A former nurse who accepted thousands of dollars, gifts and inheritance from two elderly patients she looked after will pay for doing so.
Laurie Jeanne Tinkham of Nanaimo was ordered to pay more than $30,000 in fines and legal fees after an investigation by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia concluded that she financially exploited an infirm elderly couple.
According to a recently published decision by the CRNBC, Tinkham cared for an elderly couple, known only as M.W. and P.W., from 2010 until 2013. Between 2012 and 2013, Tinkham received more than $11,000 in cashed cheques from M.W.’s bank account, became power of attorney in relation to the couple’s financial matters, and became a joint owner in the mobile home that she was living in with the couple.
When they died, the title of the mobile home was transferred to Tinkham, who retained ownership of it, according to the CRNBC decision.
The nurses’ college became aware of Tinkham’s actions in January 2013 .