Caregiver wants $175,000 to give up claims to elderly woman's home

Dale Brazao, Toronto Star

The personal support worker who legally owns widow Stella Wasiuk’s Ajax home says she will give it back — for $175,000.

Pauline Reid, who vanished amid police and Star investigations into her treatment of the 84-year-old woman, is making her demand from the shadows rather than in open court, where she has been noted as being in default for not filing a statement of defence. Reid — Wasiuk’s former caregiver — has also asked Wasiuk to drop a lawsuit accusing her of “unconscionable exploitation.”

“She’s not getting another penny from me,” Wasiuk said from the GTA nursing home where she is now living. “I’ve given her enough. After all that I’ve done for her and all that I’ve given her, she should pay me.”

Wasiuk sued Reid in March,accusing her former caregiver of mistreating and manipulating her into buying a $477,000 house. After that, Reid ended up as the registered owner of the home and Wasiuk had only a life interest in the property. Wasiuk wants the title to the house to be given to her.

Reid’s demand for $175,000 from the widow is contained in a letter sent by lawyer Susan von Achten to Wasiuk’s former lawyer, Alexander Jozefacki. In it, von Achten says Reid and her family have been “homeless” since Wasiuk’s then-neighbour, Emile Timmermans, who now has power of attorney for Wasiuk’s care, changed the locks in March under police supervision.

Caregiver Reid says she is “content” for the house to be sold as long as she receives money “to cover all her losses and suffering.” She also wants the lawsuit against her dropped and wants 15 days’ access to remove her personal property and furniture. Wasiuk says she paid for most of that furniture and property.

Wasiuk’s case is a cautionary tale for all seniors. A vulnerable elderly widow, with no children or close friends, ended up living with a cast of characters, including Reid, Reid’s son — who was facing drug trafficking and gun charges — and Reid’s boyfriend, a self-professed Haitian prince and practitioner of voodoo, according to one source who knew the man.

To read the full article: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1254063--caregiver-wants-175-000-to-give-up-claim-to-elderly-woman-s-home