Personal care home worker accused of exploitation of elderly

A personal care home employee accused of withdrawing money from an Alzheimer’s patient’s bank account is in jail on a charge of exploitation of the elderly.

Maxine Donaldson, 51, was arrested Monday on the felony charge that carries a potential prison term of up to 20 years. She is expected to be in Richmond County Magistrate Court on Wednesday for an initial appearance.

According to the arrest warrant, Donaldson added herself to the bank account of a 69-year-old resident of the Shavonna’s Place of Care on Fairview Avenue. The warrant states that Donaldson withdrew $27,989 from the bank account between Oct. 25 and July 24.

The warrant accuses Donaldson of obtaining access to the bank account through undue influence, coercion, duress, deception or false representation.

According to the Department of Community Health, Shavonna’s, a state-licensed home for up to six patients, had no violations during its latest inspection in March. In February 2015, an investigation of three complaints at the home also found no violations.

When The Augusta Chronicle checked earlier in the year on business licenses for local personal care homes, Shavonna’s did not have one, which meant it had not undergone a fire marshal’s inspection. The home has since then become licensed, according to the city’s licensing and inspection division.

Donaldson had been the administrator of another personal care home, Maxi Maxi on Damascus Road.

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Personal care home worker accused of exploitation of elderly