I care for a 90 year old lady who recently fell and got a black eye from falling. After she fell I made her she was okay notified her son and granddaughter of the fall took a picture and sent it to all of them. I even sent it to the care giver coming on after me who said that everything was ok soon after that the family decided a
they wanted to fire her for stealing money the Dr has said she's a fall hazard and this caregiver has seen her fall when she doesn't get her way she'll throw herself down now that she's bee
.n terminated she's hollering abuse knowing that it wasn't. I believe the sheriff wants to convict me. and send me to jail but so far he's only taken statements the family doesn't want me to go to jail they asked me not to quit the APS lady is getting one more statement from the family tomorrow then I'll probably get arrested if they know she's a fall hazard will they look at that or does it automatically mean I did it. I supposedly was rude and yelled at her I yelled to be heard because she's deaf what do y'all think.
You will not know until your day in court and your public defender is required by law to make the time for your defense.
Im not sure what your lawyer doesn't have time to do? Explain this to you over and over? Take the advice of your lawyer and your psychiatrist. Get on meds, get therapy and find a different line of work. You don't sound as though you are tempermentally suited to caregiving.
Authored By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society Inc LSC Funded Information
Elder abuse is a term referring to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. Under Georgia law, abuse may be:
·Physical Abuse - Inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder,depriving them of a basic need, or non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
·Emotional Abuse - Inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder through verbal or nonverbal acts.
·Neglect - Failing to provide essential services that results in harm or threatens to harm elders.
·Financial Exploitation - The illegal or improper use of an elder's resources for another's profit or gain.
IN SIMPLE TERMS
If you harm and elderly person or put them in danger then you could be accused and charge with abuse
If you actually hurt or threaten to hurt or do something to them they have not said yes to then you could be accused and charged with abuse
If you dont give them something they may need (like giving them their walking frame when they need it) then you could be accused and charged with abuse
If you have sex with an elderly person that they have not agreed to you certainly will be accused and charged with abuse
If you threaten someone with harm even if you dont touch them or you shout at them in a way that makes them worried or scared then you could be accused and charged with abuse
If you dont feed them properly and regularly and help them feed themselves or feed them in a way that they can eat without choking then you could be accused and charged with abuse (ooften happens in very large institutions where the food is brought on a tray , the person cant feed themselves and none come to feed them and then the tray is taken away, untouched. The same would apply to drinks.
If you use the elderly person's money without their consent (or the consent of the POA) to but asomething for yourself or someone else even if this was only a bag of sweets or your bus fare then you could be charged with financial abuse
So there ya go that what georgia Law says and that is about as simple as I can make it. BUT when you make things simple as I just did then it doesn't cover everything the law does so as we have all said before TALK TO YOUR LAWYER
If you were yelling to get her to stop doing something dangerous it would be one thing, and people might understand if it was to stop her doing something really irritating too - I mean anyone can lose their temper once over something like that. But if your yelling included calling her ugly names or shaming her for something she really could not help, it would be another thing altogether. Has her family heard the recording? If they have heard it and don't feel bad about it you would think that might count for something, but think realistically if they may turn on you when they hear it for the first time.
If you have documentation of how much you were paid and it is not inappropriate you should not have to worry about that specifically.
Look, I'll be honest. It seems like you feel guilty and you are hoping we will say that no, you clearly did nothing wrong, but I don't think the story you have given here in its limited form can really give support to that. I wish it hadn't happened and I hope whatever happens next you can land on your feet somehow and find help for anything you need! Are you currently homeless other than sleeping on her couch?