Punta Gorda caregiver accused of taking advantage of elderly woman

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.- A caregiver is being charged with exploitation of the elderly after Punta Gorda police say she used an 87-year-old woman’s credit card to make more than $1,000 in transactions.

Abby Resilus, employed through Helping Hands of Southwest Florida, worked with an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer’s.

“It’s hard for her to remember the details of it, and that’s, I guess that’s why it’s so important for the rest of us to look out for them,” said Nancy Sulfridge, the victim’s daughter.

Sulfridge discovered charges on two of her mother’s credit card accounts totaling $1,594.11. Authorities say several of the fraudulent charges were used to make payments on accounts in Resilus’ name.

Resilus also used the victim’s card to buy airline tickets for a trip to Jamaica, after which authorities say she posted pictures of herself on social media confirming she traveled to that location.

“Unfortunately this is what happened, and it just saddens and sickens me that this happened,” said Melissa Lockhart, owner of Helping Hands.

Lockhart says Resilus passed the company’s strict vetting process with flying colors.

“Being state licensed, we go through all the due diligence of background, fingerprinting, the interview process so we have done everything correctly,” said Lockhart.

The victim was able to get her money back.