How to protect your family before hiring in-home care

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — News 4 is taking a look into the steps families can take before hiring in-home care for a loved one.

This comes after Call 4 Action reported on a local home care aide who’s accused of stealing from a senior citizen. She should have been caring for that 79-year-old woman. Now, there’s a warrant out for her arrest.

“I’m very emotional because of the fragile state that she was in, the fact that somebody could come and take advantage of her,” Jackie said.

For privacy reasons, Jackie doesn’t want us to give out her full name. But she does want to share her family’s story of a local home health care aide, being assigned to care for Jackie’s 79-year-old mother. That aide is suspected of stealing valuables from her mother’s Williamsville home on Easter Sunday.

“Actually stole the diamond engagement ring, stole the wedding band. The bank ended up letting us know that three checks were stolen,” Jackie said.

She adds that her family is still dealing with the effects of the alleged theft.

“The amount of damage she inflicted, not only emotionally to my mom considering everything that she’s been through, the financial portion of it as well I just find reprehensible,” Jackie said.

So how can families protect themselves before hiring in home care?

The AARP says you should decide whether a home health agency or an independent contractor is right for you.

Also, interview applicants together as a family, if possible. Prepare written questions and be clear about job requirements.

The Better Business Bureau goes further.

“We’d encourage you to look up the company before you hire them,” said Katarina Schmieder, communications director of the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York. “You can always check BBB.org to see if there’s a business profile number, you can always ask for references and speak to three or four people that may have worked with the company before. Lastly, we’d encourage people to ask the company or organization how they vet their employees to make sure that they’re trustworthy.”

Jackie hopes other families can learn from their story.

“I think the system has definitely become too lax and I think these people are getting away with way more than they should and I’m a firm believer in everybody should be held accountable for their actions,” Jackie said.

Amherst police have identified the health care aide as Wilisha Walker. Police believe that Walker may be out-of-state. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.

You can click here for an AARP checklist of important questions to ask before hiring an in-home caregiver and here to find home health agencies in your area.

Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here .