IS YOUR ELDERLY LOVED ONE BEING FINANCIALLY ABUSED? SOME SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR
SUDDEN CHANGES TO WILLS OR OTHER FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS It’s not uncommon for caretakers to develop feelings of entitlement toward the belongings of the seniors in their charge. This may cause some to forge signatures or coerce individuals into signing assets over to them. Look out for any changes in your loved one’s will, titles of possession, or other financial documents, and report any signs of attempted theft. If your loved one’s living conditions don’t seem to match their financial situation, that’s a sign that some of the money designated for their care is going elsewhere. Additionally, if you notice any valuable items that belong to your loved one are missing, it could be because someone trusted to care for them is stealing their possessions. BELOW STANDARD LIVING CONDITIONS AND MISSING ITEMS
Despite the lack of coverage on this subject in the media, financial abuse of the elderly is becoming increasingly common. And, while it is possible for strangers to scam seniors out of their money, sadly, people who a senior loves and/or trusts are more likely suspects in an elderly financial abuse case. They could be family members, or, if your elderly loved one is in a nursing home, a staff member. To make sure that your loved one isn’t the victim of financial abuse, look for some of these telltale signs. Many forms of financial abuse will have a sudden effect on your loved one’s bank account. Look out for any transfers or withdrawals of funds that deviate from their normal banking activities. Caregivers will sometimes write checks to themselves out of seniors’ bank accounts, and that activity should show up if you’re paying close attention to your loved one’s assets. UNEXPECTED BEHAVIOR IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT
With all this in mind, don’t let these potential risks stop you from getting your loved one to the facility best suited to help them. If you stay vigilant, report suspicious activity to the police, and contact Shuttlesworth Law Firm for information or help filing a suit, your loved one will get the justice they deserve.
TAKE A BREAK
FACTOID STRANGE THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS THANKSGIVING SONG
“Jingle Bells” is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. But did you know that it was originally written for Thanksgiving? While historians don’t agree on exactly when or where the song was written, song writer James Pierpont is credited as the composer, and he wrote it for his father’s Sunday School
class to sing for Thanksgiving. It proved so popular that they sang it again at Christmas, and the rest is history. Whether or not that means it’s okay to listen to Jingle Bells (or any Christmas song for that matter) before Thanksgiving is up to you.
(205) 322-1411 • 3
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online