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Posted: 10:20 PM Apr 29, 2010
Preventing Caregiver Abuse
Companies hiring caregivers need to follow strict guidelines to prevent abuse.
Reporter: Brooks Jarosz Email Address: brooks.jarosz@wsaz.com |
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15 Comments 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Companies paid to take care of your loved ones are supposed to hire employees that can be trusted.
A worker from ResCare, in Dunbar, was charged with abuse for taping his patient, a 25-year-old woman's, hands together and leaving her alone in a car for more than an hour Tuesday morning.
Brandon Watts told police the woman he cared for often became violent while he was driving.
"We are devastated by what has happened," ResCare regional director Lisa Jones said in a statement. "This was a trusted employee who had an extensive background check done before he was hired and had received training. I wish we could predict and control human behavior, unfortunately we can't."
ResCare, like many companies, has had a history of alleged abuse violations.
"We do get a lot of stuff cross my desk that has to do with them because they are such a large agency," Rose Lowther-Berman with the Department of Health and Human Resources said. "We concentrate very heavily on the health and safety aspects of our regulations and making sure that the people that are served by these agencies are in a safe environment, a healthy environment and that they have their needs met."
Agencies like ResCare are required to follow strict guidelines. ResCare says it does extensive background checks on every applicant, convicted felons are not eligible and people convicted of misdemeanors are carefully scrutinized but can be hired.
Watts did have a criminal background including misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
The DHHR says it inspects care facilities at least once every two years with seven investigators located throughout the state.
"I do feel we have a good system to address those issues," Lowther-Berman said. "The best outcome is that it doesn't happen again."
Serious issues of abuse means potentially serious consequences, including an agency losing its license.
The DHHR says they take every abuse case seriously and will follow up doing their own investigation into ResCare and this incident.
ResCare says it's providing assistance to the victim to ensure that she has no lasting effects from Tuesday's incident.
Latest Comments
Why did you not post my comments about ResCare. Are you in their pocket also. I thought I made some very relevant points. I really do not understand why my comments are not available on line.
I have worked in the field for many years now , and am not surprised at all by these events. There has been several times APS or other agencies that police the care given by this company have been called and the company some how gets notified before the agency shows up to investigate. has happened many time regarding amount of food consumers have, all the to bruises appearing from no where. Sorry but better back ground checks wont fix this companies issues. there needs to be investigations starting at the top of the food chain when it comes to Rescare, including misappropriating clients funds , hiring practices and advancement in the company , if Im correct i believe this worker Brandon was formerly a supervisor. Who was directly over him , why was he demoted and not fired before this gross misconduct could take place. Thats where your problem is. Im sure there was reports made of neglect before this lets open those up , and lets not let in company investigations stand.
I have formally work for a similar company and am aware of several of the problems that go on with direct care. Many of the companies do not do random drug testing even when it is addressed that someone has been caught smoking weed on the job and is it even really done when hired. I also worked for a family that told me that one of the other caregivers that was placed in the home to care for their child was caught stealing from the home. Neither of these employees were fired; they were simply placed at another site. This just two examples of the bad care that is provided. This does not mean that all workers are bad, but the companies need to look into better ways to screen employees and do surprise check-ins at the home sites. Better training needs to be provided. I know when I was hired I spent no more then two days at the office training. My first day with the client I was left there alone not really knowing what to do, what was the best way to provide care for them, what their special needs were and most importantly how to meet them. To add to the problem, many of the clients are not able to voice concerns for themselves and do not have family that are involved in there care. They have a very limited income that much provide for housing, food, clothing, etc. Many do not qualify for food stamps leaving them with barely with anything to eat.
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