Physical, mental, and sexual abuse, as well as financial abuse, are all kinds of elder abuse. Many Americans are unable to care for friends and family members full-time and must rely on in-home caregivers, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities to provide care as our population ages, making it harder to safeguard them from growing incidences of elder abuse.
We may, however, take actions to protect our parents, aunts, uncles, and other loved ones from all forms of elder abuse, including financial abuse. Keep reading to learn more and then contact PLBH at (800) 435-7542 to speak to an attorney who can help you.
Financial exploitation can take many forms.
A caretaker has the potential to steal valuable goods from an old person, as well as cash and checks. He or she may persuade an elderly person to open a bank account in his or her name, or to take crucial actions like as placing his or her name in a will or signing over the title to property such as a home or car.
Visit frequently but inconsistently
Visiting frequently and changing up your visiting routine is one of the most effective techniques to prevent all sorts of elder abuse. Do not visit at the same time and on the same day; go at other times and on separate days so that the carers of your loved ones are unable to prepare for your visit.
Unpaid bills, excessive spending, behavioral changes, or a withdrawn mood are all red indicators to look out for. If you live too far away to visit on a regular basis, make frequent phone calls and ask someone who lives nearby to visit and report back to you.
Talk about finances
The next step in preventing financial abuse for your loved ones is to have an open and honest discussion about their finances and wishes. You’ll need to know about their financial condition and make sure that their desires are recorded while they’re still legally competent (particularly if they have dementia or another cognitive issue).
Find out who their lawyer is and double-check that all of their legal documents, including a power of attorney, a will, and other documents, are in order. This will aid in the protection of your loved one in the event that he becomes unable to make decisions on his own in the future.
Choose the right caregiver
When it’s time to choose a caregiver, make sure you receive references and properly examine all prospects. Long-term care institutions and in-home care providers are both guilty of this. You should choose a licensed organization that does criminal background checks if you are employing someone to offer care at a friend or family member’s home. Make sure that bank paperwork and cards are not easily accessible, as well as valuables.
Elder financial abuse has the ability to destroy a loved one’s life in their latter years. Financial exploitation is frequently coupled by other forms of exploitation, such as physical, emotional, or sexual exploitation.
You may help avoid elder abuse by following this advice and keeping an eye on your friend or family member to make sure they’re getting the care they need. If your loved one has been abused by a caregiver or a nursing home, you will need the assistance of an expert elder care attorney to obtain the compensation that your loved one is entitled to for his or her losses.
Our attorneys at PLBH have extensive experience defending families whose loved ones have been victims of elder abuse. We will research each case completely in order to seek compensation for your injuries, and we will never charge a fee until we recover money for you. To book a free consultation, call us at (800) 435-7542.