ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Caregiver Arrested For Unauthorized Credit Card And ATM Use
Investigation Lasted Over One Year
Suspect Formerly Employed At Residential Care Facility
Seniors residing in nursing homes and other care facilities are at risk of financial elder abuse by facility staff in much the same way as older persons under the care of in-home caregivers are. Whenever an unscrupulous caregiver has access to a senior’s financial accounts, cash and credit cards, the threat of theft is there, whether it’s in a senior’s home or a facility. Financial elder abuse is a crime itself (in addition to crimes of theft or larceny) and grounds for civil liability against the actor, anyone assisting the actor, and persons charged with supervising the actor. See, e.g., Penal Code § 368 (crime of elder abuse); Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 15610.30(a)(definition of financial elder abuse). Evans Law Firm, Inc. represents victims of financial elder abuse from any source, be it caregivers, trustees, bookkeepers, persons with Powers of Attorney and others. Call us today at (415)441-8669 or TOLL FREE 1-888-80EVANS (888-503-8267) if any senior loved one has suffered any kind of financial elder or dependent adult abuse in Napa or elsewhere in California.
Caregiver Arrested
In one recently reported case,[1] a retirement center caregiver was arrested for unauthorized use of a care facility resident’s credit cards and ATM cards. According to the police, the caregiver took the residents cards and ran up over 37 unauthorized charges and withdrawals in a six-month period in 2020. Police investigation took almost a year after the suspicious activity was initially reported by the victim’s family. The unauthorized charges including food, clothing and luxury items and numerous cash withdrawals at various area ATM machines.
Preventing Elder Financial Abuse And Theft
If you have a loved one in a care facility, make sure their credit cards, ATM cards, jewelry, cash and other valuables are in a safe place away from the reach of any caregiver. Never let a caregiver run an errand or go shopping with the senior’s card. Keep all financial information like account numbers and Social Security numbers away from a caregiver’s glance. Never, ever grant a power of attorney to a caregiver or other staff member of a care facility. Visit your older loved one as regularly as you can to see firsthand how they are doing. If you detect any change in their physical condition or behavior, alert the administrator of any facility where they reside. Accompany older loved ones whenever they go shopping or go to the bank or have any sort of meeting about financial matters. You can be there to protect them from outright theft and the problems they may get into if they are sold an unsuitable investment or insurance product like an annuity. Perhaps most important of all, if you suspect anything wrong, do something about it right away.
Contact Us
Ingrid M. Evans represents elder and dependent adults in Napa and throughout California who are victims of any kind of financial exploitation or other abuse. Ingrid can be reached at (415) 441-8669 or TOLL FREE 1-888-80EVANS (888-503-8267), or email us at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the reported case in any way.
