Financial abuse signs to look out for in nursing homes

On Behalf of | Nov 28, 2022 | Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect |

It can be difficult to identify financial abuse of nursing home residents in North Carolina. Often, the signs are subtle and easy to overlook. The good news is that it’s possible to identify certain behaviors that can indicate financial abuse of nursing home residents.

Change in spending habits

Nursing home residents usually have a set budget and spending habits. You may notice that suddenly the nursing home resident has started making more purchases than usual. This could be a sign of financial abuse, as it indicates that someone else is using the nursing home resident’s money without their consent.

Unexplained bank transactions

Unexpected transactions such as withdrawals or transfers from nursing home residents’ accounts are a sure sign of financial abuse. The nursing home resident may not be aware that these transactions are taking place, and someone else may be using their money without their knowledge or consent.

Missing personal property

Sometimes, nursing home abuse and neglect may lead to the nursing home resident’s personal property being stolen or going missing. If the nursing home staff or other nursing home residents are taking advantage of the nursing home resident, it may result in their possessions being taken without their knowledge.

Abrupt changes in legal documents, such as wills and trusts

This could include adding the nursing home abuser as a beneficiary or otherwise changing the document without the nursing home resident’s knowledge. In some cases, nursing home abusers may even attempt to change the nursing home resident’s will or trust in order to gain access to their money.

Generally, if nursing home residents are making unusual financial decisions such as giving away large amounts of money or signing contracts they don’t understand, this is a sign that they could be victims of financial abuse. It’s important to watch out for nursing home residents and be aware of these signs so that you can help protect them from this form of abuse.