Florida Man Arrested and Charged with Exploiting His 95-Year-Old Father Living in Nursing Home
Shortly before the resident in a Florida nursing home died in July 2018, his son allegedly transferred more than $100,000 from the resident’s online accounts and forged checks worth $29,000.
The authorities were brought into the case when the nursing home where the resident lived gave the son a “no trespass” warning in order to prevent the son from trying to secure his father’s signature on legal documents. The resident was declining in health and not able to see or read the documents. In their investigation, the police found that several months before the trespassing incident, the son had checked the resident out of the nursing home so that he could take him to the bank where he coerced his father into opening two joint accounts and also into signing documents removing his sister as the power of attorney for his father’s financial affairs in favor of himself.
The 59-year-old son was arrested and charged with one count each for exploitation of an elderly person and grand theft of $100,000 or more. He was released after posting bail of $10,000.
Compliance Perspective
Failing to report suspected financial exploitation of residents by family members may be considered a violation of residents’ rights to freedom from abuse, misappropriation, and exploitation and deemed provision of sub-standard quality of care in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures covering the responsibility of the facility to impose “no trespass” conditions on visitors and family members when there is a reasonable suspicion of coercion and exploitation occurring regarding the financial affairs of the resident.
- Train staff regarding abuse, misappropriation, and exploitation, whether from family members or others, and how to report it to their supervisor or through the Hotline.
- Periodically interview residents who are able to communicate about whether they may be experiencing financial exploitation. Also talk with staff members to determine if they have observed any potential exploitation or suspicious actions by residents’ family members or other visitors that might be considered abuse, misappropriation, or exploitation.
