Placing your elderly family member in an assisted living facility or retirement facility can be a challenging decision for a family to make. Whether your family member requires care that you are unable to give or they live away from anyone who could provide them with care, an elderly care facility may be the best option for your family. Though this decision may be in the best interest of an elderly family member, there are real risks that should be considered and acknowledged when making this decision. Theft and fraud does occur to elderly adults and often by a close caretaker or assisted living facility employee.
The National Research Council Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect has reported that over 1 million elderly adults have suffered abuse or have been exploited by a caregiver. This shocking number includes a number of different types of abuse, one of which is theft and fraud. Cases of elderly theft can even be as extreme as involving kidnapping and other threatening behavior. Though this is not the norm in a elderly care facility, it is something to inquire about when visiting any facility.
Elderly fraud can be prevented if a family is aware of suspicious behavior by their elderly family member. This may come in the form of sudden, unexpected changes in bank account access or transfers of funds. This may also include a change in a will or other important document. Any checks that are written as "loans" or "gifts" may also indicate irregular financial behavior.
For more information on what you can do in a case of elderly theft, please visit the website of the San Antonio nursing home abuse lawyers at Stouwie & Mayo.
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