By Spencer Sterritt

Investigations underway after Nanaimo caregiver accused of theft from elderly patient

Aug 18, 2017 | 5:19 PM

NANAIMO — After more than $500 was allegedly taken from her elderly father, a Nanaimo woman is speaking out and trying to prevent other seniors from being taken advantage of.

Susan Tye claimed an Island Health caregiver, who looks after her 93-year-old veteran father Douglas Fairbanks, stole $570 over multiple trips to their home.

“Somebody came in and violated us. She violated our trust and our safety. Of all the places you can be, you should be able to be in your own home and be safe.”

Their house has video cameras, which were first bought so Tye could keep watch over her father while she was at work and for general safety, but never installed. However, after $200 allegedly went missing on May 10, the cameras were quickly installed.

Tye said she was shocked when the footage allegedly showed their caregiver rooting through their personal items.

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NanaimoNewsNOW watched the footage provided by Tye. It did not show the caregiver taking any money.

The video from July 16 shows the caregiver walking into the kitchen, claiming she needed to drop off some papers. Only in the house for a few moments, the video showed her looking both ways and then reaching into a drawer, looking inside, examining what Tye claimed is a wallet, shutting it and then leaving.

Tye said the caregiver wasn’t scheduled for July 16 and shouldn’t have been there.

“By the way she opened that drawer and looked, reached over and pulled out the wallet, she didn’t even have to look for where it was. She’s been in that drawer, she knows exactly where the wallet was at,” Tye speculated.

The most recent footage from July 18 showed the caregiver entering Fairbanks’ bedroom during her routine tasks, but then leaning over and searching through some of his drawers. Tye said there’s nothing of monetary value in the drawers, but the caregiver should never have looked in the first place.

RCMP was allegedly notified the same day. However, Tye said she didn’t reach out to Island Health about the matter until Aug. 1 because she wanted to see what would happen if the caregiver ever returned. July 18 was the last time they ever saw the caregiver.

Tye said she’s heard from friends in the field the caregiver is still working, just no longer at their house.

Fairbanks said he’s concerned for other seniors who might end up in a similar situation.

Island Health told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re taking the concerns seriously.

“We have been, and continue to be, in communication with this family regarding their concerns. Island Health is conducting an internal investigation. Island Health can’t and will not discuss personnel issues. As this matter is subject of an investigation we cannot provide any further details at this time,” their statement read.

Tye said her phone hasn’t stopped ringing since her allegations were made public, but said none of the calls have been from Island Health.

NanaimoNewsNOW reached out to Nanaimo RCMP for comment but did not receive a reply by posting time late Friday afternoon.

spencer@nanimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit