper left on the floor. So at that point, the agency did not believe masks were taken because they provide them to employees.
So I want none of these people except the 2 long term people here. Would you cancel all other help? What would you do?
Thanks.
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They replaced the workers with an old lady with as many health problems as the client. She has one of those canes with four prongs on the bottom just not one.
She talks and talks, just doesnt shut up, she is 86 with diabetes, heart problems, asthma, back problems and arthritis. She is not an aide and cannot do the work like pull up a depends, she is a companion.
All weekend 8 hours a day of 2 old ladies instead of one yelling, Stacy, Stacy can you do this or that. We are hungry can you go buy KFC, wth. I have a migraine and the lavender oil and asprin are not touching it.
This is so beyond not acceptable. Medicaid dollars at work.
This is theft, fraud and the police will handle some of this.
Background checks are good to a point. It will flag if a person has been convicted but it will not show anything if the person was not convicted of a crime. So if this does go to court you need to be present and keep in touch with the lawyers. And this is not easy if you are a caregiver when you do not have help. I think agencies know this and would expect you not to show up.
Anyway I would make sure that the agency knows not to send the recent replacements and to keep the 2 you have had long term.
I would install cameras that will video activity. You can not record audio unless you get consent and I doubt you would get it from each person. but video should be enough. You can not record in areas that one would expect privacy so no bathroom and not in a bedroom that they would use. (you can place a camera in your loved ones bedroom)
I know they are some kind of different religion, Greek Orthodox. She was talking about a 40 day period? I was not really understanding her through the tears.
My client is a nice guy but an idiot. One of those Covid deniers, no mask, even though he has one kidney due to cancer. His mom called me and the hospital suggested a private dr and comfort care. Pnemonia (sp) in both lungs. How do you explain that is hospice to a 93 year old?
My problems really feel insignificant now.
I want to say that your home sounds absolutely charming. It sounds beautiful. Now if we could just wedge out your Unwelcome House Guest. Good luck, Stacy.
If that's not the definition of "raw deal" I don't know what is.
Your ex-MIL is living with you along with another (?) of her family members, who you are trying to get evicted - except that process is now on hold because of COVID restrictions?
Are they actual tenants? Or do you have to go the eviction route because they have lived under your roof for "X" number of days and now they have tenant rights?
I ask this, because if you are "just" a landlord, were I you, I would remove myself from any sort of caregiving responsibilities. Especially if there is a written lease. Being a landlord does not obligate you to also be the caregiver of anyone under your roof. If you are acting just as a landlord, I would send a letter, certified mail, to the POA telling him (her?) you will no longer be acting as the de-facto caregiver, you will no longer assume any responsibility for hiring/overseeing outside caregivers, and to remove your name as such from any doctors/medical facilities. Put everything in writing and keep records of who you sent it to and when you sent it. Keep a paper trail. E-mails are great, but for whatever reason I have found people seem to respond much more to actual paper than electronic communication; so even if you communicate electronically, send a letter after the fact.
If you are evicting because of squatter rights, were I you, I would contact an attorney versed in tenant/landlord disputes and explain all of this to them. Then ask what your criminal liability is in regards to caregiving your ex-MIL while you are waiting to get her removed.
In regards to the credit card fraud - I am going to assume the card is your ex-MIL's, since you say you were questioned by the police in regards to the illegal charges. If she isn't worked up about the charges, maybe you need to let it be also. I mean, if it's her card, it's her money; even if she's upset, let her or the POA deal with the phone calls. But really, and I'm not trying to be mean here, but if you're doing all the heavy lifting - so to speak - then it seems like the rest of them are willing to let you have at it. Maybe it's time for you to become a little passive-aggressive! However, if you are financially responsible for this card in any way, shape or form, call the card right away and tell them you don't recognize the charges, you did not authorize the charges, and you want them reversed. Then I would ask them (if indeed, you are somehow on this account) how you could remove yourself from the account.
Credit card fraud is so stressful, I don't blame you for being upset.
Good luck, I hope you can get this resolved sooner rather than later.
I had one court hearing for eviction, the judge did a 30 day adjournment at the Medicaid attorney request. Last week, all hearings got postponed to Feb 2021. The man who runs our volunteer FD is a witness for me because of all the calls to him and his calls to POA. I turned all of my user name and password for Amazon over to the police so f*ck them if they want to look at receipts for imported pasta, shelf stable almond milk, seeds and oils, I do not care. Just done with it.
I turned the breakers off the utility kitchen, there is now an induction burner. No more heating with the oven, 78 is fine. I cancelled Charter phone and internet because I am no longer paying for it. POA can buy an SD card and she can use her pad for entertainment and phone calls. It is not my problem she presses buttons and it is in Filipino and has no memory. I guess Medicaid can pay for the phone and tv if they can hire an eviction lawyer, right?
So, the other night after I posted, I told her I was done with her sorry a** and her and her family were grifters and vendictive POS. She said I wanted her to get placed and die and I said I was willing to play the odds. She said POA does not like getting drug into things and I said I really do not care what he likes because neither did I. I told her to call someone who give two s**ts about her because she is such a "c" word that no one will do anything about it.
They told her they would pick her up at 1 pm yesterday so she did not have to deal with me being mean. They did not show and did not return her calls. I laughed and said go figure.
Notify the sitter agency that the caregiver is not to be allowed back. Sounds like she has a nasty attitude.
If I was a violent person, I would love to smack some people.
WHY is she in your home again? Why did you allow it?
Thanks for asking.
So, UG had a birthday Jan 11th, mine is 22nd. Happy birthday to me, poa had her address changed to mine since his brother was in a spare room. I was going through eviction then Whitmer shut it down, the whole state. So about a month and a half ago, she reopened...all during this time POA just dumped this on me. So we went to court, poa said HER house was not livable because no maintenance was done. So I got quotes, to make it livable, $62k for repairs. My mom says just pay it but it makes me sick to my stomach. Now Whitmer has shut courts in my area down until Feb 2021, so I am f*cked.
I am not on the careplan, no one will listen to me, a violation of HIPPA. She gives me no money for rent, etc. It all drives me nuts.
I have two cats one is a black Manx witch cat, lol. She hates unwanted guest as does the other one. So, it is a problem they can not explore and hiss or scratch her.
Caregiver A: good but constantly has car problems, doesnt show and tells people she doesnt need a home
Caregiver B: good but steals tp, bleach and time. Also uses a utility oven to hit 90 rather than 77 but will dump a commode
Caregiver c: cooks for her family functions w food I buy, falsifies time and wont dump a commode
Caregive d: robs the house
Caregiver e: more health problems than pt. with parkinsons, cannot pick up a gallon of water
Caregiver f: Ghetto thief, masks and ppe. Asks how to use an ear thermometer, walked in on ME in the shower, offered to clean me. When I said no, came down with the commode and dumped it in my tub.
So, B is the best. The thing is it is m0y house. Why do I need constant theft? It is not Covid, christ, as an essential worker I was not locked down, it has only been the last few weeks. I do not want theives in my house, that is why it is on me.
Oh, and I dont eat turkey but I made a meal because "poa" was supposedly quarantined which was all BS like I said it was. Aholes give me Covid and I test negative twice while they are still quarantined from end of Oct. Then show up with no sanitizer, masks, etc. I am not stupid but I am hot.
I guess I don't understand what your "unwanted tenant" is actually in the household; I had thought she was just a tenant. I am thinking I must be wrong at this point.
Is there a way to lock these caregivers out of your portion of the house? Maybe that is the next step. I know. Lots I don't get about how this works at your house.
And by the by, Stacy, you can rest assured, sworn on the very lives of my children, I NO WAY believe that YOU are RR; I cannot imagine where that comes from, nor who ever would think such a thing. To my mind I can't imagine two people more different.
So I contact the police, only her or POA can file a report, well there is a wasted hour. POA shows up der ta der, f*cking idiot, has his brats use a Suzuki 125 dirt bike over my wet septic field. So, I printed the fraud emails, der ta der, f*cking, my mommy says no. What a POS, I blew and he left. I went up to the unwanted guest and told her she has no problem making false accusations about people but when its real, she worries about ruining people's lives. She said, "I guess I cant please everyone". I came so close to losing it. Damn, govenor shut down courts til Feb and I cant get her out of the house.
Then, I send a text to her daughter out of country and she asks why I am mad.
I don't know why you are taking it on?
I hope the covid is loosening it's hold a bit on you all, at least.
Sorry it's such a bad night; I hope there is at least leftover turkey and gravy.
They simply took the charges I didn't make off the card. Now this wasn't a card that was laying about, or someone accessing and probably using my computer or phone to order with. One case they called me and asked if I ordered like 300 pairs of Nike shoes sent to a New York Address. Ummmmm, no. And in the other case it was makeup, makeup and more makeup. I told them to look back at my charges. If it's a book it's mine. If it is makeup it isn't. Pretty much had a good laugh, but I now call my charge card several times every month and keep track of all purchases on a calendar.
I am uncertain what a "Roku" is. But, oh well.
Is this YOUR card that was used, Stacy?
Hi Stacey,
I understand that you want to resolve the issue and want to know who used the card. My apology but we are unable to locate that information. In order to us to know the charges we need to get the information for he email address that link to the Roku account and the serial number of the devices. Please be advised that you need to contact your bank about the charges to dispute it and get a replacement card. Hope that everything will be fine on your end.
This is so fricking stupid any machine can look things up by card number.
The problem with getting a new agency is this is a new one. There are Medicaid preferred vendors so the list is limited.
I just got an email back from Roku, about logging into her non-existent account to cancel.
As for agencies, the govenor allocated CARES act money for a $1600 bonus for newly hired caregivers and they are pulling qualified CNAs from agencies to work in facilities or hospitals which are at capacity and short staffed. So, to be quite blunt, they are scraping the bottom of the barrel. The largest provider in the state closed home care operations to focus on hospice and there are major shortages no matter who you use.
The agency stated maybe the charges were authorized. The person does not have any type of advice like Roku, Firestick and does not even have a smart tv. The pad she uses does not even have a Google icon, it is hidden and wouldnt know what to do if she opened it. Half the time it is in Philipino or another language she does not speak. It is a child one with Casino games.
The cameras are installed outside, on medications, the safe and my junk area where my deceased grandmother's silver, jewels and antiques were placed.
About two months ago, we had a worker who was stabbed by her boyfriend. He ended up marrying her so she couldn't testify against him. They showed up in the middle of the night, pulled a gun and took my phone and tools which had her messages about what he did. Since then, I have been really moody, do not really sleep at night and have very little tolerance. I do not believe in guns, so do not suggest it. I really do not believe in locking doors either and it is a really rough adjustment.
Capital One is disputing charges now but ugh. The people here do not want to call the police because $500 could ruin a life which is not going over very well with me. I am enraged.
You need to start locking doors
Especially be careful with debit cards. They are easily used and they have fewer protections than charge cards.
Are there other agencies you can use? What is this agencies vetting process in terms of criminal history? You have a right to know this, but of course they cannot know every detail about their employees.
Second, file theft report with police.
Third, look for new agency.
This is theft, call the cops!
I would not have caregivers around that can’t be trusted. Tell the agency not to send the ones you suspect and tell them you are filing a police report for theft.
Also, can you install cameras? They are pretty easy and cheap and you can watch your LO and the caregivers! In fact tell whoever comes into the home there are security cameras.