ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Family Finds Thousands Missing After Loved One Dies
Elderly Woman Kept Thousands In Cash In Her Home
Police Allegedly Discover Large Deposits In Caregiver’s Account
While a dishonest caregiver may steal checks or credit cards from an elderly person, cash is likely the first target for any dishonest person. This is particularly true for older persons who may keep large amounts of cash in their home. Unlike checks or credit card use, stolen cash is harder to trace. But not impossible, as a recent case discussed below illustrates. Whenever an older loved one in your family has in-home care, be sure and keep cash, checks, ATM cards and credit cards, jewelry and other valuable objects safe and also keep all financial information and Social Security numbers out of sight. Older persons or dependent adults are not in a position to protect themselves against financial abuse or keep track of cash, checks, cards and other valuables. If they are deaf or confined to bed or a single room in their house, objects elsewhere in the home, or rooms themselves, can be searched without the senior’s knowledge. Evans Law Firm. Inc. can represent victims and their families against all wrongdoers including persons who may be responsible for hiring and supervising the dishonest employee in the first place, or anyone who assists the abuser in their financial abuse. We pursue all remedies available to the injured elder or dependent adult, which include awards of attorneys’ fees and expenses for bringing your case. Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15657.5. If you or a loved one has been the victim of financial elder abuse in San Mateo County or elsewhere in California, call us today at (415)441-8669. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Caregiver Accused Of Stealing $23,000 In Cash
In one recently reported case,[1] police have arrested the caregiver of a now deceased elderly person of stealing cash from the deceased victim’s home. The decedent was sick for many months prior to her death and was taken to the hospital, according to police. While there, she reportedly told her family about a place she had saved cash within her apartment. The family then went to the apartment and found $30,000 in a bag, along with a piece of paper that designated a portion of the money for funeral expenses, and the rest as a gift for the family, according to the arresting affidavit. When the woman died, the family returned to the place where the cash was saved and found only $6,600 left, according to police. This meant $23,400 was missing. Police spoke with multiple caretakers who worked with the woman before identifying the suspect. Police learned that the suspect was previously accused of victimizing another patient in by using the patient’s credit card even after the patient had died, according to the police affidavit. Investigators then began looking into the suspect’s bank records, which showed $13,000 worth of unexplained cash transactions, according to police. The caregiver has been charged on multiple felony and financial elder abuse charges and the case is pending.
Keeping Loved Ones Safe
We have seen similar cases where a large amount of cash kept by an elderly person goes missing after their death. If you have an older loved one under the care of an in-home caregiver, make sure they don’t have any accessible cash, checks or credit cards in the home. If the family had removed the cash from the decedent’s home in the first instance, the theft could have been avoided. Cash is not the only concern of course and keep checks and credit cards hidden as well. Even if you think you have all their bank and credit card information secure, continue to monitor credit cards and bank accounts online. Make sure financial statements are mailed to your own address so others do not have access to you loved one’s business mail. Track where your loved one’s Social Security and pension money is deposited as caregivers or others may divert those deposits if they can access the benefit accounts. Make sure financial information like account numbers and Social Security numbers are kept away from a caregiver’s glance. Never, ever grant a power of attorney to a caregiver or nursing home staff member.
Contact Us
If you suspect financial elder abuse of a loved one, friend or neighbor in San Mateo County, or elsewhere in California, call Ingrid M. Evans at Evans Law Firm, Inc. at (415) 441-8669, or by email at info@evanslaw.com. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267). Ingrid pursues all available remedies for families and injured seniors against those responsible.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the case in any way.
