Son of victim of elder abuse applauds new Ohio law

by: Brandon Jaces

(WKBN) – Governor Mike DeWine signed a law Wednesday that allows cameras to be installed in nursing homes.

Senate Bill 58 known as Esther’s Law is named after Steve Piskor’s mother who was a victim of elder abuse.

“My mother was abused. It’s been over 10 years now, and we got the letters, I got the legislation that was used in 2019,” Piskor said. 

Then the pandemic happened and the legislation failed, but it was reintroduced earlier this year and has since passed.

“It’s amazing after so long of trying. I mean, I pushed so many people to the max. I probably got so many people mad at me, but in the end, I think a lot of people realized how much this was needed,” Piskor said.  

The cameras aren’t a requirement, and if a resident has a roommate, the roommate has to agree to it being installed.

“Maybe just pointing the camera at the person that wants it and maybe setting the sound off or whatever agreement they want to come to,” Piskor said.

This law is geared to the most vulnerable, but during a pandemic, it might make it easier for families to see their loved ones.

“Residents in nursing homes with dementia or Alzheimer’s, residents who can’t tell us what’s happening, and that was the same with my mother, she couldn’t tell me what was happening,” Piskor said.

Following the signing of the bill, AARP released a statement congratulating Piskor. The agency said, “On behalf of our more than 1.5 million members statewide, we thank Governor DeWine for his signature to enact Esther’s law. This law provides additional peace of mind, a gift for family caregivers and long-term care residents this season.”

Continuing Healthcare of Lisbon released the following statement:

“We understand that cameras may offer families some measure of comfort, however, they aren’t the answer to ensuring quality care in nursing homes. We have extensive policies and procedures in place to protect our residents and pride ourselves on the quality of care we provide. We have always encouraged residents and families to bring any concerns to us so they can be addressed immediately. Having a camera in a room will change very little for us.”

Continuing Healthcare of Lisbon

“So I just asked people to use it, you know, and we have to get the word out to let people know that this law is there,” Piskor said.

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Son of victim of elder abuse applauds new Ohio law

Court documents: Sacramento County deputy sent woman, 75, to Philippines

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) — A petition for conservatorship of a woman alleged to have been the victim of elder abuse by two Sacramento County sheriff's deputies says the 75-year-old suffers from dementia and did not remember why she was sent to the Philippines.

The petition, filed March 8 by Rosalie Achiu's nephew in Washington, said the woman "suffers from dementia" and is "unable to resist fraud or undue influence and lacks the capacity to provide informed consent and make medical decisions on her own behalf."

The documents describe the relationship between Achiu, Deputy Stephanie Angel, a 14-year veteran of the department, and Angel's partner, a six-year veteran of the department.

It says Angel and Achiu met in mid-January.

A commendation from the sheriff's department given to Angel for her help with Achiu states the two met Jan. 14. She would return a day later to check on her again, according to the commendation.

The petition goes on to allege that Achiu was "taken away from her own residence" and moved into one of the deputies' homes.

Angel was that deputy.

"She asked and pleaded to stay with me," Angel told KCRA 3 Thursday.

The records state that over the next few weeks, multiple withdrawals were made from Achiu's bank accounts and her home was listed for sale.

Angel and her attorney told KCRA 3 Thursday that Rosalie was intent on doing something with her home, whether that involved a sale, turning it into a rental or renovations.

"When it came to Rosalie's house, she basically just wanted what was most efficient to bring in the most amount of money. I mean, obviously. So, I consulted a Realtor that I knew and asked her opinion," she explained. "This Realtor said, 'I think you should do this. This will get you the most money. This is probably what you should do.' So, that's what I was trying to do -- what's best for her."

Next, the documents allege one of the deputies opened a joint bank account with Achiu. Then on Jan. 29, according to the records, the deputies took Achiu to the bank and "had the bank drill out the locks" to her safe deposit box.

"Rosalie needed items out of her safety deposit box to go with her to the Philippines. So, it was her request that we go to her safety deposit box and get those out," Angel said. "While we were there, Rosalie asked that she take all the items out and store them with her other belongings in the event she didn't want to come back from the Philippines."

That same day, documents say, Angel and her partner obtained a rush passport from rushmypassport.com.

The following day, Angel obtained power of attorney over Achiu from a Roseville attorney, documents allege.

"He evaluated her. When you get evaluated for power of attorney, they obviously evaluate your mental competency and ability to make sure people aren't taking advantage of you," Angel said. "So, the lawyer spoke with her and did not see anything wrong."

The records go on to say that on Feb. 1, the deputies took Achiu to Sacramento International Airport, where she left for the Philippines on a one-way ticket.

Angel said Achiu wanted to go to the Philippines. In preparation for the trip, Angel said she mailed a letter to Achiu's family in the Philippines to explain how she'd been helping Achiu. She said she got Achiu's hair and nails done and prepared her personal belongings, including medications.

Thirteen days later, federal agents located Achiu in the Philippines and said she couldn't remember why she was there and wanted to return to the United States.

The records show she is now in an area hospital until a conservator can be chosen and an assisted living facility can be found.

Sheriff's department investigates

The sheriff's department received a complaint in January from someone concerned for the welfare of Achiu, who lived in North Highlands, officials said.

The complainant alleged that two deputies took advantage of the elderly woman, who possibly suffers from a diminished mental capacity and who had not been seen in several days, according to investigators.

The sheriff's department consulted with the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service after the woman's whereabouts were unknown for several days.

During the investigation, detectives discovered that the woman was put on an airplane and sent to the Philippines to stay with extended family, sheriff's officials said.

At the request of the woman's family, officers went to the Philippines and found the woman, interviewed her and brought her safely home.

Angel: The investigation is retaliation

Angel believes the investigation by the sheriff's department comes in the wake of complaints she said she's made within the department pertaining to sexual harassment and the falsification of training records.

"There was the additional sexual text messages, innuendos, inappropriate touching," she said. "And I complained to five different supervisors over the last several months."

Angel said her partner, who is also being investigated, pleaded with a lieutenant three weeks before the investigation for the harassment to stop or they would consider filing suit against the county.

"We told them that, not only would we complain about the harassment retaliation, but the department is having us forge training records," Angel said. "And we told them that we would come out about that."

Sheriff's Sgt. Shaun Hampton issued this statement in response to Angel's allegations:

"If Ms. Angel alleged that she filed any sort of complaint last year alleging she was the victim of sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct, there is no record of any such complaint ever being filed.

"As to her remarks in defense of her conduct in the instant matter, unfortunately the investigations are still ongoing and no further information can be provided at this time."

The district attorney's office could not comment while the matter is still being investigated.

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Court documents: Sacramento County deputy sent woman, 75, to Philippines