As family members, entrusting the care of our loved ones to a nursing home is a significant and often emotional decision. We strive to find a place where they will be safe, comfortable and well-cared for. However, amidst the many compassionate caregivers and reputable facilities, there lurks a troubling issue that can greatly impact the well-being of our elderly relatives: financial abuse.
How does it happen?
Identifying its common forms
Financial abuse in nursing homes can manifest in different ways, and some of its usual forms include the following:
- Unauthorized use of funds: This happens when nursing home staff with access to a resident’s funds, bank accounts or credit cards use them without permission.
- Improper use of funds: This includes situations when staff have authorized access to manage a resident’s funds but misuse them for their own benefit.
- Theft of personal property: This can include stealing money, jewelry or other valuable items from residents.
- Coercion: Staff may manipulate or deceive residents into signing documents that give them access to the resident’s finances or pressure them into making financial decisions that benefit the abuser.
- Billing of unnecessary services: When nursing home management overcharges or bills residents for services they did not receive or do not need, it can be a form of financial abuse.
Imagine the distress of discovering that people you trusted have siphoned away your loved one’s hard-earned savings or that they manipulated them into signing over assets.
What can you do?
It is crucial to be vigilant and informed about the signs of abuse, may it be financial, emotional or otherwise, to protect our loved ones. By understanding the tactics used by nursing home perpetrators, you can take proactive steps to safeguard our elderly relatives’ well-being and ensure that their twilight years are spent in dignity and peace.
If the abuse has unfortunately happened to your loved one, it is advisable to reach out to a legal representative experienced in nursing home abuse cases to thoroughly investigate your case and develop strategies to hold the wrongdoers accountable.
