Reference no: EM133300351

Case: I was sent to a house in southwest Miami-Dade in 2005, where I was welcomed. The dispatcher informed my partner and me that they had received a call from a daughter about their mother, Miriam, who was over 80 years old and living with their sister Susan. Susan had refused to give Miriam a chance to speak with their mother. Miriam thus secured its welfare and good health. She had a check done out of concern for her mother, who is 80. We were welcomed by a 10-year-old boy who identified as Susan's grandson upon our arrival at this home. She volunteered that Josh's great-grandmother was incarcerated in the back room when we inquired about her whereabouts. She asked, "Where was Susan?" "Spontaneously," he said. We asked Josh to take us to Josh's great-grandma because she was taking a shower, and he responded, "Oh, that's my grandma. Olivia was in the back room, and as we were about to enter it, we saw a big stitch. I'm not sure if it was the smell of feces or the smell of death. Despite this, there was a strong odor. It triggered reflexes in both my partner and me. We moved on and went into the back of this house where we met Oliva.

In a semi-conscious state and bound to the bed, Olivia could not speak as I called for an emergency fire rescue to come to the house. Then Susan, the mother's hysterical daughter, arrives to welcome us and asks us how we got into the house and why we were there. Suzanne suddenly said that her sister Miriam was the one who called the police. Olivia was unresponsive and was taken to Kendall Regional Hospital, where they later declared her dead. During the homicide/death investigations, we learned that Miriam and Suzanne had fought over their mother Olivia's finances and that Suzanne was in charge of Olivia. The latter was receiving money from Olivia's Social Security benefits due to the passing of her husband, Jose. The fact that Miriam had not physically seen her mother in about two years and only had a few brief conversations with her disturbed her. Miriam, however, thought Susan and her daughter Susanna were keeping a close eye on Olivia. The fact that Susan's daughter Susanna, a registered nurse for Baptist Hospital, did not exercise due care to keep her grandmother alive also infuriated Miriam.

Olivia's autopsy revealed severe bedsores, which caused the infection and the smell. Had Susan treated the condition, 80-year-old Olivia might have had a better quality of life; therefore, she would have been given a few more years to live. Susan was charged and arrested with elder abuse due to Olivia's death. The charge against Susan was the result of Olivia's autopsy. According to Susan's version of events, her mother started exhibiting Alzheimer's symptoms, which led to severe dementia. Her prognosis was extremely poor, and it excruciated her from acting aggressively. She was leaving the house by herself, so Suzanne had to find herself tying her mother up so that she couldn't move while she was taking a shower or cooking. The autopsy report indicates that the tie marks were extremely close together and had been for some time.

As far as we know, Susan was found guilty by the legal system.

Question 1: decide who else should be charged and convicted for elder abuse:

Question 2: Susanna, the registered nurse, or Miriam, the daughter. Yes or No? Why?

Question 3: As a victim advocate, name some assistance/programming Susan could have obtained for her mother.

Question 4: As for Oliva's funeral expense, does her death qualify for victim compensation?