Päijät-Sote reminds home care clients that it is not necessary to open the door to caregivers or strangers. Caregivers who are in the right place walk through the doors with keys.
A person who previously worked at home care in Päijät-Sote has visited the homes of Ahtiala home care clients in Lahti, pretending to be a nurse.
Päijät-Sote says in the release that it has filed a criminal complaint against the person. Accessing the customers’ homes has been made easier by the fact that the person has made use of his previous job.
In addition to the Ahtiala area, the person is not known to have targeted customers’ homes in other areas.
Hyvinvointiyhtymä is currently investigating whether the person who posed as a nurse had access to customers’ keys or door codes. If necessary, new locks are changed on the front doors of customers’ apartments at Päijät-Sote’s expense.
There is no need to open the door for nurses
Päijät-Sote reminds home care customers that there is no need to open the door to caregivers or strangers.
Caregivers ring the doorbell and, if necessary, open the door with a key given to home care or with a keyless door opening system. Each visit to home care is recorded in the patient information system.
Home care workers can be identified by Päijät-Sote’s identity card, which is always with them during visits. The card shows the Päijät-Sote logo, the person’s name, title and social security number, as well as the card’s expiration date. If necessary, the customer can request to see the card.
Some of the ID cards kept in the plastic case have pictures, some have no pictures. In addition, home care workers wear easily recognizable work clothes, for example a vest or jacket.
If necessary, the home care customer or his family can contact the home care coordination center at 044 729 7794 or, in emergencies, the general emergency number 112.
Päijät-Sote informs that it will always file a criminal complaint in case of suspected theft or misuse.