Nursing home abuse can take many forms, not all of them physical. One form of elder abuse that is not often talked about but is a major problem, particularly in nursing homes, is financial. Nursing home residents are vulnerable to getting bullied, wheedled, cajoled, or tricked into giving up money and valuable personal items. If you have noticed missing items that belonged to your loved one in a nursing home, an Oklahoma City missing money or personal items lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you take action against the responsible party or parties.
The Pintas & Mullins Law Firm team fights for nursing home residents and their loved ones. When elderly patients suffer abuse or neglect, we are here to hold the responsible parties accountable and make sure the victims recover full and fair compensation. Because the outcome of your case means as much to us as it does to you, we charge only for results, which means you do not pay us a fee until you get paid.
For a free case evaluation with a member of our team today, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm.
Types of Nursing Home Financial Abuse
Nursing home residents are uniquely vulnerable to financial abuse for a few reasons. One, many of them are not of sound mind, or at the very least do not have the cognitive abilities they possessed decades ago. Unscrupulous caregivers sometimes take advantage of residents’ mental decline, operating under the assumption that an elderly person who lacks sharp mental faculties will not catch their misdeeds.
Two, even if a nursing home resident still possesses a sharp mind, they are often entirely dependent on their caregivers and may feel scared or intimidated to speak up when they are mistreated. A caregiver may take advantage of this power imbalance by carrying out wrongful acts, such as stealing or perpetrating financial abuse.
If your loved one is missing money or personal items from a nursing home, and there is not a valid, reasonable explanation for their property being gone, they are likely a victim of financial abuse. Financial abuse in nursing homes covers more than just outright stealing. Here are a few additional types of financial abuse to watch out for, and put forth by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:
Bank Fraud
If your loved one leaves their wallet or personal items somewhere accessible to others, a dishonest caregiver may have access to their banking information, which the caregiver can use to transfer money into their own account or purchase items for personal use. You should monitor your loved one’s bank and credit card statements, remaining watchful for any transactions that do not look right.
Gifts for Caregivers
It is not your loved one’s responsibility to purchase gifts or give money to their caregivers, even for occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. A caregiver who takes advantage of an elderly resident’s generous nature or financial success by begging, wheedling, or cajoling for money or gifts is committing financial abuse. This includes situations where the caregiver has a legitimate financial need – such as a sick child or a home repair – and approaches a resident for help. Again, that is not the resident’s job, and putting them in a position where they feel guilty if they do not hand over money is abuse.
Insurance Fraud
A facility or caregiver may try to run an elaborate scheme where they get your loved one’s insurance company to pay for things they are not actually entitled to. Such a racket can come back on your loved one, though, if the insurance company denies the payments. You should stay on top of all billing performed through the facility to avoid any issues with insurance fraud.
This list is not exhaustive as financial abuse in nursing homes can manifest in many ways. If you think your loved one has been a victim, an Oklahoma City missing money or personal items lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm wants to help. We offer a free consultation and can get to work right away.
How We Can Help You Recover Compensation for Your Loved One’s Losses
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can fight for everything your loved one has lost. In cases like these, we can tabulate the value of their missing money and property, and if we cannot recover the property itself, we can fight for every dollar it is worth. We also understand that some types of personal property, like family heirlooms or gifts from departed loved ones, cannot be quantified in specific dollar values. In these situations, we can fight not only for the market value of the property but for additional compensation to cover your loved one’s emotional distress from the loss.
Our free initial case evaluation may go over the potential value of your claim to let you know what to expect in the weeks and months ahead. We can get to work right away collecting the evidence needed to make a strong case. If you and your loved one do not get paid, there is never a fee.
For a free legal consultation with a Oklahoma City Missing Money or Personal Items Lawyer serving Oklahoma City, call (800) 794-0444
The Statute of Limitations
Per Oklahoma Statutes §12-95, the statute of limitations on nursing home abuse lawsuits is typically two years but may vary for a number of reasons, so you may want to speak with a lawyer sooner rather than later. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can get to work right away.
Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Missing Money or Personal Items Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today for a Free Nursing Home Abuse Consultation
An Oklahoma City missing money or personal items lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm want to start working on your case today. We help nursing home residents and their loved ones take on abusive caregivers and collect compensation. There is no fee until we win. For a free consultation, call us.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
