Woman Facing Prison for Stealing From Nursing Home Resident

Nursing home abuse can happen in many ways. Many people think of nursing home abuse in a physical way, such as hitting, punching, or kicking. However, abuse can also arise in the form of financial abuse, such as stealing money from residents  and similar forms of fraud.

This is what happened in South Carolina. A woman is facing 15 years in prison for allegedly stealing more than $10,000 from a nursing home resident. The 43-year-old woman has been charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult and breach of trust with fraudulent intent.  Both of these charges can result in prison time.  The woman is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The financial fraud occurred at a nursing home in Columbia. The victim was a resident there. The woman who was arrested allegedly held a power of attorney for the victim. She misused this power, stealing at least $10,000 of the victim’s funds and assets for her own benefit.

The case was referred to the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) Unit. VAMPF, which is responsible for investigating the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals living in assisted living facilities and nursing homes, conducted an investigation in collaboration with other authorities.

Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult in South Carolina 

Exploitation occurs when someone knowingly and willfully misuses a vulnerable adult’s resources. This may include taking money or property without consent, coercing them into financial decisions, or manipulating legal documents like power of attorney, especially when that individual is acting in a position of trust (such as a caregiver, guardian, or financial manager). A vulnerable adult is someone over the age of 18 who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits their ability to care for themselves. This includes mental disability, physical illness, dementia, or age-related decline.

Is your loved one a victim? Here are some red flags to look for:

• Unexplained withdrawals or large transfers from the person’s bank account
• Sudden changes in financial habits, like ATM use when they don’t usually use cash
• Missing possessions such as jewelry, electronics, or cash
• Unpaid bills or eviction notices despite adequate income or resources
• Forged checks, suspicious signatures, or newly granted access to accounts
• Unfamiliar names added to bank accounts or property deeds
• Frequent loans to caregivers, family members, or new acquaintances

Contact Us Today

Nursing home residents are supposed to be safe. When staff workers and other people abuse and exploit them, it can lead to various damages.

Has your loved one been a victim of nursing home abuse? If so, contact the Columbia nursing home abuse & neglect lawyers from Simmons Law Firm. We are ready to stand up for you and your family and hold nursing homes accountable for the harm they allowed to occur under their roof. To schedule a consultation, give us a call at (803) 779-4600 or fill out the online form.

Source:

wach.com/news/local/woman-accused-of-stealing-10k-from-nursing-home-resident-shanna-v-brown-white-oak-manor-vulnerable-adult-medicaid-vampf