ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Government Arrests Nursing Home Business Officer And Aide
Access To Resident Financial Accounts
Pair Allegedly Stole From 11 Residents
All too frequently we read news stories of nursing home residents suffering from physical or sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment. Often the abuse and neglect result in death of elderly or incapacitated residents. But residents of nursing homes and care facilities, like seniors everywhere, are also vulnerable to financial abuse. Examples include theft of cash or items in a resident’s room, theft of checkbooks and credit cards, unauthorized purchases on credit cards, identity theft, tricking a resident into “giving” assets away, threats or intimidation of residents to transfer assets, or acts of undue influence. Some of these instances may be isolated acts of theft, but others may involve sustained schemes by an aide or other home employee to exploit senior residents. Also, staff members at facilities typically develop close relationships with residents but such relationships can result in exploitation. Such staff/resident interactions are difficult to monitor, and even more so with staff turnover when supervision is thin. Nursing home residents with dementia are particularly vulnerable as they likely have no idea what is going on with their finances. If a family member or beloved friend is not watching over their affairs, culprits may really be able to get away with anything. If you have a loved one who has suffered injury due to financial elder abuse in a nursing home or care facility here in Marin or elsewhere in California, call Evans Law Firm, Inc. at 415-441-8669, and we can help. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Financial Elder Abuse Of Nursing Home Residents
The U.S. Department of Justice recently reported the arrests of two nursing home employees for alleged financial exploitation of elderly and dependent adult residents.[1] The two individuals arrested were the Business Office Coordinator and an aide employed by a home for seniors and dependent adults. According to Court records, the Business Officer Coordinator used her position to steal $7,421 from seven elderly residents and four vulnerable adult residents at the facility. She allegedly forged the signatures of these residents to withdraw funds from the residents’ accounts managed by the facility. In two instances she also allegedly redirected money orders intended for residents into her own account. The second arrested individual was the aide for an elderly man with limited mobility. Within a period of about four months she allegedly stole $8,076.78 from the victim by using his debit card for unauthorized transactions and ATM withdrawals. The criminal complaints against the two are merely allegations at this point and the cases are pending.
Suspicious Activities
Families should be aware of any suspicious activity involving finances, cash, documents, or accounts of the older, institutionalized loved ones and those under the care of in-home caregivers. Be aware of the following warning signs that may indicate financial exploitation:
- Missing documents, checks, credit cards, or statements (includes repeated checks written for “cash”, charges for items the resident did not receive/purchase, suspicious signatures, etc.)
- Complaints of theft of money or property
- Distress or agitation in the presence of a particular individual
- Sudden changes in behavior, such as hoarding or hiding possessions
- Sudden lack of basic personal needs or medications
- Inconsistencies with statements or financial accounts
- Unpaid bills
- Sudden “purchasing” of gifts to nursing home staff or other residents
Recourse For Residents
Those responsible for the financial exploitation of seniors may include the owners and administrators of nursing homes, business office personnel and aides, or home health care agencies and hospice programs, staff and individual at-home caregivers. If you suspect abuse or neglect of a loved one in a home, call qualified financial elder abuse counsel. Evans Law Firm, Inc. handles elder abuse cases throughout Marin County and the State of California. We will pursue all remedies and extra damages to which you or your victimized loved one is entitled, including awards of attorneys’ fees and expenses for bringing your case. There are relatively short statutes of limitations for elder abuse claims so you need to act immediately when you think anything may be wrong.
Contact Us
Ingrid M. Evans and Evans Law Firm, Inc. represent victims of financial elder abuse and nursing home abuse here in Marin, in San Francisco and throughout California. Call Ingrid today at (415) 441-8669, or by email at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267). Ingrid will pursue all available remedies for injured seniors including recovery of attorneys’ fees and expenses for bringing your lawsuit.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. is not involved in the case in any way.
