Elderly Face Abuse From Care-Givers Washington 1 Of Only 15 States That Require Background Checks

Few states require criminal background checks for home care workers, according to a government study that also found anecdotal reports of physical abuse and fraud by care-givers with criminal records.

The General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, found states differ widely in how they license home care organizations, and only about a quarter of them have a registry for home care workers.

The report, completed in September, said fifteen states require criminal background checks of at least some home care workers: Alaska, California, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. At least three states - Idaho, Nevada and Ohio - use national FBI data to check the workers.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who requested the study, said the findings underscore that elderly and disabled citizens who rely on home health care services may be at risk.

“This new report demonstrates that American families cannot assume that home care-givers … are free from criminal pasts,” said Wyden. “Before bringing a care-giver into the home, do the homework and find out which states and companies are performing background checks on home care workers.”

The report cited several instances of problems:

A care-giver previously convicted of drug charges defrauded a disabled woman in Tennessee by forging checks.

In New York, a 90-year-old disabled man hired a personal caregiver with an extensive criminal background, including assault and burglary arrests. The disabled man was robbed of property worth $7,000.

An 82-year-old woman in Pennsylvania hired two care-givers who drugged her and induced her to sign and cash some of her bonds. When public authorities discovered the problem, the woman had already lost $80,000 and was found malnourished and dehydrated.

An elderly woman in Minnesota had assistance from a home care provider with criminal history who was not required to be licensed. The home care worker allegedly stole the client’s Christmas gifts.