Many elderly residents of nursing homes make the decision to keep control over their personal finances or want to have valuable, sentimental items with them in their new environment in a nursing home. Having valuable personal items may remind them of their home and bring them joy and comfort.
In other cases, nursing home residents may still have the mental ability to handle their own finances and estate planning documents. However, as elderly residents remain under the care of the nursing home staff, they may also remain vulnerable to having their money or personal items stolen by the nursing home staff, other residents, or third parties that visit the nursing home.
If you make the discovery that your elderly loved one in a nursing home was the victim of any kind of theft, consider how a Los Angeles missing money or personal items lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336 can help you and your family receive compensation for your losses.
Financial Abuse in Nursing Homes
Many people have the impression that the only type of abuse that occurs in nursing homes is physical and psychological abuse or neglect. The cases of physical and emotional elder abuse are always a cause for concern. However, families of loved ones in nursing homes should also consider the fact that financial abuse also takes place against elderly residents of nursing homes as well.
Any missing money or personal items of a resident in a nursing home is not only financial abuse, but it is also a criminal act. Learn more about some of the ways that financial abuse occurs in nursing homes to understand the signs of this type of abuse.
Missing Money
Many nursing home residents actually share rooms with other residents, or they have minimal privacy as nursing home employees are always allowed entrance. With the nursing home staff entering and exiting a resident’s room several times a day to assist with either repositioning, assistance with going to the restroom or other hygienic needs, or to deliver medication, food, or water, elderly residents often do not have a great deal of privacy.
Many elderly seniors like to have cash on them in case they want to have someone go to the store for them, participate in activities, or simply to have the feeling of financial independence. In other cases, a nursing home resident will continue to have access to their bank accounts or credit cards.
Nursing homes have the responsibility to ensure that the finances and possession of the residents remain safe and secure. However, outright theft of money can easily occur from nursing home residents by either the nursing home staff, other residents, or third-party persons that enter the nursing home facility.
Missing Personal Items
Many elderly residents keep valuable personal items in their private areas as a remembrance of their old homes. However, in some cases, these personal items can have a great deal of value. Any item worth a substantial amount of money can be an easy target for those who would seek to steal it to profit. Any expensive family heirlooms, jewelry, clothes, artwork, or other items could bring in cash to anyone who steals them.
Because the privacy of a nursing home residents remains minimal, it is always important to examine the living area of your loved one when you visit. If you notice that any personal items are now missing, visit with the nursing home management immediately. The nursing home should have an action plan regarding how to deal with any possible reports of theft from the rooms of residents.
If you believe that the nursing home’s negligence led to the theft of personal items from your loved one’s room, consider consulting with a Los Angeles missing money or personal items lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to help you determine your legal right and your possible next legal steps.
Steps to Take if You Suspect Missing Money or Personal Items Within a Nursing Home
The United States Department of Justice reports that financial abuse occurs among 5.2% of the elderly, along with other types of elder abuse and neglect. If you believe that your elderly loved one has any missing money or personal items from their area in a nursing home, you should first alert the nursing home management immediately.
If you feel that you are not getting the attention or response your loved one requires regarding this criminal act, you have the right to contact Adult Protective Services or 911. This is not only an act of financial abuse or neglect against an elderly resident of a nursing home, but it is also a crime.
You have the legal right to contact law enforcement if you believe that your elderly loved one is a victim of theft or financial loss. Having law enforcement engaged in the case can help add seriousness and immediacy to the issue, and perhaps make the nursing home realize the seriousness of the issue.
If your loved one experienced missing money or personal items, it is quite likely that other nursing home residents also suffered similar financial losses. Whether or not it was an employee of the nursing home, the nursing home has a responsibility to ensure that the residents of their facility receive supervision and care, and have an element of security and privacy regarding their possessions.
For a free legal consultation with a Missing Money Or Personal Items Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 842-6336
Consider How a Los Angeles Missing Money or Personal Items Lawyer Can Help You
If your elderly loved one discovered that any of their money or personal items went missing from their area in a nursing home, consider contacting our legal team for free at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336. We can help you understand your legal rights and help you with your next steps.
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