90 year old loses thousands in alleged retirement home fraud
A 90-year-old woman is among those allegedly defrauded of thousands of dollars while a resident at an Oxford County retirement home.
Her upset family is speaking out in her place as the woman battles dementia.
Miranda Guitard, a relative, told CTV News London her family selected Trillium Care in Norwich, Ont. this past June.
The woman moved in shortly afterward.
"It's a large, Victorian-style home. That's what I liked about the facility," explained Miranda. "I wanted her to go somewhere without actually feeling like a home. Not so much like an institution."
Miranda said the family paid for the first and last month of care in advance, but soon they received requests from a senior employee asking for more money.
They questioned the terms but agreed to pay some cash for a reported additional service.
Miranda Guitard is seen during an interview with CTV News London on Aug. 28, 2024. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London).
Still, Miranda felt uneasy, "My gut instinct was telling me that there's something going on."
The requests for more money kept coming. All along Miranda kept records of her communications with the senior employee.
Soon, she was questioning the email address used for rent payments.
"You know, when I look at all of the staff's emails that work at the home, it is first name, last initial then @TrilliumCommunityCare.ca. OK, that's right. But, the money that I'm sending for rent and increases and everything else was going to a separate email, a Gmail."
Not long afterward, police were notified.
The OPP has confirmed they are investigating the alleged fraud of multiple victims at a retirement home in Norwich. Detectives report more than $50,000 may be missing. They are interviewing a suspect, and an OPP cruiser was present outside the home Wednesday.
CTV News London reached out directly to Trillium Care communities. An employee declined to comment but did confirm a police investigation is ongoing.
The Ontario Retirement Home Regulatory Authority has also confirmed it is investigating a complaint.
The 90-year-old victim of an alleged fraud at an Oxford county retirement home is seen in this undated photo. CTV News has protected her identity. (Source: Miranda Guitard)
In the meantime, Miranda said she will keep speaking out to alert other families, "If you're dealing with a big move like this for a loved one, ask your questions and listen to your gut. Find out who everyone is beforehand. Who's the general manager? Who's doing the bookkeeping? Who is taking care of your loved one?"
Miranda certainly wishes she had done the same for herself and her "much loved" elderly relative, who just celebrated her birthday inside the home.
"Her vulnerability was taken advantage of and even myself. I feel like I've been taken advantage of and tricked," she said.
Police are imploring anyone who suspects their family member may be a victim to give them a call.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Opinion Was music really better when you were younger? Or is your mind deceiving you?
As I see other generations of music lovers say music was so much better when they were younger, I wondered why. We can’t all be right — or maybe we are? I talked to experts in how music influences our brains to find out.
Here are new guidelines for preventing stroke
The majority of strokes could be prevented, according to new guidelines aimed at helping people and their doctors do just that.
1 monkey recovered safely, 42 others remain on the run from South Carolina lab
One of 43 monkeys bred for medical research that escaped a compound in South Carolina has been recovered unharmed, officials said Saturday.
Flower delivery leads to arrest for St. Thomas resident
St. Thomas police say they arrested a 72-year-old St. Thomas resident after their ex-partner reported receiving flowers and a note left on the porch.
Cynics not only lose out on friendships, love and opportunity — they're also wrong about human nature
Cynicism is on the rise. Should that come as any surprise given today’s divisive global conflicts and our fraught political landscape? Even the weather seems like it’s out to get us.
Actor Tony Todd, known for his role in the movie 'Candyman' and its sequel, dies at 69
Actor Tony Todd, known for his haunting portrayal of a killer in the horror film “Candyman” and roles in many other films and television shows, has died, his longtime manager confirmed. He was 69.
Qatar is suspending its role in talks between Israel and Hamas, sources say
Qatar is suspending its role as a mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas after concluding that the two sides are no longer negotiating in good faith, two sources familiar with the situation tell CNN.
Migrants crossing the Darien heard of Donald Trump's victory — and picked up the pace
Jesus Chavez, a 34-year-old pastry chef from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, arrived in this small village at Panama’s edge of the Darien jungle on Friday.
Man charged with participating in march with flaming torch has pleaded guilty to lesser charge
Another man charged with carrying a flaming torch with the intent to intimidate during a 2017 rally at the University of Virginia campus has agreed to a plea deal.