ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Abuse Alleged In Group Homes
Identity Theft And Stolen Belongings
Signs Of Neglect And Financial Abuse
Neglect of seniors often goes hand in hand with financial abuse when a dishonest caregiver or care facility, for example, is more interested in taking a senior’s money than caring for him or her. Seniors can be victims of neglect and financial abuse in their own homes when under the care of a dishonest caregiver. Seniors can also be victims in facilities like group homes where staff or even the owners may neglect and financially exploit residents as a recent case discussed below illustrates. Parties responsible for any form of abuse and neglect, and those who assist them, may be liable for their actions under California Law. See Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 15610.07 (definition of abuse), 15610.30 (definition of financial abuse including assistance with financial abuse), 15610.57 (definition of neglect), and 15610.63 (definition of physical abuse). If you or an older loved one has been the victim of financial elder abuse in the city of San Francisco or anywhere throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, call us at (415)441-8669 or toll free at 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Recent Case Example[1]
Police in a recently reported case have arrested a woman and are searching for more unlicensed community living homes following reports of alleged abuse, neglect, theft, and fraud toward clients. Prior to the arrest, police had been investigating a company running several senior group homes over the last few months. The company is supposed to provide supervised personal care for adults. The investigation was prompted by several allegations of neglect, theft, fraud, and abuse that have been linked to the owner and her company’s assisted living homes.
The owner of the group home and her staff are accused of failing to provide adequate care to the clients and preventing them from seeking medical attention. Investigators also believe the staff tried to cut off all communication between the clients and their families, using the clients’ debit cards to make purchases without their knowledge or consent including for vehicles. They are also accused of using resident’s personal information to complete credit card applications for themselves. They are also accused of keeping the belongings of dead clients, including phones and cars.
Protecting Older Loved Ones
It is important for families and loved ones of older persons, especially those under the care of others, to know some of the signs of abuse and neglect:
Signs of neglect
- Lack of basic hygiene, adequate food, or clean and appropriate clothing.
- Missing medical aids and cancelled doctor’s appointments.
- The person is often unsupervised.
- The person is confined to a bed without regular care.
- The home is overly cluttered, in disrepair, or fire and safety hazards are present.
- A home without adequate facilities (stove, refrigerator, heating, cooling, plumbing, and electric).
- An untreated pressure wound/ulcer (bed sores).
Signs of financial abuse or exploitation
- Old bank accounts closed and new accounts opened at banks who do not know the senior.
- Lack of amenities the person could typically afford.
- Giving excessive financial reimbursement or gifts for care and companionship.
- The caregiver controls the person’s money but fails to provide for their needs.
- The caregiver is overly concerned about the person spending money.
- Unexpected or unexplainable property transfers such as a power of attorney or a new will.
Families and friends of elders and dependent adults residing in any kind of facility or under the care of in-home caregivers need to visit and speak with them as often as possible to make sure they are not at risk of abuse or neglect by their caregivers. Keep confidential information (like Social Security Numbers) and cash, checks, ATM cards and cre4dit cards out of reach of staff. Never, ever, grant a caregiver a power of attorney or give them a blank check. Ever. If you suspect something is wrong do something about it right away. Call qualified elder law counsel who can pursue all persons responsible for any sort of abuse, and those who hired and supervise the abusers, including administrators and owners.
Contact Us
Ingrid M. Evans can represent you or an older loved one who has been the victim of financial elder abuse in the city of San Francisco or elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you need help, call us today at 415-441-8669 or toll free at 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).or by email at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. is not involved in any way in the reported case.
