Posted on 10/25/2010 9:11:55 AM PDT by DFG
A home-health aide and four relatives kidnapped and nearly killed an 80-year-old Brooklyn widower in an effort to trick him into handing over his legal rights, his money and his $500,000 home, authorities said yesterday.
Cops on Thursday rescued decorated Army veteran Frank Maiorana, of Borough Park, from the Queens home of Saint Michael "Stacy" McKenzie, 26, sources said.
"When we got to him, he was in pretty frail shape," a source said. "We don't know how much longer he'd have lived."
Cops believe the crew persuaded Maiorana, who suffers from dementia, to sign over his power of attorney and fleeced him of up to $100,000 in cash.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
If we are going to win the war for America we are going to have to increase the punishment for people who hurt the weakest among us. Crimes against children and the elderly should be punished almost to the level of brutality. Somehow we need to send a message the the criminal element that this will not be tolerated.
First offense should be 25 years in prison. Second offense should be the death sentence.
Another tragic story concerning abuse of the elderly.
Clearly, the *home health care aide* was not properly screened by the agency who hired her/him. If there was no agency involved - family members should do due diligence on people they employ.
One more illustration of the plight of the American family and its dereliction for taking care of grandpa and granma. It’s blatant irresponsibility, unloving,uncaring kids, laziness, stupidity or greed.
My first thought was - where was his family?
You are right about protecting the weakest among us, but in the end, the family is the absolute best “social safety” net their is. Don’t count on “the law,” your 401K, Soc. Sec., medicaid - having children/family around you is really the best “insurance” there is.
Obviously, not everyone will have it, and I’m not judging those who do not - but society must recognize this.
Not clear who all these Linos are. I guess one group of relatives rescued him from another group of relatives.
Just did a blog on our law firm website on this topic a couple of weeks ago, www.jacobsonlawsa.com. It’s a real and growing problem, and people like this are beneath contempt.
Colonel, USAFR
“My first thought was - where was his family?”
One of the most sinister aspects of this type of predation is that these “friendly helpers” intentionally create conflict between the elder person and his/her family. They sow suspicion, criticize quietly, then ride in on their white horses and “rescue”. Beneath contempt.
Apparently, you didn't read the article, which started like this, "A home-health aide and four relatives...".
See comment #8.
I had arranged for them to buy groceries for Dad at a local grocer and to feed him lunch .. I drove in without announcing I was coming (living 350 miles away). When I opened the refrigerator there was nothing in it but water. It seems she bought a TV tray at the 7-11 and cooked it there and brought it over to the house for Dad to eat. Many other details, were bad, bathing, laundry, actual time spent with him. then there is the instance of the (aide) being so desperately depended upon Dad would give them anything he had to get them to stay a bit. It was awful. Dad lived to be just shy of having his #93 birthday.
Moved him here into a retirement center, hired a companion for the first three months. He went into the hall at night and fell against the sofa and cracked his pelvis. Sad. Then rehab, he became disoriented and they would only release him to a nursing home. Bad. And it was the best there is here. Stuck in a room or in a wheel chair with out over site... except morning wake up and to bed. Meals were a problem. All these things were costing about $3000.00 a month. Elderly people have a difficult time adjusting to change and seem to be lost most of the time.
Mother's story was worse really, she had a full time companion with her 24 hours a day: costing about $6,000.00 a month for almost 3 years because she wanted to run away back to her home. Then a move into the nursing home She still had her companion all day. Mother had Alzheimer's. It cost enough for a Harvard education and then some. It was the best available. Mother was 87 years of age when she died.
All this to relate the aides and companions serving my parents were not trained much and rarely were truly serving their patient. Still I blessed them and appreciated what it was they did.
We had a block party couple of months ago ... the policewoman told us about local robbery and theft and the pawn shops, and how they had been called that week regarding a woman attempting to pawn a 4.5 caret diamond ring, taken as it turned out, from the lady she was caring for. Unknown by the elderly lady. It is a tough situation. People are tempted.
We will all experience this, if we live to that stage. None of us will like it. MO
I believe that refers to the AIDE’S relatives. It’s a very unclear article.
I live rural & a number of us keep track of each other.
Some of us have family—some do not.
I read the article - and intepreted the sentence to mean “one aide and four (of his/her) relatives. Not relatives of the widower.
If you are correct, that is even more illustrative of the decline of the American family. Especially if they are of Italian ancestry.
My Italian friends of yester-year would not have countenanced such treachery.
I may well have misinterpreted it, myself.
Divorce is probably the root of the problem. I am always amazed by couples who have celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries where the healthy spouse takes care of the frail one - poignant and inspirational. And, younger members of the intact family - seem more able to take care of the survivor. Divorce separates everyone into locations and loyalties.
It would be great if there was an AARP or some such organization-sponsored membership for ‘sweat equity’. i.e.If you live in my location you check on my parent and if a member lives next to your parent - he/she checks on yours. Maybe the RED-HATs Chapters could look into it;)
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