When visiting your loved one in a nursing home, you should look for signs of abuse or neglect. These facilities are often expensive, and we want to ensure our loved ones are being treated with care and respect. One type of abuse not always noticeable on a surface level but could prove detrimental to their future security is elder financial abuse. This kind of abuse takes place when someone steals money or other things of value from an older person. SIGNS TO WATCH FOR Is Your Elderly Loved One a Victim of Financial Abuse?
This person may slowly try and take control of your loved one’s finances by stating they are helping in some way. In some cases, they may even force or convince the elder to change their will so they become a beneficiary. Show caution if your loved one is sharing financial information with anyone who was not originally given access to their finances. STRANGE TRANSACTIONS OR TRANSFERS Not all financial abuse happens in person. The elderly are often targets for phone and internet scams that collect personal information or steal money outright. If you can monitor your loved one’s financial accounts, watch for unexpected transactions or transfers. It could be a sign that someone is taking advantage of them. Elder financial abuse is hard to spot because it can be committed by anyone: family, friends, financial planners, caregivers, and even strangers. There won’t always be physical signs. If your loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, they may not even realize anything strange is happening. If you believe your loved one has been financially abused, do not wait to take action. Report it to the Adult Protective Services, their financial institution, and law enforcement.
Thankfully, you can watch out for a few signs if you believe your loved one is being financially abused.
A NEW ‘BEST’ FRIEND When a loved one enters a nursing home, they don’t usually know many people, if anyone, who lives at the facility. If they don’t have people visiting them often, someone might take notice and try and take advantage of them. Any new friends your loved one may discuss should be under suspicion at first. These people may have gotten close so they could steal money or valuables from your loved one.
FACTOID STRANGE
Dolphins and Their Unique Teeth
The bottlenose dolphin is an extremely intelligent mammal. Dolphins are well known for their agility, playful behavior, and unique voices, but did you know that dolphins can have anywhere from 72–104 teeth? As bottlenose dolphins grow, they never lose their teeth. One strong set lasts them their entire lifetime! What is even more fascinating about the teeth of a bottlenose dolphin is that their main function is not to chew fish. The bottlenose dolphin actually uses its teeth to trap its prey! The fish are then swallowed whole.
TAKE A BREAK
While dolphins have become popular for their friendly disposition, they have been known to bite humans. Wild dolphins will bite when they’re angry, frustrated, or afraid. Dolphins at themed attractions have also been reported to bite guests. It’s something to think about next time you want to go swimming with dolphins.
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