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We are always heartbroken to learn about a senior who is abused by their caregiver. Unfortunately, it happens more frequently than anyone would like- just ask the overloaded office of Adult Protective Services in any county. Some stories are more shocking than others, as is the case of the recent murder of a Pleasant Hill woman by her live-in caregiver. You can read the story here.
As unfathomable as this situation is, there is a very important lesson to take away from Ms. Scanlon's tragic death: Never hire a caregiver without knowing their background. Whether you go through an agency that takes care of screening and background checking their caregivers or hire someone privately and conduct your own background check, never let anyone into your home or your loved one's home without first thoroughly checking them out.
While the majority of individuals who become caregivers do so with the best intentions and most caring of hearts, there are unfortunately those out there who are opportunists and are looking to take advantage of a vulnerable senior. Be smart, work with someone you trust, and whenever possible, hire caregivers through a full-service agency that thoroughly screens their employees- like Visiting Angels.
Pass this important lesson along to anyone and everyone you know to help avoid future tragedies like Ms. Scanlon's death.
For more information about hiring a fully screened and background checked caregiver, contact one of our three Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585 |
| 7/1/2010 11:28:02 AM |
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Over the years, we at Visiting Angels have unfortunately heard many complaints about the care provided in some nursing homes. Overall, skilled nursing and rehab facilities provide outstanding services to patients who are recovering from a major surgery or illness or who require ongoing assistance beyond what an assisted living community or homecare company can provide. However, there are some homes that do not operate to the highest standards.
To help educate the public about nursing home performance, the consumer advocacy group America's Watchdog created the Nursing Home Complaint Center. The Nursing Home Complaint Center fields calls about potential situations of neglect and abuse in nursing home and acts as an advocate on behalf of the patient. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home, you can call the Nursing Home Complaint Center at (866) 714-6466.
For more information about how Visiting Angels can help provide supplemental care to your loved one who is in a nursing home, please call one of our local Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585
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| 7/17/2009 3:27:38 PM |
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Did you know that US veterans and their spouses may be eligible to receive a benefit that will help cover homecare services like those provided by Visiting Angels? The benefit, called Aid and Attendance, is not very well known but can ease the burden of paying for care.
The Veterans Administration (VA) has set very specific gudielines for receiving the benefit. The description and requirements below are taken directly from the VA website.
*WARNING: The process to qualify for these benefits is very complicated. As a result, many companies and individuals have emerged offering to help veterans complete the paperwork necessary to receive these benefits. But take caution, not everyone has a veteran's best interest in mind. For example, some veterans are being charged illegally for seeking help in completing their forms. Be sure to find out if the company or individual you are working with is certified by the VA. Call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 to check.
What are Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits?
Aid and Attendance (A&A) is a benefit paid in addition to monthly pension. This benefit may not be paid without eligibility to pension. A veteran may be eligible for A&A when:
The veteran requires the aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting himself/herself from the hazards of his/her daily environment, OR,
The veteran is bedridden, in that his/her disability or disabilities requires that he/she remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment, OR,
The veteran is a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, OR,
The veteran is blind, or so nearly blind as to have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
Housebound is paid in addition to monthly pension. Like A&A, Housebound benefits may not be paid without eligibility to pension. A veteran may be eligible for Housebound benefits when:
The veteran has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, due to such disability, he/she is permanently and substantially confined to his/her immediate premises, OR,
The veteran has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, another disability, or disabilities, evaluated as 60 percent or more disabling.
A veteran cannot receive both Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits at the same time.
How to Apply for Aid and Attendance and Housebound:
You may apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by writing to the VA regional office having jurisdiction of the claim. That would be the office where you filed a claim for pension benefits. If the regional office of jurisdiction is not known, you may file the request with any VA regional office.
You should include copies of any evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician validating the need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound type care.
The report should be in sufficient detail to determine whether there is disease or injury producing physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination, or conditions affecting the ability to dress and undress, to feed oneself, to attend to sanitary needs, and to keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable.
In addition, it is necessary to determine whether the claimant is confined to the home or immediate premises.
Whether the claim is for Aid and Attendance or Housebound, the report should indicate how well the individual gets around, where the individual goes, and what he or she is able to do during a typical day.
For more information about the homecare services we can provide to veterans of any age, contact on |
| 2/6/2009 4:18:37 PM |
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December is Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month. This serves as a reminder to all of us to be vigilant about who has access to our personal information.
It is especially important to increase awareness of the freqeuency at which seniors are preyed upon by identity thieves and financial abusers. Unfortunately, the news is peppered with stories of elders who have lost their savings, homes, cars and other valuable possessions to the hands of criminals- often people they consider to be trustworthy.
According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, there are 4 types of identity (ID) theft:
Financial ID Theft: Thieves use victims’ names, Social Security numbers, and other identifying information to apply for telephone service, credit cards or loans, buy merchandise, or lease cars or apartments. /strong>
Criminal ID Theft: Imposters provide victims’ information instead of their own when stopped by law enforcement. Eventually, when warrants for arrest are issued, they are in the names of the victims.
Identity Cloning: Imposters use victims’ information to establish new live. This form of ID theft is often committed by undocumented immigrants, criminals avoiding warrants, people hiding from abusive situations, or people who want to leave behind poor work and financial histories.
Business or Commercial Identity Theft: Businesses may also be victims. Typically, perpetrators get credit cards or checking accounts in the names of businesses, which find out when unhappy suppliers send collection notices or their business rating score is affected.
There are many local, state and national resources avilable to help prevent ID theft and assist victims. The following list is just a sample:
The Federal Trade Commission
United States Department of Justice
California Office of Privacy Protection
Contra Costa County District Attorny
San Joaquin County Superior Court
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| 12/4/2008 2:46:56 PM |
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