For several months my sister in law and her husband employed Home Instead, Chico, CA to provide the extra care they required to remain in their Oroville, CA home. As their needs increased they were placed in an advanced care facility.
Within 3 days of their move, their home was heavily burglarized, including the theft of their vehicle.
When the Sheriff's Deputy arrived at the scene, the first question he asked was, "Did they have paid caregivers?"
Answering, "Yes", he told me that nearly 90% of all senior burglaries are done by paid caregivers.
"These caregiver businesses do not do background checks on their employees and pay low wages. It's the perfect opportunity for that employee to case the house. Learn where the valuables are. Know where the keys are. " And, in our experience, I would add theft of opioids/narcotics to this risk list.
I told him that a Home Instead "worker binder" was left behind. Each person was to write down their names, time of arrival/departure and tasks completed. Looking at each page he commented on many. "Oh, here's a familiar name. Yep, this one I know, too. This one's been in trouble before".
After assessing the home he told me, "This was a professional team of at least five people. They even brought in a dog, (evidenced by a dish of kibble on the kitchen floor) to alert the thieves should someone come up the long driveway. One opened and eaten and one unopened bag of donuts was left in one of the rooms. They riffled through every inch of the house, tool shed and out buildings.
I called Nathan at the Chico Home Instead office. Left him a message. Never heard from him. I also wrote the National office headquarters of Home Instead. Never heard from them either.
I completed 21 pages of "items missing" from this home and turned those in to the Sheriff's office. Luckily I'd taken photos of all the rooms, just the week before, so I had clear evidence of what was in each room and building.
No matter who you hire as a paid caregiver, please do as I did. Take photos of ALL the contents of your family members home including pictures of each open drawer, cupboard, cabinet and closet. Don't forget wall hangings
.
Their vehicle was found, wrecked. No recovery was made of any of the treasures they had collected over their lifetime.
Please do your research before you hire a stranger to come into your home or your family members home.
The paid home care industry is an unregulated, unsupervised, poorly licensed collection of businesses with failed histories and reputations.
Don't put your loved ones in the hands of a potential thief or someone who may take the medication intended for that loved one.
Jean M. read more
