ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Elderly Hospital Patient Allegedly Victimized
Charges Of Credit Card And Identity Theft And Financial Elder Abuse
Families Discover Unauthorized Charges
Seniors at home under the care of in-home caregivers or in care facilities or hospitals are vulnerable to financial elder abuse by those entrusted to care for them. Anytime an unscrupulous caregiver or facility staff member can access a senior’s ATM card, credit cards, bank accounts, checks, or any financial information the risk of theft is very real. Financial exploitation of a senior is a crime and grounds for civil actions for damages and other relief. Penal Code § 368(crime of elder abuse); Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 15610.30(a)(1). Financial elder abuse is broadly defined in the Elder Abuse Act:
If you or a loved one has been the victim of financial elder abuse in Alameda County, San Francisco or anywhere in California, call us today at (415)441-8669. We will pursue all persons responsible for a senior’s injury. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Hospital Nurse Charged With Credit Card Theft And Financial Elder Abuse[1]
In a recently reported case, a hospital nurse was arrested for allegedly stealing credit cards from an elderly patient. The nurse was arrested following service on a fraud-related search warrant stemming from the report of credit cards stolen from an elderly hospital patient. The patient’s family reported unauthorized activity on the cards which led to the Sheriff’s investigation, warrant, and arrest. The suspect was a registered nurse at the hospital where the elder was being cared for. She was arrested for theft by credit card, financial elder abuse, and identity theft. The Sheriff’s investigation revealed she acted alone. The charges are pending.
Protecting Older Loved Ones From Financial Abuse
Several important steps can protect a senior from this kind of abuse. If you have an older one in the hospital or a care facility, make sure their cash and credit cards are not with them in their room. Remove all credit cards and cash from the home of any senior under the care of an in-home caregiver. Have financial statements mailed to your own address so others do not have access to you loved one’s business mail. Never, ever grant a power of attorney to a caregiver. Do not allow a caregiver to take a credit card to go shopping or an ATM card to go get a senior some cash; you’re only asking for trouble if you do. If you suspect anything wrong, do something about it right away.
Contact Us
If you suspect financial elder abuse of a loved one, friend or neighbor in Alameda County, San Francisco, or elsewhere in California, call Ingrid M. Evans at Evans Law Firm, Inc. at (415) 441-8669, or by email at info@evanslaw.com. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267). Ingrid pursues all available remedies for families and injured seniors against those responsible, including an award of attorneys’ fees and costs for the victim or his or her family. Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15657.5.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. is not involved in this case in any way.
