The Guardian Blog

Nursing Homes versus At Home Care

Soraya Dadras — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:47 -0700

It is never an easy decision to put your loved on in a nursing home. Many families walk through the halls of a nursing home and feel tremendous guilt for admitting that they are unable to care for their loved one properly. When families tour nursing homes they often feel like they are cold and impersonal and with such a high cost of admitting your loved on in a care facility it’s no wonder why there is so much hesitation.

Those who decided to take on the caregiving themselves, often find themselves wishing they had considered the financial burden they would be carrying. According to statistics, there are 10 million people over the age of 50 who are carrying for their parents. The number has tripled over the years due to the advancing technology and the increase of human life longevity. The average cost of putting your loved on into a care facility averages about $43,000 a year.

Many people argue that Congress should provide tax cuts for individuals who decide to be an at home caretaker for an elderly person. Without people who take on this responsibility, Medicare would be paying billions of dollars caring for the elderly and providing homes for them. If you are considering assuming the caretaker role for your loved one or debating a nursing home, it is important to evaluate the costs and which option is best for your family. With a bleak job market, quitting a job for care-taking full-time can jeopardize a families social security. Discuss all your options with your loved ones so you can make the right decision for your emotional and financial situation.

High Tech Elderly Apartments

Soraya Dadras — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:01 -0700

For most elderly, the idea to leave home is scary and undesirable. Living on your own represents independence and sometimes the last remaining piece of their life that they want to hold on to. Unfortunately for most aging Americans, living at home becomes increasingly difficult because they are unable to care for themselves health wise. Even if the elderly were able to live with loved ones, they often find it difficult to feel at home again.

In order to solve this growing problem, many families have purchased MedCottage, a prefabricated 12-by-24 foot bedroom-bathroom-kitchenette unit that can be placed as a freestanding structure in a backyard. The MedCottage serves as a miniature house but has all the amenities of a nursing home and sometimes exceeds what the nursing homes offer. The floors are rubber in case of falling, and the apartment is even maneuverable for elderly folks in a wheelchair. The MedCottage’s are equipped with appliances and a large bathroom with utilitis and regular plumbing that could connect to the primary residence. The mini apartments also has great hi-tech features that make any task for your loved one safer, like a light up runway for the late night trips to the bathroom. While there are camera’s in place, the apartment does not violate privacy as it only transmits images of feet and ankles.

The cottage is even great for patients who require more extensive medical care. It can remind the patient to take their medicines and automatically send a text message to the caregiver if the loved one forgets it. It tracks all vitals if needed and can even share the changes of health to the physician.

While only a few families are able to afford MedCottage’s, it is clear they have advantages and appeal to elderly who want their independence and privacy.

Nurses Accused of Faking Blood Tests

Soraya Dadras — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:39 -0700

For many elderly patients who reside in nursing homes, they often rely on blood work to maintain their sugar levels. This is often the responsibility of the nurses in a nursing home, and when you trust your loved one in the care of a nursing home, you trust that these levels are being monitored. In one nursing home, two nurses were skipping these tests and fabricating the numbers of the insulin levels of the patients.

The investigation began after patients had stated not remembering if they had their sugar checked recently or if they had received their insulin. The Department of Health had investigated and established that the fabricated numbers were being used as the basis of whether or not to administer or deny insulin to these residents. The administrator of the local hospital stated that none of the residents were harmed as a result of the fabricated numbers. No criminals charges have been filed against the nurses and the nursing home have terminated the nurses due to the findings.

Your loved one relies on nursing home staff to monitor their health and trusts that they are receiving the medicine they need. Fabricating these numbers could have compromised the health of your loved one and jeopardized their life. Nursing home administrators should be constantly checking if these tasks are being performed and perform routine random checks that their staff is performing their job correctly.

Caretaker Steals Medication from Nursing Home.

Soraya Dadras — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:46 -0700

Medications are expensive and crucial to your loved one’s health and well-being. They represent a piece of their care that they need to live and maintain their quality of life. When those medications are stolen from them, not only is it a financial strain, but it is compromising their health.

In a local nursing home, a caretaker left patients alone while she attempted to sell them door-to-door. The 42-year-old woman was arraigned on charges of drug possession, possession with intent to delver and theft by unlawful taking and reckless endangerment. The police discovered the illegal activity of the caretaker when a resident had reported that a woman had come to her door and tried to sell her pain medication.When police arrived at the nursing home, they saw the caretaker matching the description the elderly woman had given to police. When the personal-care homeowner conducted an investigation of the pain medication, she uncovered that ten pills of morphine were missing.

Nursing home caretakers are put in charge of your loved one’s medication because they have to maintain a standard of care. The nursing home promises that it will be as comfortable and as safe as a home. When these issues occur that risk the health of your loved one, it can be very infuriating. If your loved one’s medication was compromised at a nursing home, contacting a professional is your best option for compensation

New Nursing Home Being Built for Elderly Gays

Soraya Dadras — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:00:49 -0700

In Philadelphia, construction has begun on the development of one of the country’s only affordable nursing homes aimed for gay elderly. After many delayed problems with tax credits the long-awaited project has now begun. The $19 million project will have 56 units and is being built near an area that has a predominant gay community.

There was a need for this type of nursing home because many gay, lesbian, and transsexual elderly are afraid that they will face discrimination and disrespect by nursing home workers and other residents. This provides them a safe place to be taken care of and allow them to not feel judged. When this type of housing is not available for gay elderly, they often go back to being secretive about their sexuality even after years of being open about it.

At least 1.5 million gay elderly reside in the United States, a number that is supposed to double by 2030. In the United States there are many types of elderly care. There are many facilities that accommodate different types of populations and help elderly feel comfortable and secure. If your loved one needs unique accommodations or has concerns, it is important to discuss these concerns when shopping for a nursing home. Research and discuss your concerns with the nursing home staff so that your loved one feels taken care of. The transition from a home to a nursing home can be difficult enough without having your loved one feel like they can’t be themselves.

Nursing Homes Unprepared for Emergency Evacuations

Soraya Dadras — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:00:01 -0700

Natural disasters can occur anywhere, 1.2 million nursing home residents reside in disaster prone states. In Arizona, there have been previous issues with wildfires, floods and hurricanes. Most families assume that medical care facilities have a plan for those instances, and that their loved ones are safe should they ever encounter a natural disaster in a nursing home.

In many cases they have consulted with proper authorities for a game plan. Certain steps like notifying relatives and pinning name tags and medication lists to patients are just a few examples of the details that are being left out of evacuation plans. Transportation was another big issue, with some contacts not updated or provided. There was also a lack of planning for patients who required wheelchairs or oxygen, or patients who had a tendency to wander off. Some states are pushing for Medicare and Medicaid to add specific emergency planning and training steps to existing federal requirements. While some Medicare officials wrote written letters to address to the issue, they left no timetables or deadlines for facilities to correct the problem.

Nursing home patients are extremely vulnerable and require special accommodations in emergency evacuation situations. When a facility fails to plan for these types of circumstances, the lives of the elderly individuals are put at risk. Inquiring about emergency evacuation procedures might be a step to finding out if your loved one will be safe at the facility, but there is really no way to know how the facility will handle a natural disaster. If your loved one was victimized by a nursing home failing to respond effectively to a natural disaster then contacting a professional is your families best option for compensation.

New Bill in Arizona to Limit Attorney Fees in Elder Abuse Cases

Soraya Dadras — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:00:24 -0700

In Phoenix, AZ, a new bill has been sent through legislation that would ultimately limit the awards given for attorney fees in elder abuse cases. The bill titled House Bill 2560 would remove the opportunity for attorney fees to be included in any awards for civil cases of elder abuse or abuse of a vulnerable adult.

There are multiple ways to view the potential results if this bill were to be enacted into law. On one hand, it would prevent unnecessary cases from being brought to court. However, it could also prevent elderly and vulnerable individuals in serious need of legal assistance from getting the help they require and deserve. Attorneys may have to be more selective regarding the cases they take on because certain cases may prove to be large expenses that the clients may not be able to cover. As a result, many people who are in desperate need of legal assistance may not be able to find it. This could put a tremendous burden on those victims who suffer serious physical, emotional, or financial abuse from others.

Others may view this potential law as a means of preventing law firms and courts from making an example out of certain elder care or assisted living centers. In some elder abuse and vulnerable adult cases, the facilities where the victims are being abused are charged inordinate amounts of money in connection with the suit for compensation for the victims. However, in many of those cases, a significant portion goes toward attorney fees. If this potential law can prevent this from occurring and allow a larger portion of the money to go to the victims who rightfully deserve compensation, this law could turn out to be a good thing.

50-Year-Old Man Arrested, Accused of Raping Elderly Woman

Soraya Dadras — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:00:20 -0700

A 50-year-old California man has been arrested and charged with four counts of sexual assault and counts of kidnapping and elder abuse. The 50-year-old man was a custodian at an apartment complex and he had been accused of raping a 65-year-old woman living at the complex.

The elderly woman said the man had gone to her home and said he needed to do some repair work in the home. After entering the home, the woman said he attacked her. The woman waited 2 days before reporting the crime to police. The perpetrator is currently being held in custody on $500,000 bail and will be arraigned at a later date.

Similarly to nursing homes, employees at apartment complexes or other residential locations have easy access to victims causing abuse against them. Unfortunately, not many crimes of elder abuse in apartment complexes or nursing homes are reported and the victims subsequently don’t get the care or compensation they deserve. In this incident, the man accused of raping the 65-year-old woman not only used his authority as a maintenance person in order to take advantage of the elderly woman in question. Some might question why the elderly woman took 2 days to report the crime to authorities but there could be several reasons why this occurred.

In many cases, victims of elder abuse and neglect often choose not to report these crimes because they are scared of the repercussions from the perpetrators. However, this should never stop victims from reporting the crime early enough to prevent the perpetrator from continuously committing the crime against the same person or against others. There is a lot at stake for both current and potential future victims of elder abuse and the perpetrators of such crimes should never be allowed to commit these horrendous acts.

Nobody should ever have to face this kind of treatment from anybody in a position of authority or someone who claims to be trying to assist the victim in some way. It is terribly tragic when an elderly person faces serious physical, emotional, or financial abuse at the hands of a person who claims to be trying to help them as was the case in this instance. Fortunately for the victim in this case, she will get justice on her behalf against the man’s horrible actions. Any victims of elder abuse deserve the right to legal assistance from an attorney who can get compensation and justice for them.

Virginia Woman Makes it Her Mission to End Elder Abuse

Soraya Dadras — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:00:42 -0700

A woman in Virginia has made it her mission to prevent elder abuse and ensure law enforcement can be aware of the differences between elder abuse and neglec t and self-neglect; ensuring that they can prevent it and help those in serious need. This comes after the woman helped get assistance for her grandparents who were being severely neglected by her uncle. The woman’s grandparents were discovered by police in their own waste and severely malnourished.

The woman’s uncle was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his negligence. The woman is hoping to bring attention to cases like this and have a positive effect on changing the laws currently in place to bring about harsher punishments and make it easier for law enforcement to recognize the signs of abuse. The woman currently travels throughout Virginia speaking out against elder abuse and how to spot the signs.

This woman’s actions are extremely commendable. The fact that this woman dealt with elder abuse and witnessed it against her own grandparents might only serve to strengthen her resolve in ensuring nobody else ever faces the same treatment. There is no rhyme or reason why a person would choose to neglect the elderly for anything other than simple cruelty. The woman in this instance has seen the horrible consequences that can happen to victims of elder abuse and it is commendable that she would try to put a stop to it across the state of Virginia to start. If more and more people took this approach, there could potentially be enough attention on the subject to warrant lawmakers redrawing laws in order to prevent more significant elder abuse cases from occurring. In addition, it could also bring about stricter penalties against perpetrators of elder abuse whether they commit physical, emotional, or financial abuse.

The harsher the penalties are against elder abuse, the better chance people have of getting the assistance they need and the better chance they have of getting justice on their behalf. In addition, the perpetrators will get the punishment they should have for their actions causing physical, mental, or financial harm against elderly individuals who most likely cannot protect or support themselves in any way. The important thing is to redefine laws so that victims can get assistance from an elder abuse attorney and get compensation and justice for their pain and suffering.

Two Plead Guilty to Elder Abuse, Involuntary Manslaughter

Soraya Dadras — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:00:56 -0700

In Napa Valley, two people originally indicted on charges of murder and elder abuse connected to the 2010 death of a 92-year-old woman have now been released from jail after pleading guilty to lesser charges. The two were originally indicted on charges of murder and elder abuse and spent 18 months in jail in connection with those charges.

Now the two have pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and elder abuse under a new agreement. The new plea agreement would bring a 3-year prison sentence for each count but the two may not have to face any more time in jail following their previous 18 months. The two have been released from jail and they will be facing sentencing for the new agreement in April.

The man and woman were originally charged after the death of the man’s mother as a result of complications from a fall. In the original instance, the two had simply neglected the elderly woman and left her to die. This sort of action should always be punishable by law and the perpetrators of such actions should always be brought to justice as this couple had been. Some might argue that the new sentence is far too lenient for the negligence they purposely and willfully committed. However, the important part of this incident is that the elderly woman who lost her life as a result of their negligence would still have justice on her behalf. Unfortunately, she will never get to witness that justice and no amount of punishment for the perpetrators can ever bring her back.

There will always be heartless people who choose to neglect the elderly in one way or another or abuse them either financially, physically or emotionally. This incident is only one of thousands of cases of elder abuse that police discover. In the original case, nobody reported the incident of abuse until the woman was discovered nearly dead. This is the problem with many elder abuse cases; either nobody tries to report them or they are discovered when it is already too late and the victims have already suffered irreparable damages or lost their lives as a result. Elderly individuals do not deserve to be physically, mentally or emotionally harmed as in this and many other incidents. Anybody who suffers in this way should contact an attorney who can help them bring legal action against the perpetrators.

New Provision to Potentially Prevent Elder Financial Abuse

Jessica Navarro — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:07:34 -0700

In Jefferson City, Missouri the Senate has endorsed a bill that would make it a crime to use their position of authority either by way of guardianship, power of attorney or some other management role to use that authority to take advantage of the elderly. If a person is caught stealing money or otherwise using their position of authority as a way to take advantage of an elderly individual and taking money intended for nursing home expenses, that perpetrator will be ordered to pay back any financial damages to the nursing home to which the money was intended to begin with. The bill has been approved in the first steps in the process of procedure in the Senate. There is no other information on when the bill will be making its way through the Senate in the future.

Bills like this one could easily become tremendous assets in preventing elder abuse and neglect, but the important key to making bills like this work is for elder financial abuse to be reported. If a crime of abuse goes unreported, this bill will not go very far in extending justice to the victims of such crimes. However, when this bill is effective, it will provide significant assistance to elder residents of nursing homes who are being abused financially. When a person steals money intended for an elderly person’s nursing home expenses, they could potentially take away necessary care for the victims from those nursing homes. Bills like this one will ensure that never happens and the nursing homes get paid for providing essential care to the elderly victims.

Nothing should ever get in the way of an elderly person’s care from a nursing home or assisted living center. Taking away important finances from an elderly person and using it for your own personal gains is not only selfish but it is a horrible act that should never be committed. If this bill is set in place, it will prevent these types of crimes from occurring in the first place and it will reduce the strength that perpetrators of elder financial abuse have over their victims. If they lose the upper hand against their victims, it will be the first step in ensuring they are brought to justice for their crimes.

Ex-Nursing Home Administrator Agrees to Pay Nearly $900,00 in Settlement

David Boyles — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:00:13 -0700

An ex-nursing home administrator in New York has agreed to pay nearly $900,000 in a settlement stemming from an embezzlement case. For years, Ruby Weston, who operated two nonprofit Brooklyn nursing homes, steered money, mostly from taxpayers, intended for patient care to herself and her family.

Weston's financial improprieties were first reported by the New York Daily News in 2004. Then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed a civil lawsuit against Weston two years later and after years of legal wrangling, she has finally agreed to pay a settlement of $871,000.

While Weston's two nonprofit nursing homes, Marcus Garvey Nursing Home and Ruby Weston Manor, were non for their substandard care, Weston paid herself a $500,000 salary and paid a $1 million salary to her son for IT work. In addition, Weston used funds from Marcus Garvey to pay for her apartment, furniture, health club membership and cars. Even after the lawsuit was filed, Weston remained in control of both nursing homes, eventually being removed from Marcus Garvey in 2008 and Ruby Weston Manor in 2010.

Under terms of the settlement, most of the money will be go to Marcus Garvey and go to improving care. Ruby Weston Manor will be sold to a for-profit nursing home company.

Illinois Nursing Home Bill Tries to Undo Reforms

David Boyles — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:00:15 -0700

A bill unanimously passed by the Illinois legislature has angered nursing home abuse advocates and seems poised to undo many of the positive reforms created by the state's landmark 2010 nursing home abuse law. The bill would make it more difficult for the state to cite and fine nursing homes after a resident has been injured or killed.

The bill was suggested to Illinois lawmakers by Petersen Health Care, which operates more than 60 nursing homes in the state. Petersen claims the bill will create more consistency in the way higher-level violations are cited and fined. The bill would add an extra review to determine if the fine or citation is in line with punishments for past similar violations.

However, while Petersen and the law's supporters claim this will just make the process more consistent, nursing home abuse advocates claim that adding another layer of bureaucracy will just slow down the process and result in fewer nursing homes being cited or fine for injuries or deaths caused by abuse or negligence.

This case illustrates that while elderly rights activists have made great strides in the past few years, they are still up against a nursing home industry that has financial and political clout. This means that residents and their loved ones need to continue to be vigilant in detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.

Elderly Woman in Wheelchair Left Alone For 18 Hours

Soraya Dadras — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:00:41 -0700

Many elderly individuals depend on a caretaker to help check on them and do daily tasks. Elderly who have caretakers do not have a someone who can help them on a daily basis and they rely on the consistency of these programs working. In some cases these programs for caretakers fail, compromising the health of your loved one. An 85-year old woman who was recently hospitalized because she had fallen in her home was supposed to be checked on by a caretaker three times a day.

The woman who suffered from diabetes and infirm was having trouble with the organization that was supposed to come three times daily. On various occasions the caretakers were unable to gain access to the home, stating they had trouble with the entry code that had been provided to them multiple times. Since the elderly woman is wheelchair bound, the woman is unable to allow anyone to come in who rings the doorbell. So when one caretaker attempted to come in without the code, she left with no success. This meant that the elderly woman was trapped in her chair for 18 hours until the next visit. The woman was disoriented and stressed when she was found with no food or drink, unable to go to the bathroom and unable to turn the lights off.

This situation is extremely upsetting for the family involved and understandably so. You put so much trust in caretakers to have the right information and to do everything they are supposed to do in terms of taking care of your loved one. This kind of situation can be traumatizing for an elderly person and they should never have to endure that kind of treatment. The best course of action to take in these difficult situations is to contact a legal professional to consult your options.

Elderly Woman Dies from Getting Caught In Escalator

Soraya Dadras — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:00:10 -0700

There are many locations that can cause a personal injury to an elderly individual. Elderly men and women are more prone to falling and accidents, which makes safety a primary concern for most business owners. One elderly woman who fell on an escalator in a railroad station was killed after her clothes entangled within the escalator as she suffered from asphyxiated.

A preliminary investigation is occurring with the railroad station. The railroad station released a statement stating that inspection officials approved the escalator back in February, although it is now out of service. The escalator was inspected monthly and is maintained in good operating condition according to the statement released by the train station. The woman who passed away was 88-years-old and it is unknown whether or not she suffered from any health ailments. Flowers and burning candles are now near the escalator in memory of the woman.

Elderly folks have to be very careful when they are traveling or when they trying to get around. Talk to your family members about safe routes if they are prone to falling or try to find someone to accompany them in public places. Try to encourage elevator use may also help avoid these type of instances from occurring. If this type of machinery harmed your loved one, it is possible that there was a mechanical problem that was overlooked. Contacting a professional is the best option to help investigate the cause and who is at fault.

Singing Group Brings Joy To Elderly

Soraya Dadras — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:00:48 -0700

In most cities, there are local activities for elderly folks to engage in and to be a part of that can help them cope with loneliness or depression. In one city, The Traveling Troubators is a local singing group that travel to various nursing homes and care centers to spread joy and love through their cheerful melodies.

There are currently 19 individuals ranging in ages 70 to 92 years old. The group formed in 2007 and meet every week to rehearse and prepare for upcoming shows. Every Thursday the local singing group performs new songs to nursing home residents. Many of the members of the Traveling Troubators have never sang in public before and would therefore be perfect for any

elderly person

to join. The group is also emotionally rewarding because they are bringing a personalized form of entertainment to nursing homes that do not have many options. It takes the group two months to get through the entire rotation of all the different nursing homes in the area. In most cases, the individuals in the nursing homes suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s and the music helps to trigger memory.

These types of groups and organizations are a positive influence on the elderly community. Not only can they provide an activity for them, but they are also providing an escape for nursing home residents with a music show. If you or a family member is in a local nursing home, there should be local activities and groups to join.

Nursing Home Assistant Snaps Pictures of Elderly Genitalia

Soraya Dadras — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:00:45 -0700

As you get older, you start to depend on others to take care of your basic needs. Suddenly bathing, going to the bathroom and changing clothes can be extremely difficult. You trust that a nursing home staff member will protect you from humiliation when you are at your most vulnerable.

In a shocking turn of events, a 26-year-old nursing home assistant and her friend were charged with third degree invasion of privacy for allegedly taking a photo of an elderly resident’s genitals and posting it on Facebook. The two women were also charged with third degree conspiracy. Prosecutors of the case stated that the nursing home assistant took a picture of the genitals and sent to her friend, and then friend then posted the photo on Facebook. The nursing home fired the assistant immediately after they were notified. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is now conducting an investigation on the incident in order to ensure that this humiliating circumstance never happens again.

With the internet becoming the most popular form of communication, it is easy to understand how one can be paranoid and scared about the privacy of their care. It is important to discuss with your nursing home how your privacy will be protected and report any suspicious behavior that you are noticing from the staff.

Deadly Fight Occurs in Nursing Home Between Patients

Soraya Dadras — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:00:27 -0700

Nursing homes are supposed to provide a safe and caring environment for your loved one. When that safety is compromised leaving your loved one dead, your family has the right to pursue justice from those individuals who were negligent. In one nursing home, the staff failed to supervise two residents who had a history of violent behavior that led to a physical fight that left one of them dead.

The findings at the nursing home will be forwarded to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which can issue sanctions against the nursing home. The 80-year old man who died from head injuries was found lying on the floor and bleeding by nurses who heard yelling. The attack was ruled as “unprovoked” and medical examiners office ruled the incident a homicide even though no one has been charged. The two elderly men involved in the accident both had deteriorating health conditions, violent outbursts, wandering, and forgetfulness. The facility administrator and coordinator both stated that they were unaware of the history of aggressive behavior in both residents.

There are many precautions that could have been taken by the nursing home staff and administrators to prevent this horrible incident from occurring. A patient’s medical and behavior history should be a part of how they are monitored in the nursing home. All workers including the administrative staff should be aware of patients who could pose a threat to other residents. The nursing home should be held accountable for the death of this elderly patient because they failed to supervise the activity.

California Police Investigating 2-Year Long Elder Abuse Claim

Soraya Dadras — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:00:36 -0700

Fresno police have been investigating an incident of elder abuse for over two years involving a 55-year-old woman who had stolen several thousand dollars from at least four victims. The woman claimed she could help the victims through their long-term care by protecting their financial assets and helping them to qualify for Medi-Cal the state’s assistance program for low-income families, seniors or the disabled.

However, police discovered the woman had gotten the victims to deposit money into her own account. The discovery was made after police were tipped off by the company that the woman worked for. The company initiated an audit and found $80,000 that the woman had stolen from her victims. Police are requesting assistance from the public to determine if there are any other crimes the woman may be responsible for.

Incidents like this one occur very frequently because the authority that the perpetrators are granted over a person’s finances or general health give them the leeway they need to commit the crimes. It’s bad enough that the woman in this incident was able to commit this crime at all, but the fact that the investigation took two years, and the fact that she may have stolen money from several more victims besides those that had been discovered makes it much worse.

People often initiate different scams in order to gain the victims’ trust so they can either get into their homes or, as in this case, their bank accounts. Scams like this one demonstrate that people need to be careful who they employ or confide in to assist them with their financial situation. The best way to do that is to research the companies you talk with before making any sort of financial deal or entering into a contract that you ultimately are unable to get out of.

Elder Care Center Manager Suspected of Repeated Abuse

Soraya Dadras — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:00:25 -0700

The manager of a British Columbia elder care center is suspected of having committed acts of elder abuse after a police investigation of previous elder abuse incidents. 18 elderly individuals are currently staying at the facility where the building manager had been working since 2008. Last year, five elderly individuals stepped forward with complaints to the police about the abuse incidents.

The building manager was charged with threatening, intimidation and harassment of elderly individuals following the initial investigation into the alleged abuse incidents. After the three charges were approved by the RCMP, the building manager was removed from the building and was subsequently fired as the building manager. RCMP officers said one of the major components in the case is the fact that there were multiple residents who felt threatened in the poor environment they were in.

One of the most common concerns regarding elder abuse is physical or financial abuse, but psychological abuse is still very prevalent and it is a significant problem. Psychological or mental abuse is just as bad as physical abuse because of the mental trauma that often occurs for victims of abuse. In this instance, the five victims that spoke up to police were initially fearful of speaking out against the manager because they were afraid of the repercussions that would occur.

This is often the case with many victims of abuse whether they are victimized by physical or mental elder abuse. However, in order to get help of any kind, it is vitally important for victims to speak up and report any crimes of abuse. The fact that the building manager in this incident was able to get away with more crimes despite a police investigation shows the cold, uncaring nature of the person involved. Abusers should never be allowed to get away with harming innocent people. If you or someone you know has been injured or suffered psychological and/or emotional trauma because of elder abuse, you should contact an attorney who can help you get assistance and determine the right kind of legal action to take.