Middletown, OH - As a caregiver for Griswold Special Care, Abena Afrakomah had the same client for two years: a 74-year-old woman who cannot speak. Afrakomah’s job was to provide in-home non-medical care for the elderly woman, including personal care and some housekeeping. But that’s not all that was going on in the client’s home. Afrakomah, 57, allegedly became convinced some months ago that her frail client was having a sexual relationship - with evil spirits.
The victim, who communicates by writing, had a substitute caregiver one day in March. When she got the opportunity, the woman told the substitute aide that Afrakomah was hurting her and pulling her hair. The substitute aide followed Griswold protocol and immediately reported the suspected abuse to the agency, who began their own internal investigation. However, the client requested that the investigation be stopped shortly after it began, and Afrakomah was allowed to return to the client’s home.
Then this week, the victim was found with bruising, cuts and swelling to her face and bruises on her arms. Afrakomah is accused of telling her elderly client that she “needed to be punished” for “having sex with evil spirits”. Afrakomah allegedly pinched the victim “in her groin area” and hit or beat the victim, causing her injuries. Griswold Special Care isn’t commenting on why Afrakomah was allowed to return to the victim’s residence as a caregiver after the initial abuse report was made.
Abena Afrakomah was arraigned Wednesday on a charge of assault by a caregiver. That charge only carries an 18-month sentence if convicted, so if you live in Ohio, check out your grandmother’s home health aides. Afrakomah will probably walk and do no time at all, while her victim will be scarred emotionally for the rest of her life. Afrakomah is already out of jail, having posted $750 of a $7500 bond.
8 responses so far ↓
1
Athena
May 2, 2008 at 11:54 am -Protocol is reporting the abuse…to the agency???
I hope they get sued so hard it puts them three quarters of the way out of business. The publicity of this case should do them in.
2
Mandella
May 2, 2008 at 11:58 am -I wish I could say that I’m even the least bit surprised at this, but I’m so very NOT surprised.
The sad truth is that agencies which provide for the elderly and developmentally disabled are always the most underfunded. This lack of support trickles down right to the direct care providers.
The goal of these agencies is always to provide the best possible care, with the best intentions….but if you’re only able to pay crumbs to the direct care providers….well, you get what you pay for.
3
Mandella
May 2, 2008 at 12:01 pm -Oh, and I admit I have no idea whether this agency is privately or publicly funded.
If it’s a privately funded agency, then they should be ashamed. And yes, sued seven ways to Sunday…
4
thepooh5
May 2, 2008 at 12:02 pm -Why don’t these asshats, quit trying to blame religion, bathtubs, legos, etc. and just say “I’m a mean ass that wants to hurt others”. It would not lessen the offense they committed, but I wouldn’t hold being a liar against them. I’d give a 1/16th of a point for honesty before passing sentence.
5
Athena
May 2, 2008 at 12:13 pm -This isn’t so much an issue of quality, to me. Abuse is reported even in well-funded establishments (although, at a lower rate, of course). This is a matter of policy, to me. THIS is exactly why there tends to be ongoing abuse by caretakers before the issue is brought to the public eye - because “internal investigations” MAY result in a termination, but rarely in procedural changes necessary for prevention. It’s only when someone steps outside policy and goes to the police that establishments are forced to make changes, generally.
6
Mandella
May 2, 2008 at 12:35 pm -I see what you’re saying, but I have to wonder what policy changes can be made with prevention in mind? I mean, if you’re already screening and doing background checks (which I’m sure this agnecy did), and you’re limited by budget as to how much you can spend on a new hire….what else is there?
A very good friend of mine was a case manager and advocate for the developmentally disabled here in Illinois. Often, she was frustrated with the individuals providing direct care to her clients. However, she was often just as incapable of making any changes, because her agency was horribly underfunded. Nobody of any quality background or education seems to want to do such a hard job for so little pay.
And so she would go through crackheads, drunks, losers, all the time trying to find somebody that would work for her agency that wasn’t a complete douche. It’s a challenge.
She’s a much happier human now that she’s no longer working there. As someone with a big heart, wanting to make a difference, she finally had to give ti up. Social work nearly drove her to depression, insanity, and grey hair at 27 years old.
If social services drives away quality individuals like my friend because they feel incapable of providing care and real change, then WTF?
7
WryBread
May 2, 2008 at 11:42 pm -Name Game: This is interesting. “Abena” is an African name for girls born on Tuesday. It has nothing to do with the story, but I think that’s kind of an interesting thing to learn.
When I became disabled, I looked for someone to help me with cleaning. I found a low-cost service for the disabled. Everything was going great until the woman who was taking my information commented that her “helpers” had stolen most of her family heirlooms, such as they were, little by little. I decided that I’d rather live in filth. If you can’t pay alot, you get very little.
8
WryBread
May 2, 2008 at 11:57 pm -Imp — This is an award-winning funny story title.
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