Nursing home abuse is often physical or sexual. Family members might notice that the abuse is taking place because they see physical marks – such as bruises or lacerations – on a loved one. These injuries are unexplained, and they realize that they’re being caused by one of the staff members at the facility.
But it’s important to remember that abuse can also be financial in nature. This is sometimes harder to discern because there will not be the same physical symptoms and signs. Family members need to keep a close eye on the elderly person’s finances to ensure that this is not happening.
Potential examples
Financial abuse can happen in many ways, but it’s often a form of exploitation. The worker knows that they are in a position of power over the resident. They use this position for financial gain.
For example, say that an elderly resident needs help getting to the dining room. A care worker may tell the elderly resident that they will only help them go to dinner if they give them a $10 tip. The elderly person does it because they have no choice; their mobility issues prevent them from getting to dinner on their own. But it doesn’t take long for this to become a common occurrence, and soon, the elderly person is essentially paying the worker directly for the services that they should receive simply because they live in the facility.
This could also be an issue if the facility is short-staffed. If residents know that there aren’t enough staff members to meet everyone’s needs, they could be manipulated to provide financial compensation to get preferential treatment for themselves.
These are just a few examples of how financial manipulation can occur. If you believe this is happening to a loved one, make sure you know what legal options you have.