A Schuylkill County health care provider has been charged with taking over $21,000 in funds from a person she was supposed to be assisting.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Jennifer Ferrier, 39, of Cressona, has been charged with theft, receiving stolen property, and access device fraud.According to troopers, Ferrier, a home health care aid, was hired to transport Lois Fells, 81, a resident of the Luther Ridge Nursing Home, located in Pottsville, to appointments and assist with shopping and other activities.In October 2012 Ferrier began to use Fells' ATM debit card without her knowledge.She made numerous cash withdrawals and purchases such as groceries, gifts, and gasoline at various stores and locations throughout the Schuylkill County area, troopers allege.On Jan. 6 Fells was notified by her bank of insufficient funds in her account. Troopers said an investigation identified Ferrier as the one using the card at such locations as Giant Market, Wal-Mart Store in Saint Clair, and service stations such as Sheetz and Exxon.Total value of the purchases made by Ferrier was over $21,000, troopers said.Ferrier was arraigned on Tuesday before District Judge James Reilly of Pottsville and released on $15,000 unsecured bail.