Monthly Archives: July 2026

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER What is financial elder abuse? California broadly defines what constitutes financial elder abuse: (a) “Financial abuse” of an elder or dependent adult occurs when a person or entity does any of the following: (1) Takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER What is caregiver fraud? Caregiver fraud is a recurring form of financial elder abuse perpetrated on seniors by dishonest in-home caregivers or caregivers working in assisted care and skilled nursing facilities.  The fraud tends to start out relatively small – theft of a small amount of cash or […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER What does “elder abandonment” mean? Abandonment of an elder or dependent person is a particular form of elder/dependent adult abuse in California. “Abandonment,” as defined in the Elder Abuse Act, includes: “Abandonment” means the desertion or willful forsaking of an elder or a dependent adult by anyone having […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER What is caregiver fraud? Caregiver fraud is a recurring form of financial elder abuse perpetrated on seniors by dishonest in-home caregivers or caregivers working in assisted care and skilled nursing facilities.  The fraud tends to start out relatively small – theft of a small amount of cash or […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER What does the legal term “neglect” of an elderly person mean? Neglect is a particular form of elder abuse in California. “Neglect,” as defined in the Elder Abuse Act, includes: (1) Failure to assist in personal hygiene, or in the provision of food, clothing, or shelter. (2) Failure to provide […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Are seniors in skilled nursing facilities and other care homes vulnerable to sexual abuse? Yes. Statistics compiled by an elder abuse task force at the Department of Justice show that 20,000 incidents of sexual abuse, assault and rape in nursing homes have been reported to the authorities over […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Are there annual fees insurers charge in life insurance policies? Yes.  Most insurance carriers charge certain fees and expenses in each year of an indexed universal life insurance policy.  Sometimes these fees are referred to as cost of insurance (“COI”) or mortality rates or similar names.  COI rates […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER What is elopement? Elopement is a very dangerous, and sadly common, behavior pattern of Alzheimer sufferers and persons with other forms of dementia to wander away from their homes or facilities where they are living, whether a skilled nursing facility (SNF), residential care facility for the elderly (RCRE) […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER What is a financial power of attorney? Financial powers of attorney (POAs) grant full authority over a person’s financial affairs. The form for financial POA is found in California statutes. See Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4401 et seq. (statutory form for financial POA).  A financial power of attorney […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER What is meant by the legal term “capacity”? The legal term “capacity” is akin to the layperson’s idea of competence.  Minors, for example, are incompetent, or lack capacity, to sign legal documents.  Cal. Probate Code § 6100 et seq.  For adults,  person’s mental health and intellectual functioning are […]