Constantly and currently in the news headlines demonstrate the continuation of caregiver abuse in the USA. Children and the elderly are considered at-risk populations that need to be protected from malfeasant individuals under the guise of caregivers. Instead these at-risk populations should go under the care of professional kind people without histories of abuse and criminal activity and this determination can in many cases be made with a thorough and complete background screening.
Finding a caregiver can be an enormous task. Regardless of whose being cared for, either very young or elderly, finding the right caregiver for a loved one is of paramount importance and a task that should never be taken lightly. Whether those that are being cared for live at home or in an institution, proper and thorough vetting of a caregiver may avoid potential harm and misfortune.
This is why all caregivers prior to given unsupervised access to children and the elderly must pass a thorough background screening that includes a criminal background check, sex offender registry search and verifications as well as proper reference checks.
Today’s headlines are filled with stories about abusive caregivers. From an Indiana daycare facility to elder abuse in Syracuse, New York the risk remains significant for those under the aid of a caregiver.
Interestingly enough being a caregiver can be a richly rewarding occupation. The care of at-risk populations such as the young and the elderly is a critically important task, but one with a high potential for risk.
Managing risk is the central precept of background screening. The ability to mitigate risk through careful and lawful use of public records such as criminal background records as well as thorough verification of references is of critical importance to those utilizing background checks for caregivers.
In Indiana horrific details emerged as a daycare facility allegedly allowed a 1-year-old child to be beaten and severely injured. During the course of an investigation several significant violations were discovered.
From MSNnewsnow.com (May 04, 18):
Violations included: no drug screen completed for caregiver, no consent form submitted for caregiver, no fingerprinting for national background check. Violations also included: unqualified caregiver present, two lack of supervision violations and child abuse not immediately reported by caregiver. As a result, the location was shut down. msnewsnow.com/story/38112300/daycare-shuts-down-after-1-year-old-beaten
A thorough pre-employment background check, one with a complete drug screen, as well as compliant consent documentation, may have deterred malfeasant individuals.
In Syracuse, New York a caregiver received sentencing in a case regarding her actions against a 92-year-old individual.
From a May 3, 2018 article (Syracuse.com) discussing the actions of the abusive caregiver:
First, she stole lots of money from the elderly woman: $24,000 when you count the fake checks, forged withdrawals and other hanky-panky, according to testimony in court today. Pierce, who couldn’t pay any of it back, spent it on everything from nail treatments and Burger King to fast cash to support her drug habit, according to testimony in court today, authorities said.
Second, she abused the victim, who weighed less than 100 pounds, by leaving her alone for long stretches (neighbors saw her wandering aimlessly in her backyard with a walker); taking away her Life Alert (which her family found on top of the fridge) and driving the victim to the bank and stores for the sole purpose of emptying her accounts.
Third, the victim’s family says, Pierce pushed the victim to take a ton of Benadryl — far more than she needed to sleep — so that she was sleepy and quiet when family came to visit. That was Pierce’s way of keeping her from revealing the abuse, her family alleged. syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2018/05/outraged_family_grandmother_92_could_have_gotten_better_care_from_a_serial_kille.html
Unfortunately caregiver abuse is a continuing crisis in the United States and will continue to appear in headlines.
In order to aid in the reduction of abuse to at-risk populations In the USA it should become common practice to fully vet all caregivers, family or professional using a well-qualified third-party background screening agency. An agency that remains fully compliant with law and has the capability to draw information from public records and can complete thorough reference verifications and assist in confirming the accuracy of caregiver job applications. It is incumbent on the rest of the country to ensure that everything possible is being done to protect those that cannot protect themselves, and thorough vetting of caregivers before given access to children and the elderly is a good start.
To read more about why caregiver abuse remains in the news and how proper background screening can help prevent this kind of harm and misfortune to at-risk populations read recent CriminalBackgroundRecords.com press release: Caregiver Abuse Remains in the Headlines