Felicity Thornton's daughter put her in Mary Doyle Resthome so she could be cared for but caregiver Cecilia Barbara Bosley breached her trust, stealing from her mum and leaving Belinda Heath "disgusted".
Mrs Thornton is one of nine residents in the dementia unit at Havelock North's Mary Doyle Resthome whose property was stolen by caregiver Cecilia Barbara Bosley, known as Barbara.
The 65-year-old Napier caregiver pleaded guilty in Hastings District Court on Thursday to nine charges of stealing clothing, compact discs, toiletry items, a blanket and money from the resthome's residents and the resthome.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Dean Goodall said the resthome management and police had set up surveillance in the reception area and had captured Bosley taking money and toiletries on two separate occasions at the beginning of the year.
"Her vehicle was searched and a patient's jersey was found in her car," he said.
Mr Goodall said when police searched Bosley's home they found more patients' clothing in her wardrobe, her chest of drawers and in boxes.
Mrs Heath said initially she had not realised her mother's clothing was being stolen but thought items were being misplaced or ending up in other residents' rooms by accident. But then she had bought her mother a new outfit for the Christmas party and a week later couldn't find it, so had contacted the management.
Bosley has been charged with stealing $640 worth of clothing from Mrs Thornton, including two nightgowns, three shirts, a jacket and a cardigan.
Ms Heath is convinced she stole more clothes but has no way to prove other clothing items found at Bosley's home originally belonged to her mum.
"I can't believe people who rip off the mentally ill or the elderly," Ms Heath said.
"It's just disgusting because they can't defend themselves and they've got enough challenges to face without this happening."
Ms Heath can't see the point in sending Bosley to jail but wants her to pay her dues to society - as long as it doesn't involve being around old people.
"I hope she doesn't get a job in the industry again," she said.
Ms Heath doesn't blame the resthome and feels sorry for the staff, whom she describes as amazing. The daughter of another victim, who asked not to be named, has a similar tale.
She said that it was when a cardigan made from expensive merino wool had been stolen that she finally realised "something fishy was going on".
She is angry with Bosley and wants to see her pay back everything.
"It's as low as you can go,"she says.
"She's ripping off people who are not capable of looking after themselves.
"It's an absolute disgrace to the caregiving profession. Families have problems dealing with their parent's illnesses, let alone have to dealing with this."
Bosley, who no longer works at the Mary Doyle Resthome, has been remanded on bail and will be sentenced at the Hastings District Court on June 8.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Hawkes Bay Today
'It hurts the people who are already grieving': Thousands worth of rebuild material stolen from Hawke's Bay school and pre-school
Nuhaka School and a pre-school on-site have suffered a series of break-ins and thefts.