Tulsa Nursing Home Financial Abuse Lawyer
Seasoned Legal Help for Tulsa Nursing Home Residents Suffering from Financial Abuse
Elderly and disabled individuals living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities can seem like easy targets for thieves, manipulators, and perpetrators of fraud or abuse. As seniors age and their mental capacity declines, they are vulnerable to many different forms of abuse. While many of us first think of physical or even psychological abuse, there are other ways that nefarious individuals may harm or take advantage of the elderly. Financial abuse is, unfortunately, extremely common among the elderly, especially in nursing homes.
If your loved one resides in a nursing home in Tulsa or anywhere in Northeastern Oklahoma and has been the victim of financial fraud or abuse, the Tulsa nursing home financial abuse lawyers at Levinson Law, P.C., can help you recover what was lost. We will work with you to ensure that your family member is not taken advantage of again, and we will ensure that whoever took advantage of your vulnerable loved one sees justice.
What is Financial Abuse?
Financial abuse can take many forms. The nursing home financial abuse lawyers at Levinson Law, P.C., will help you and your family recover after your loved one experiences any kind of financial abuse, including the following:
- Identity theft
- Scamming or threatening a person into transferring assets, including property, real estate, business assets, or cash
- Tricking a person into signing a document that they cannot read or process
- Manipulating a person into altering a will, trust, or other legal document
- Stealing checkbooks or credit cards
- Stealing items or money from a resident’s room or person
- Misusing a resident’s checkbook or credit cards, or tricking them into using their credit card or writing a check
Who Commits Financial Abuse of Nursing Home Residents?
Nursing home residents can be taken advantage of by anyone who can insert themselves into the resident’s life and present themselves as a person to trust. Strangers may be able to insinuate themselves into a resident’s life, but it is more common that financial abuse is committed by someone already in a position of trust or power. Friends, relatives, neighbors, caregivers, doctors, financial professionals, and spiritual advisors may all try to manipulate an elderly resident into an unwanted financial transaction.
Signs of Financial Abuse
It is important to be vigilant for signs of financial abuse if you know that your loved one is susceptible to undue influence. They may be unaware that they have been taken advantage of, or they may be too embarrassed to admit that they were swindled. If you notice any indicators of financial abuse, it is vital to start investigating as soon as possible to stop further harm and catch the people responsible.
Some signs of financial abuse include:
- Unusually large credit card bills
- Unusual and unexplained expenses
- A sudden drop in a person’s bank account balance or other financial holdings
- Receiving letters from collection agencies and other creditors
- Changes to a person’s spending habits, including stopping regular purchases or refusing to go out to eat
- Sudden stress or worry about money
While you should, of course, speak with your loved one first to determine if there is a reasonable explanation, if you suspect foul play, it is vital to take steps to protect your loved one. In addition to pursuing charges against a wrongdoer, you may want to take additional steps, such as setting up a power of attorney or multiple bank accounts to prevent future abuse. Speak with an elder financial abuse attorney at Levinson Law, P.C., to discuss your options.
Trusted Advice and Representation from a Dedicated Tulsa Nursing Home Financial Abuse Lawyer
If you notice anything amiss with your loved one’s finances while they reside in a Tulsa nursing home, you must act quickly. Your family member needs your help. The Tulsa nursing home financial abuse attorneys at Levinson Law, P.C., will help you investigate the care facility and determine if the staff, friends, family, or other third parties are manipulating your loved one into making inappropriate legal or financial decisions. If financial abuse has occurred, we will fight to ensure that wrongdoers face justice and that you and your family are appropriately compensated for any harm caused. Call Levinson Law, P.C., today to set up a free initial meeting, or use our website’s convenient contact form for a prompt, private response to your questions.