Hiring a Caregiver

Chris Gaal
Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney

It is a familiar story to police investigators. A family hires a caregiver to come into the home to help with an older relative or sick family member. No one is watching. Gradually, family members become aware that medications or personal property have disappeared. What can be done about it?

Thankfully there are many good caregivers and agencies that provide quality in-home services. But there are also a few who are willing to take advantage of a vulnerable person. Unfortunately, problems can occur when a caregiver comes into the home and has special access to medications, confidential information, or personal property.

When hiring a caregiver it is important to know how to check references, make good decisions, and take steps to avoid problems.

The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office has teamed up with Indiana Legal Services Organization, the Area 10 Agency on Aging and TRIAD, to produce a new public education video entitled, “Hiring an In-Home Caregiver: What You Need To Know.” The project is aimed at helping people to prevent the most common problems associated with hiring a caregiver to come into the home.

The program answers basic questions such as “What kind of caregiver do I need?”; “How will I pay for in-home care?”; “Are there steps I can take to prevent problems?”; and “Who can I call for help if I do have a problem.”

Here are a few of the prevention tips mentioned in the video:

• Except for any medications that the caregiver will be administering, don’t leave medications out in plain view. If possible, have medications hidden, locked, or stored elsewhere by a trusted third party as an extra security precaution.
• Dispose of unused, expired, or unwanted medications using the Monroe County Pharmaceutical Safe Disposal Program drop box. Learn more about this program by visiting www.co.monroe.in.us/prosecutor
• Lock private papers and valuables in a file cabinet, safe deposit box, or safe.
• Make it clear that the caregiver may not bring anyone else into the home.
• Make arrangements to have a trusted friend or family member periodically stop by unannounced to check and see if everything is okay. Have them pick up the mail, or have it sent to a post office box where it can be picked up later.
• Have social security, pension, or benefits checks deposited directly into the bank account.
• Protect checkbooks and credit cards, and never make them available to anyone you do not thoroughly trust. Don’t allow the caregiver to pay bills or have access to the checkbook.
• Always get receipts any time the caregiver shops for the care recipient.
• Never add the caregiver’s name to savings, checking, or charge accounts.
• Don’t make loans to caregivers.
• Make sure the caregiver has emergency contact information.

If you believe that you or someone else has been the victim of a crime committed by a caregiver, such as theft of personal property or medications, contact the police to report it so that they can conduct a criminal investigation. The Office of the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney also operates the Adult Protective Services program to investigate reports of endangered adults and can take legal action to protect elderly or disabled crime victims.

Area 10 Agency on Aging offers an “Aging and Disability Resource Center” as a simple, one-stop shop to find out about long-term care and supports for older adults and people with disabilities. Area 10 also keeps a registry of home care agencies, individuals, and volunteer groups, and has certified counselors to help with questions about Medicare, Medicaid, and Long Term Care insurance. Visit Area 10 Agency on Aging at www.area10agency.org or call (812) 876-3383.

You can watch the “Hiring An In-Home Caregiver” video and download the companion fact sheet at the Prosecutor’s Office website at www.co.monroe.in.us/prosecutor. It will also be shown on Community Access Television (CATS).

February 6, 2013
For More Information, contact:
Chris Gaal, Office of the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney, (812) 349-2670

“HIRING AN IN-HOME CAREGIVER” VIDEO OFFERS TIPS TO PREVENT PROBLEMS

It is a familiar story to law enforcement investigators. A family hires a caregiver to come into the home to help with an older relative or sick family member. No one is watching. Gradually, family members become aware that medications or personal property have disappeared. What can be done about it?

A new public education video entitled “Hiring An In-Home Caregiver: What You Need To Know” aims to answer that question by providing information to help consumers avoid the most common problems associated with hiring an in-home caregiver, and learn who to call for help if problems do occur.

The video was created in collaboration between the Office of the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney, Indiana Legal Services Organization, Area 10 Agency on Aging, and TRIAD (a senior advocacy organization). It also features appearances by local community leaders such as Ruth Ann Morris from IU Health Bloomington Hospital, and Barry Lessow from United Way of Monroe County.

“Thankfully there are many good caregivers and agencies that provide quality in-home services. But there are also a few who are willing to take advantage of a vulnerable person,” says Monroe County Prosecutor Chris Gaal in the video’s introduction. “Unfortunately, problems can happen when a caregiver comes into the home and has special access to medications, confidential information, or personal property.”

The video presents information in an easily accessible question and answer format, and features community members posing questions to local experts. Topics covered include:

• What kind of caregiver do I need?
• How will I pay for in-home care?
• Are there steps I can take to prevent problems?
• Who can I call for help if I do have a problem?”

“We want to encourage people to think about these issues and become familiar with the resources before they are needed,” says Jamie Andree, director of the Elder Law Clinic at Indiana Legal Services Organization. “Planning for future needs will make the process much easier when the time comes to hire a caregiver.”

The video also contains information about Medicare, Medicaid, Long Term Care insurance, and other benefits that can help pay for in-home care.

“Area 10 Agency on Aging offers an Aging and Disability Resource Center as a simple one-stop shop to find out about supports for older adults and people with disabilities,” says Kerry Conway, Area 10 Executive Director. “Area 10 also keeps a registry of home care agencies, individuals and volunteer groups, and has certified counselors to help with questions about Medicare, Medicaid, and Long Term Care insurance.”

To watch the “Hiring An In-Home Caregiver” video and view the companion fact sheet visit the Prosecutor’s Office website at www.monroeprosecutor.us/prevention-education/crimes-against-the-elderly/hiring-a-caregiver. The video will also be shown on Community Access Television (CATS).