What's Up with STNAs Stealing from Nursing Home Residents?

Here is the cut and paste of an article that appeared on the Cinti Enquirer website on Wednesday, June 18, 2008:http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/NEWS0107/306180058.

Woman charged in credit card misuse

Michael Dowlar looked through his father’s credit card bill and saw something that alarmed him: Forty-four unauthorized transactions totaling $1,042.57.

One of them was a payment to a T-Mobile account in the name of Sarah Alexander.

Sarah Alexander is an aide at the Blue Ash Nursing home where Dowlar’s father, also named Michael Dowlar, is a patient.

The younger Dowlar called police.

Alexander, 26, of East Westwood, was in court this morning, facing a charge of misuse of a credit card and some harsh words from a judge.

“This is despicable,” Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Ted Berry said about the allegations, “preying on the elderly.”

He set her bond at $2,500 and ordered Alexander to stay away from the nursing home, where she said she no longer works.

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I was relieved after reading the accused in this case isn't a nurse. I wonder if she is a nursing student.  

Why in your opinion are we seeing more cases like this where STNAs are misusing and misappropriating client property and funds?

Is it the ecomony, foreclosure crisis, low STNA wages, working conditions for STNAs in nursing homes, or just "good old fashion" greed?

Comments

[RehabRN]

LaTonia:

I hate to say it, but this is indicative of our society. Everything is supposed to be instant.
Sure a STNA is not a well paid job, but people who care about their reputation (which incidentally is priceless) don't do that sort of stuff.

I just realized that I have been in a number of positions of trust over the years before I became a nurse (bank teller, etc.). I have always valued my reputation.

Having a good one helps a lot when finding a job, getting one, and keeping one. If only more people had that driven into them at an early age.

Stealing from those who cannot defend themselves (or even those who can) is despicable.

[latonia]

Rehab RN,

Thank you for the post. We have the good, the bad, and ugly acting in every occupation, trade, and profession.

[Donna Phillips]

A slap on the hand to someone who has absolutely no conscience is not quite going to do any good. Should be jail time and BIG fine or they will keep doing it...Why? Because they can.