By Henni Espinosa
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51-year old Concepcion Giron worked as an assistant administrator at the Elmwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Berkeley, California. But on Monday, Giron was arrested by California Department of Justice agents for allegedly stealing over $50,000 from six of her elderly patients.

Giron reportedly kidnapped an 85-year old Alzheimer’s patient and held her for a year in order to take her social security checks and pension.

California Attorney General Edmund Brown says, “This is a shocking case of nursing home abuse and gross violation of trust.” Brown’s Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse received a complaint against Giron in 2009 and began investigating her.

Terry McGregor, Executive Vice-President of Elmwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, says an internal audit last year of their facility revealed discrepancies with resident funds.

McGregor says, “As we initiated the investigation, Ms. Giron was immediately suspended and subsequently resigned.” McGregor says they immediately reported the matter to the police and have fully cooperated with the investigation.

Giron faces one count each of kidnapping to commit another crime, false imprisonment and elder abuse, and six counts of theft from elder by a caretaker.

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