Nursing homes provide essential care for the elderly, giving them a place to stay and offering round-the-clock care. Often, it can be difficult for people to look after ailing family members because of the demands of work or the full-time care their family members may need. In such circumstances, nursing homes may be the only option available to them.
Arkansas, a state bordering the Mississippi River, is known for its landscape and wilderness. The major industries in this state include transportation and forestry. Nursing homes are not rare here, unfortunately; neither are cases of nursing home abuse.
If someone you know is a victim of abuse, you should hire a nursing home abuse attorney in Arkansas to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Financial Abuse in Nursing Homes
Elderly people are at a higher risk of falling prey to financial abuse because they could be unaware of how fraudulent financial activities are carried out. They could also be physically or mentally indisposed, making it difficult for them to either comprehend or prevent financial exploitation.
Those in nursing homes could be isolated from the outside world and unaware of how the latest financial transactions work. This leaves them vulnerable to fraud. At a care facility, it could also be easy for strangers or caregivers to access credit cards or other financial documents, making it possible to steal cash or assets.
Elderly people could also be emotionally vulnerable, making it easy for employees of the care facility or others to pose as friends and easily earn their trust. This could lead to financial exploitation if these strangers convince them to sign up for a fraudulent service or grant them other financial favors.
Signs of Financial Abuse You Should Watch Out For
If you have an elderly relative living at a nursing home, there are a few signs of financial abuse that you can watch out for, including:
- Sudden or unexplained financial transactions.
- Changes to wills, with unusual beneficiaries being added.
- Excessive gift giving, especially to people they don’t know well.
- ATM or cash transactions that they normally wouldn’t or couldn’t do on their own.
- Bills that were paid show up unpaid.
- Missing property or valuables.
It is important to discuss the possibility of financial abuse with your loved ones, as it can help protect them. Have a conversation with them about their finances so that everything is in order and in trusted hands. You could educate them on the various ways people attempt fraud, preventing them from falling victim to similar scams.
You could also set up their finances in a way that you’re immediately made aware of any unusual transactions. It’s important to regularly check up on them to ensure they are in good health and being taken care of properly. Getting legal assistance to organize their finances can also be beneficial, further reducing the chance of financial abuse.
What Are Your Legal Options?
If you suspect financial abuse of someone you know at an elder-care facility or nursing home, there are legal options available to you. You can sue the nursing home and the caregiver for negligence. Most states have clear laws in place that protect elderly residents of care facilities and punish offenders with fines, jail terms, and criminal sentences depending on the severity of their crimes.
It would be in your best interest to hire a lawyer to represent you in such a case, as you will have to prove negligence in order to succeed. Nursing homes can be held liable for the actions of their employees through a concept called vicarious negligence. Evidence you can use in this case includes documents showing the illegal financial transactions or security camera footage of suspicious behavior.
