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Caregivers Target Elderly In Ohio Nursing Homes For Theft And Abuse

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Theft, Abuse, And Neglect Within Ohio Nursing Homes Has Become Common Practice By Caregivers Reports News Investigation

A recent news investigation has uncovered disturbing reports of crimes against the elderly, including abuse, neglect, and theft, in Ohio nursing homes. In many cases, the perpetrators of these crimes against the elderly in Ohio have been nurses or state-tested nurse’s aides (STNAs) working in the nursing homes.

Mike DeWine, the Attorney General of Ohio, has indicated that abuse, thefts, and other crimes committed in nursing homes are both underreported and under-detected. The Attorney General is particularly concerned about the theft of prescription drugs that belong to elderly residents in Ohio.

The recent Channel 3 News investigation discovered that the elderly were common targets for crimes occurring in nursing homes throughout Ohio, including some very wealthy suburbs of Cleveland.

Names Of Those Convicted Of Crimes Against The Elderly Missing From State List

Adding insult to injury, investigators have learned that many of the nurses and nurse’s aides who have been convicted of crimes like theft, abuse, and neglect are slipping though the cracks of the Ohio state reporting system. The Ohio Department of Health maintains a list of caregivers. The list is designed to identify caregivers accused of abuse, neglect, and theft, but many of these convicted criminals are listed “in good standing” despite their convictions.

Nursing homes in Ohio require all employees to pass a standard background check and to undergo yearly training to review policies and reporting requirements. Convicted nurses or nurse’s aides, without an accurate update to their state file, can be convicted of a crime against a defenseless elderly patient, and then secure a job elsewhere in the nursing industry. Investigators discovered that one STNA who is currently serving a prison term for her crimes against an elderly patient is listed in the Ohio state system with no flag on her record.

Of particular concern is the possibility of convicted nurses and nurse’s aides being able to obtain employment in the home health sector, where oversight and regulation is limited. Employment in this field gives those who have been convicted of disturbing crimes against the elderly access to new patients, all within the patients’ private homes.

Ohio residents have been shocked to learn that the nursing home facility they trusted to care for their elderly loved ones has been helping convicted criminals to steal and abuse their patients. Unfortunately, theft, abuse, and neglect committed by caregivers is not as rare as most people imagine. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to such crimes, and these crimes are often greatly underreported. It is extremely important for Ohio residents to carefully review the reputation and staff of a nursing home when researching caregiving options for elderly parents or other loved ones.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of criminal acts against the elderly committed in Ohio’s nursing homes, you should consult an attorney as soon as possible to learn your rights.