Comforting Angels Homecare in Hawley, Minnesota is currently under investigation by the Minnesota Department of Health for alleged maltreatment and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. According to reports, the Health Department substantiated two complaints against Comforting Angels, with one case involving over $135,000 missing from a client's bank accounts over a 16-month period. The owner of Comforting Angels is accused of making unauthorized withdrawals from clients' accounts for personal use, without providing billing statements or explanations for the withdrawals.
In another case, the Health Department found that Comforting Angels withdrew over $246,000 from another client's bank accounts over a nine-month period. Similar to the first case, the owner made multiple unauthorized withdrawals and failed to provide billing statements or reasons for the transactions. The investigation also revealed that the client's debit card was used for unauthorized purchases, and concerns about misuse of the card were reported to the owner but not investigated.
The reports suggest a lack of proper documentation and oversight at Comforting Angels, with allegations of caregivers not showing up for shifts, caregivers sleeping on the job, and staff using the client's debit card for personal purchases. The owner claimed that discrepancies in billing amounts and withdrawal dates were due to issues with billing software, and stated that she was unaware of any extra money being withdrawn beyond the cost of services.
Overall, the investigations into Comforting Angels Homecare paint a troubling picture of potential financial exploitation and inadequate care for vulnerable adults. The allegations of unauthorized withdrawals, lack of documentation, and staff misconduct raise serious concerns about the operation and management of this home care provider in Hawley.