Police: Patient saves home health care worker after overdose

Police had some sharp words for home health care worker Amber Graziano after police say she was arrested for possessing and using heroin while caring for a 73-year-old woman confined to a wheelchair.

"29 years old--a heroin addict and she's caring for the elderly--give me a break," Superintendent Michael Chitwood told FOX 29 Wednesday evening. "You put them at risk. You put them in harms way. That's not fair. That's not right. That's criminal."

Police were called to the Lindenwood Apartments Monday night after the elderly woman dialed 9-1-1. Police say the woman and two friends were saying the rosary in the woman's living room when her friends left, the woman found Graziano unconscious in her bedroom. Police arrived and found 6 packets of heroin and administered Narcan, according to investigators.

"If it wasn't for the 73-year-old calling the police Amber would be dead, so she saved her life," Superintendent Chitwood said.

Police say Graziano returned to the victim's apartment after being released from the hospital.

"She says to the 73-year-old--Why did you call the police and why did you call my place of employment? They fired me," Superintendent Chitwood said.

Superintendent Chitwood says Graziano's also had a brush with death back in December that's when police used Narcan to revive her after she was found unconscious outside the 69th Street SEPTA terminal. Graziano works for Home Helpers in Drexel Hill.

"How long she has been with them, we are still investigating that," he said."The person needing the home care turns out to be the hero."

Home Helpers released a statement apologizing to their client--saying they were disturbed by Graziano's arrest and relieved everyone is safe. They say their employees are required to pass multi-agency background checks, criminal records or a history of serious drug abuse are disqualifies for employment. They called this an isolated incident.

Superintendent Chitwood says the investigation is continuing into where Graziano got the heroin and whether any items might be missing from the elderly woman's home.