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MIDDLETOWN — Abena Afrakomah was convinced the elderly woman she cared for was having sex with evil spirits and needed to be "punished," according to Middletown police.

Afrakomah, 57, a Ghana native who lives in West Chester Twp., is accused of abusing the 74-year-old woman who was found this week with cuts and swelling on both sides of her face and bruising on her arm. She also allegedly pinched the woman in her groin area, said Middletown police Detective Rich Bush.

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Abena AfrakomahClick to enlarge

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Afrakomah, who works for Griswold Special Care, was arraigned Wednesday, April 30, in Middletown Municipal Court on a charge of assault by caretaker. She faces up to 18 months behind bars if convicted of the fourth-degree felony.

Afrakomah, who is out of jail after posting 10 percent of a $7,500 bond, had looked after the woman full-time for about two years, Bush said.

The woman, who is unable to speak but communicates through writing, told a substitute caregiver six weeks ago that Afrakomah was pulling her hair and hurting her, Bush said. The substitute caregiver reported the allegations to Griswold, which began an investigation. But the probe was cut short at the elderly woman's request, according to the police report.

A spokesman for the company declined to comment on the allegations, Thursday. The woman's grandchildren also declined to comment.

Abuse of the elderly is a growing problem in the United States, according to the National Center for Elder Abuse.

Between 1 million and 2 million elderly Americans are abused each year in the U.S. according to center estimates, but it's still relatively unusual for the abuse to come at the hands of an in-home caregiver. Children, spouses and other family members made up more than 60 percent of abusers in 1996, according to the center. Private and volunteer service providers made up only 3.5 percent of abusers.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2511 or dwells@coxohio.com.

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