Elder abuse in the nursing home can happen in a number of ways. One of these is financial abuse. And just like other forms of nursing home abuse (physical and emotional), financial abuse can have far-reaching consequences.
It is upsetting to imagine that someone would take advantage of a vulnerable nursing home resident to steal from them. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for caregivers to take advantage of elderly people in their care. If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of financial abuse, you need to look out for possible warning signs.
Here are three warning signs that you need to know if you suspect that someone is taking advantage of your loved one:
1. Unexplained changes to their will or life insurance
Everyone has a right to write their will and distribute their assets as they please. However, if your loved one makes a substantial revision to an existing will by including a new caregiver-beneficiary or if they transfer a large portion of their assets to a caregiver, then this should be cause for alarm. This is especially true if your loved one is suffering from a condition that is likely to impair their testamentary capacity.
2. Unexplained withdrawals from the loved one’s account
If account statements are showing that unexplained withdrawals are being made from your loved one’s account, then you need to ask questions. This could be indicative that someone, perhaps a caregiver, is stealing from your loved one.
3. Excessive monitoring by a caregiver
When a caregiver is abusing or taking advantage of a resident, they may insist on monitoring all interactions between the resident and their visitors, including family. If the nursing home is suddenly prohibiting you from meeting a loved one in private, you need to question why this is so. Chances are they are being exploited financially.
If you suspect that a loved one could be a victim of financial abuse in the nursing home, you need to figure out the legal options available to you.
