January 5, 2010

Woman Arrested on Charges of Financial Elder Abuse

A woman suspected of stealing $2,800 from a group of nuns has been arrested on additional charges of financial elder abuse and grand theft. The police have reason to believe that there are additional victims of the financial abuse. She allegedly stole donations from a group of local nuns who were evicted from their convent to free up money for a sex abuse settlement involving the Archdioceses. She took the reins of a group called Save Our Sisters that was accepting checks on the nuns’ behalf and allegedly deposited 10 checks directed toward the sisters into her personal account. Financial exploitation has become an all too common form of elderly abuse. To read more about the financial exploitation, please click the link.

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Posted In: Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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November 13, 2009

Ex-Caregiver Gets 4 Years for Stealing

The former caretaker for a 93-year-old retired Springfield, Illinois pathologist has been sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay $400,000 in restitution for stealing thousands of dollars from her employer. The 65-year-old criminal was convicted by a jury in September of financial exploitation of the elderly and financial exploitation of a person with a disability. While the caretaker worked for the woman she received “gifts” of thousands of dollars for herself and relatives, used the victim’s money for car repairs and used the money to buy a $43,000 van. She had already obtained the doctor’s power of attorney both for finances and for health care. The judge called the employee the “worst nightmare” for family members who have to depend on someone else to care for an elderly loved one. Financial abuse has become the most common form of elderly abuse. To read more about the Illinois elderly abuse, please click the link.

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Posted In: Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation, Nursing Home Abuse

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November 3, 2009

Woman Uses Power of Attorney to Rip off Elderly Man

A South Pekin, Illinois woman was arrested for allegedly bilking an elderly man out of cars, loans and his pension money. The 38-year-old woman was arrested for financial exploitation of the elderly, forgery and altering titles. In August, the son of an 83-year-old Pekin man called police saying he feared his elderly father had been the victim of financial exploitation by the father’s power of attorney. During the investigation, police learned that the woman had also convinced the victim to maker her his beneficiary at the time of his death. He had been coerced by the woman to take out loans on the homes he owned to help the woman open a business. Financial exploitation has become one of the most common forms of elderly abuse. To read more about the financial exploitation, please click the link.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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September 21, 2009

Woman Accused of Stealing at the Nursing Home

An employee at a nursing home was arrested and has been charged with stealing from the nursing home and several of its residents. According to the police department after the employee was arrested after the home’s chief long-term care officer reported the center had information showing an employee had been stealing. The woman was taken by the police where she was charged with theft by deception, theft by taking and financial exploitation of the elderly. The employee has been charged with stealing more than $4,000 from the elderly residents. She would take the money for the families and then not deposit them into the appropriate accounts. The police stated that the employee also stole from the facility be taking payment of services not provided to residents. The theft was not from the nursing home, but rather the individual residents. The nursing home stated that applicants go through criminal background checks and that nothing was found on the employee’s record. Criminal background checks are crucial to a nursing home’s process of hiring employees in order to guarantee that they are free from nursing home abuse. This case also highlights that financial exploitation has become one of the most common forms of elderly abuse in these troubling economic times. To read more about the financial exploitation, please click the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Abuse, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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September 13, 2009

Task Force Gives Advice on How to Protect Seniors

As the wife of Baby Boomers hits 65, the need for elder abuse awareness is hitting an all time high. Elderly people become vulnerable to financial abuse by relatives, caretakers and a range of helpers. Experts in preventing financial exploitation suggest the following safeguards:
 Never advertise for a caretaker, handyman or driver. You should find them through senior centers or other trusted sources
 Get references and hire companies to do a background check
 Make a plan as you age to find someone you trust with your finances
 Consider a professional conservator who has a financial plan that is registered with a judge
 Be careful with newfound friends
 Beware of salespeople who are trying to scare you into buying something at extravagant prices.
Follow these steps to avoid becoming a victim of elderly abuse. If you or a loved one has experienced financial exploitation, consult an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the financial exploitation, please click the link.

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Posted In: Elder Caregivers, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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September 12, 2009

New Legislation Passed To Protect Elderly

Financial abuse by someone that an elderly member trusted is now becoming a lot more difficult to do in one state. New legislation that went into effect radically changed the power-of-attorney document. Legislators believed that this elder abuse legislation comes at the perfect time, since financial abuse is one of the fastest growing areas of elder abuse. Now, the power-of-attorney is much more difficult to obtain. Both the principal and the agent must sign the POA and the signature must be notarized. The document specifically states that when you accept the authority to act as an agent, you create a special fiduciary relationship with the principal that imposes legal responsibilities until you resign or the power of attorney is terminated. The principal can also appoint a monitor to insure that they are not the victim of financial exploitation. It also makes it easier to bring a civil suit against an agent who has acted inappropriately. This new elder abuse legislation is extremely important in combating financial abuse, and should be implemented in Illinois. To read more about the new legislation, please click the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation, Legislation

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September 5, 2009

Caretaker Pleads not Guilty to Stealing From Elderly Employer

A woman pled not guilty today to charges that she financially exploited more than $15,000 for a 93-year-old woman for whom she was employed to provide at-home care. The 49-year-old employee is charged with elder financial abuse by a caretaker, a penalty punishable by up to four years in prison. The woman was arrested after her employer’s bank became suspicious about checks that had been deposited and contacted the police. The county’s prosecutor stated that the employee forged 42 checks totality $15,395 from the woman’s account. Financial abuse has become one of the most common forms of elderly abuse. To read more about the financial exploitation, please click the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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August 23, 2009

Woman is sentenced for Financially Exploiting Elderly Man

A woman who was convicted in June of financially exploiting and neglecting the care of an elderly man was sentenced to probation. While the judge believed that the woman was responsible for the financial abuse she also felt that the state bore as much responsibility for the elder abuse and neglect. The judge believed that the victim should have never been placed with the woman in the first place. The man had resided in the nursing home where the woman was employed, but in 2005 the family allowed the victim to move in with the employee, her husband and children. There was no regulation from the state, and the employee only needed the word of the elderly man in order to take over the man’s care and receive his Social Security payments. When the man was removed from the woman’s home, he was dehydrated, malnourished and covered in bed sores. It was evident that the man had not been receiving care for about nine months. This story highlights the need for more state oversight when it comes to the care of the elderly. To read more about the financial abuse, please click the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Abuse, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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August 15, 2009

While Economy Struggles, Elder Financial Exploitation is on the Rise

Advocates for the elderly are seeing more cases of financial exploitation of senior citizens as the recession wears on. This elder abuse ranges from taking advantage of an aging relative to fraud. One victim was financially exploited by her at-home care giver. The problem is that older Americans tend to have steady incomes and trusting hearts. Victims are also afraid to report elder abuse. There are many signs that a senior is being financially exploited. They include:
 Unusual bank activity, including withdrawals at ATMs the senior does not live near
 Signatures on checks and documents that do not match the senior’s signature
 Unexplained changes in spending patterns or unusual purchases
 Sudden change in who has power of attorney

To read more about financial exploitation, please click the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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August 6, 2009

Couple Steals Millions from Alzheimer’s Patient

A former doctor who had progressive Alzheimer’s disease and dementia was defrauded out of nearly $4 million dollars of her assets. The woman’s attorney has filed a financial exploitation lawsuit seeking $3.9 million in damages against the German couple who defrauded the former doctor. The elderly abuse lawsuit alleges that a German couple who owned a spa where the victim spent her last years used fraud and undue influence to financially exploit the victim. The lawsuit states that the couple illegally transferred nearly $4 million of the woman’s assets for their own benefit. It claims that the German couple was granted power of attorney over the victim’s affairs in 2007 and overseers of her will during her stay at the German spa. Financial exploitation has become one of the most common forms of elderly abuse. To read more about the elderly abuse, please click the link.

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Posted In: Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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August 2, 2009

Former Nursing Home Worker Arrested for Elderly Abuse and Theft

The former director of social work at a nursing home was arrested after being indicted by a grand jury on nursing home abuse and theft charges. The man was indicted for one count of willful abuse neglect or exploitation of a dependent adult, one count of theft over $10,000 and two counts of theft over $1,000. The man was employed at the nursing home when he obtained property and cash from a resident of the facility who was incapable of making financial decisions. The man was arrested after an investigation by the Bureau and the Field Examination Unit of the Veterans Administration. He is currently on bond. Financial exploitation has become the most common form of elderly neglect. If you or a loved one has experienced this type of elderly abuse, find an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the nursing home abuse, please click the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Abuse, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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July 26, 2009

Son Charged with Financial Abuse of an Elder

A man has been charged for financially exploiting his 77-year-old mother who suffered from dementia and was living in a nursing home. Since she moved into the nursing home 18 months ago, her 54-year-old son began cashing her pension checks, took out a reverse mortgage on her home, and wrote checks to himself for large sums of money. He was often seen accompanying his mother to the bank across the street where he would cash these checks. Bank officials noticed this suspicious activity and contacted police, who arrested him on one of his trips to the bank. This kind of financial exploitation targeting the elderly frequently happens when people take advantage of an older person’s weak physical or mental state. To read more about this case of elderly financial abuse, follow the link.

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Posted In: Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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May 12, 2009

Area Nursing Home Employee is charged with Theft

A nursing home employee has been charged with felonies in the theft of a credit card from a patient at the home. The police say the 25-year-old employee stole a credit card and then tried to get money from the ATM machine. A bank employee called the police to report suspicious activity and the man threw the credit card in the trash can. He was charged with grand larceny, tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of stolen property. Financial exploitation of the elderly has become all too common. To read more about the financial abuse, please click the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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May 3, 2009

Man Jailed for Embezzlement and Elder Abuse

A man is currently behind bars after the embezzlement and elderly neglect of his own mother. The victim was diabetic, deaf in one ear and blind in one eye. The man is charged with one count of embezzlement of a vulnerable adult, which is felony. Additionally, once inside the victim’s home investigators say they found trash, clothing and dirty dishes strewn about the house. There was no running water and no heat. There was obvious elderly neglect with the victim being found on a urine-soaked, maggot-infested sofa. When the investigators lifted up the couch a pool of urine ran down the sides. The man was taking the money she got in assistance and using it for himself. This is an example of both financial exploitation and elderly abuse. To read more about the elderly neglect case, please click the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Abuse, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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April 30, 2009

Caregiver Charged with Stealing from 86-year-old woman

A 49-year-old Illinois woman was charged with felony theft and 20 counts of felony forgery after she admitted to writing 20 checks from the account of an 86-year-old woman she was caring for. Prosecutors say that the elderly woman was financially exploited out of $740. When police arrested the woman she told officers she felt bad about writing the checks and meant to tell the family, but didn’t have time. If you believe you are a victim of elderly financial abuse, find an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the elderly financial abuse, please click the link.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation, Incidents, Nursing Home Abuse

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April 20, 2009

Three Accused of Extorting $100,000 from an Elderly Woman

Three people used lies and threats to persuade an elderly woman more than $100,000. The three became acquainted with the victim and came up with a variety of reasons why she needed to give them thousands of dollars at a time from her bank account. Once the flow of money stopped, the three started threats of violence against the elderly woman. They befriended her in the neighborhood so that they trusted them. The three have been charged with grand larceny, conspiracy and aggravated harassment. Experts note that elder abuse is far too common and typically committed by family members, caregivers or others who ingratiate themselves into the victim’s life. The 72-year-old victim would hand over almost $5,000 each month from her bank account. Scam artists and other abusers make themselves indispensable to elderly victims, who might need help or feel lonely. Financial exploitation has become all too commonplace across the country, including Chicago, Illinois. To read more the elderly abuse, please click.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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April 11, 2009

Illinois Man Accused of Defrauding Mother

A Lake County man who is oftentimes running for politics is facing charges that he swindled nearly $200,000 from his ailing mother. The man turned himself into Lake County, Illinois authorities on a warrant for theft over $100,000 and unlawful financial exploitation of the elderly. Both are Class 1 felonies. He is accused of taking $190,000 from his mother when he was supposed to be responsible for her expenses. The man was put in charge of her expenses after she became ill and other family members notified authorities that he may be misusing the funds for different purposes. Financial exploitation of the elderly is all too commonplace. To read more about the elderly abuse, please click the link.

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Posted In: Illinois Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation, Nursing Home Abuse

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April 7, 2009

Worker Accused of Stealing from Patients at an Assisted-living Facility

An elderly woman discovered that her two gold rings, one with a diamond-encrusted flower, the other a pearl was missing from her room at an assisted-living facility. Police say that the ring was stolen and then pawned by an employee at the assisted-living facility. The employee was also charged with using the credit cards of two other elderly residents to buy clothing, shoes and even hair extensions. She has since pled not guilty to larceny and credit card fraud. She has since been fired and ordered by the judge to have no contact with anyone disabled or over the age of 65 as a condition of her release. Financial exploitation has become all too-common place in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities especially in Chicago, Illinois. To read more about the stolen goods, please click the link.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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April 3, 2009

3 Women Plead Guilty to Crimes against a Nursing Home Resident

A trio of women pled guilty to crimes against a nursing home resident. The three women stole a nursing home patient driver’s license and social security card. She and the other defendants used them to obtain credit cards, cell phones and other goods and services totaling more than ten thousand dollars. All three women will have to pay restitution fines to the elderly victims. Financial exploitation of the elderly is becoming all too commonplace. To read more about the financial abuse, please click here.

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Posted In: National Nursing Homes, Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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March 25, 2009

Internet Scam Victimizes the Elderly

An internet scam that is sweeping the nation is defrauding many elderly residents. The scam involves elderly residents winning the lottery in foreign countries, and then being forced to transfer taxes upfront before the fictitious winnings are released. Authorities believe that these people are hustled over the Internet, and since the elderly are new to the Internet they grow confused and gullible. Additionally, banks need to be more attuned to the needs of the elderly. In this specific case, the bank released large sums of money to the elderly man after he informed them he bought property in Spain. Most banks are required to report suspected financial abuse of elders to Adult Protective Services or local law enforcement, yet this bank failed to do so. Financial abuse against the elderly can occur anywhere, including here in Chicago, Illinois. To read more about the financial abuse, please click the link.

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Posted In: Financial Exploitation, Financial abuse and exploitation

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The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.

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