Northern California Nursing Home Elder Financial Abuse Lawyers
Nursing Home Elder Financial Abuse
In California, the elderly population is currently at six million, and by the year 2020 that number is expected to soar to nine million, according to the California Department of Aging. For the six million currently residing in California, elder financial abuse is a serious threat. Older individuals are often isolated in a nursing home, far from the careful watch of family and friends, leaving them vulnerable to financial exploitation by nursing home caregivers. At Estey Bomberger, our northern California personal injury law firm has been helping nursing home residents and their families seek compensation for nursing home residents’ monetary losses throughout the state. If a loved one has been the victim of financial abuse at a nursing home or in their own home by a caregiver, a skilled northern California elder financial abuse lawyer at Estey Bomberger can fight aggressively to protect the legal rights of your loved one and prevent any further financial abuse from happening.
What is Elder Financial Abuse?
Elder financial abuse occurs when a caregiver forces the nursing home resident to use their money or assets, against the resident’s wishes or best interest. Elder financial abuse can take many forms, including:
- A caregiver withdrawing money from the nursing home resident’s bank accounts
- A caregiver using the nursing home resident’s credit cards for unauthorized purchases
- A caregiver taking the nursing home resident’s valuable personal belongings
- A caregiver selling or changing the title on the nursing home resident’s property and car
- A caregiver changing the nursing home resident’s will, trust or inheritance to benefit them
- A caregiver using the nursing home resident’s name and credit to open new bank or credit accounts.
Nursing Home Elder Financial Abuse Indicators
Caregivers often place themselves in a position of trust to gain control of the nursing home resident’s money, real estate or life. The resident unknowingly will allow the caregiver to take advantage of them financially, either directly or indirectly. For example, a caregiver might marry the resident in order to access financial accounts legally (sweetheart scams) or coerce the resident in signing Power of Attorney over to them. Because nursing home residents may not be aware that they are being financially exploited or are afraid to discuss it, it is important to watch for the signs of financial abuse, which include, but are not limited to:
- Missing belongings
- Unexpected changes in will or trust that benefit the caregiver
- Unusual ATM activity that is inconsistent with the nursing home resident’s physical or mental ability
- Unusual or increased activity on credit cards
- Accounts have new authorized signers
- The nursing home resident does not understand the papers they are signing or does not comprehend the financial implications of changes to their will or trust
- The caregiver does not allow the nursing home resident to receive calls or visits from family or friends
- The caregiver is overly concerned about the nursing home resident’s finances
- Nursing home resident is reluctant to talk about financial matters
- Nursing home resident is fearful or depressed.
Free Consultation
If you believe that your loved one is a victim of elder financial abuse, consult a northern California nursing home abuse attorney to learn what can be done. The law firm at Estey Bomberger offers free, confidential consultations to review your elder financial abuse case and answer your questions, 24 hours a day. Contact us at (800) 890-6722 today to discuss your rights, options and obligations to obtain justice for the financial abuse (and other forms of nursing home abuse or neglect) that your loved one has suffered. We do not charge any fees unless we recover money for you.