Nurse receives 80 hours of community service for theft from dementia patient (87) in nursing home in Heverlee

A nurse from Kasterlee received an 80-hour community service sentence for stealing over €3,000 from an 87-year-old woman with dementia. The theft occurred at a care home in Heverlee, where the nurse had power of attorney over the woman's account. The woman's son discovered the missing funds in March last year. The nurse claimed the money was a gift for his wedding, but the court rejected this explanation, emphasizing ethical standards in caregiving. He must also pay €700 in damages and faces imprisonment if he fails to complete the community service. Notably, he deposited €13,150 into his account over 16 months without a clear explanation.