I was a caregiver for a client over a month ago. Now the client is saying I stole money out of her key safe in her apartment. Any advice?

Get a lawyer ASAP.

There isn't much of a way for them to prove your guilt or you to prove your innocence. Police usually don't even try to figure out who burglarized individual homes, so I don't know if they will in this case. It is one of those unfortunate situations where someone was looking to put blame.

I remember a few years ago that someone had a dog with heartworms. The dog had no energy and could barely breathe. She died one day. For some reason the owner decided I must have poisoned it and told this to my other neighbors. What hat he pulled this conclusion from is beyond me -- probably the one he sat on. All I could do is scratch my head, because I am one of the biggest animal lovers in the world. You can't control what people think or say. The only thing you can do is say "I would never do something like that" when anyone says something.

Some people are just nasty like that.

That is totally crazy to blame you for a dogs death? You are right though..... people have to have someone to blame. It is so hard to be a good caregiver and then to have the people that you care for blame you for their problems.
I am just worried that since I am sure they will find my fingerprints then they will accuse me of stealing her money from her key safe! Since I did not do this,I do hope they find fingerprints on the person that did steal it! A relative of her's actually called me up and accused me of this! She was so nasty. I had done above and beyond what I was suppose to do for this client and to get paid back for this is just unbelievable! I just hope I cannot be charged for stealing. Plus, I have no idea on how much money she is stating there was!

There probably wasn't any money, she's just losing it mentally. Keep calm and carry on.

The dog thing was totally out of the blue. The only thing I could figure was that the neighbor didn't know me and I had rabbits. That must make me guilty, right? The guy wasn't the brightest light shining, so I quickly let is roll off.

It would be unusual for police to even do prints these days in a home. The sad truth is police will try to figure things out if it is a business, but not a home. Even if they do lift prints and find yours, you've been in the key safe before, so it would explain any prints. Just tell the truth and you should be okay.

I wonder if the woman may have hidden the money from herself. My mother has a habit of blaming my SIL for certain things -- not theft, but drains stopping up and messes made. The truth is that my mother does it herself, but can't admit that. So SIL gets blamed, even if she hasn't been around in a year! Go figure.

cops arent interested in anything that doesnt result in a bale of seized assets or cash for their arsenals . they have some training pertaining to demented or just crotchety elders screaming theft tho . paranoia aside , the state has to have to have iron evidence to convict someone and thats a tall order to fill . they dont prosecute crap they cant win . my advice ; dont give it another thought .

It's called dementia. As a caregiver for my mom I've had to hear all about my stealing ways and how I sneak my boyfriend in the house. (Boyfriend hasn't been in house since December 2012). Her episodes come and go and her anger and meanness about it can last for days. Just hope I have enough sense to take myself out of this world before I get to mom's stage or if not, that someone else does. LOL!

Yep, as Kedwards said, it's probably dementia.

Just yesterday I discovered that even though I haven't been to MIL's house in months, she has been saying I'm stealing her cat food. Claims I started sneaking some out when my DD was staying there as the nighttime caregiver, and she thinks I still am.

Hubby laughed and said that explains why I rarely eat what I fix for dinner, I'm full up on cat food! I laughed right back and said, maybe he needs to look closer at that tater tot casserole, maybe he's full of c LOL!

oops, posted before I was done. Was saying, maybe he's full of cat food! LOL

But really, just tell the truth, and if there is dementia involved, be sure to let authorities know this. You should be fine. Try not to take the accusations personally, even though it's hard. Heck, maybe it's the new person and he/she suggested you as a way to deflect suspicion from herself?

All of you had great answers! It's just too bad that there are so many of us that have similar situations where someone takes someone else's word without getting the facts first! Some people seem to like to jump to conclusions, spread untruths, and then come up with some comment like "Oh, I didn't know" - how unfortunate. I do agree that it is hard to be a caregiver to someone who is not a relative because it makes it easy when something happens, they're the first to be blamed. Even family members who don't help out, the one person that does all the work gets blamed when something goes wrong. All I can say is keep doing the best you can and things eventually work out - usually for the best. God bless all of you and have a great day!

I just found out through my work that the Client is stating I am the only one that knew where her key safe was and her key. There had been other tenants that have been robbed in the complex,but all I know is medicine was stolen before. There had also been peoples gas tanks robbed there. They also have stated that anyone could get through someones apartment door with a credit card because some one had locked themselves out before and used a credit card to get back into their apartment. I am just worried that I will lose my job and be arrested for something I had nothing to do with the crime! I found out that the client is stating the there was $2000 that is missing. I am assuming it was all cash,so she could just make up that amount,there is no way to prove it.She could of said that it was $5000. To say I was the only one that knew,what about someone coming into her apartment and stealing it. Of course I am going to be blamed for it, I am the easy target! Plus, what if my are the only fingerprints on the key safe? A burglar is going to use gloves so they can't trace his fingerprints. I don't see how I am going to be the only suspect! There should be something for the rights of caregivers!

Even when someone is innocent, false charges can create a lot of problems & cost money to prove their innocence. If the police do get involved in this situation I hope they or the DA have enough sense to see what is going on.

This happened to me as I cared for an elderly woman who accused me of pulling her hair and stealing her clothes. Fortunately the agency knew she had dementia and just asked me about the last time I saw her. Don't be overly concerned about this lady accusing you. Even though the police took fingerprints, you have already admitted you opened the safe per HER request and unless she can prove you stole anything, I think it will just go away. Besides, other people have had things stolen that you did not care for, and the police will recognize that. Try to document anything you do at a client's house especially if you open a locked safe. Maybe a camera recording or cell phone...

Many years ago when we were taking care of my grandfather he used to accuse all of us of stealing his money. One day I helped him look all over the house and we never did find it. I told him to just let it go and I took him to get a haircut. When we got to the Barber shop he took off his cap, which he always wore, unless sleeping or getting a haircut, and lo and behold there was his missing money. I know what is happening to you is not funny but I wouldn't get to concerned because the police are overly burdened with real crime and don't have time to follow this one. However this should be a lesson learned. Never have any thing to do with someone's safe or personal money. They need to take care of that themselves. And if they give you money for shopping etc, make sure you have a paper trail signed by them in case of any question. I take care of my 98 year old Dad and, believe me, I keep meticulous records when it comes to his money because I have family members that don't do a darn thing to help but question every penny I spend. Never take anything for granted because people are unpredictable and just plain mean sometimes.

You can contact an attorney. Make a statement to the police if they ask you and be honest. Since she leaves her door unlocked, has a different caregiver now then I don't see how you can be blamed. She would have noticed money (if she had any) was missing before a month was up. This is a tough situation. I advise workers not to go into a safe, purse etc. even if the client asks you. I tell them it's against my policy. I hope things work out.

I agree with your comment "terryjack1". Also, I have spoken with a friend and found out that anyone could of gone in there and took her key to her safe and made a copy easily. Also, made a copy of her apartment keys. They will have to fingerprint everyone in the complex. If they do not find any other fingerprints like they used gloves, I do not see how they could find anyone. That is what I am worried about. Because I know my finger prints will be on it. Just curious on long this going to take. I can't go back to work until I get released from the state. So,this is costing me every day! I can't even get unemployment yet and I have been out of work for 2 weeks because of this. Don't even know yet if I can get my job back. I have lost my job and my medical insurance as well because of this. I do not understand why I have to lose so much for nothing. This is just not fair. It almost makes me not want to be in the career any longer. I had finally found something that I absolutely love doing and now I am not even sure I can do it again or want to! I have not been notified by police as of yet. Also, I never saw any money when I looked in there for papers for her SSI form. So who knows if there was money in there or not or even how much. The only people that would know is her and the person that stole it!