When a senior is in a nursing home, they are vulnerable to many types of abuse. When someone has influence over a nursing home resident, or access to their financial information, they could take advantage of the senior. Financial abuse is considered one of the five types of nursing home abuse. An experienced attorney can help you take strong legal action when your loved one was the victim of financial abuse.
Nursing Home Residents Depend Heavily on Their Caregivers
Nursing home staff members have a significant amount of control over the people who rely on them for all aspects of their care. The nursing home resident may want to please the caregiver, or they may want to avoid angering them. The caregiver may be well aware of this power, and they could make financial requests. One such request is that the senior change their will to include the caregivers. They could also simply ask the resident to gift or loan them money. Manipulating a vulnerable senior financially is considered abuse.
Misappropriating Assets Is Also Financial Abuse
Nursing home residents may have money and other property accessible in their rooms. They have a legal right to have their property safeguarded. Unscrupulous staff members may steal money and possessions directly from the resident in a form of financial abuse. They may also take sensitive personal financial data that allows them to access accounts to take money or to steal the resident’s identity.
The Family Must Spot Signs of Nursing Home Financial Abuse
It is up to the family to look for signs of financial abuse and ask questions when necessary. Here are some things that could be indicators of financial abuse:
- Sudden changes to a will that includes someone outside the family
- Missing money from their loved one’s account
- Unpaid bills, even though the account should have had enough money to pay
- Unauthorized withdrawals from the senior’s account
- Their loved one’s stress and anxiety whenever the topic of finances is discussed
If a family thinks that something is wrong, they must take immediate action before any further harm is done.
Reach Out to a Peoria Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
Families need legal help when their loved one has been abused or neglected at a nursing home. The Peoria nursing home abuse attorneys at Nursing Home Injury Center work to get justice for families when their family member has been injured in any way at a nursing home. You can schedule a free consultation to discuss your case by calling 309-524-6900.
Source:
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/elder-financial-abuse/
