Protecting SC Nursing Home Residents: Dealing with Financial Elder Abuse and Embezzlement

On Tuesday, February 10th, a resident of Chico, California was arrested and charged with financial elder abuse and embezzlement after reports were verified that he embezzled over $80,000 from a nursing home resident.

According to police officers at the Chico Police Department, Jeffrey McClure may have stolen up to $88,000 from a 91-year-old resident in the Oakmont Retirement Home. Officers received a complaint about potential financial elder abuse in September 2014. Police reports also show that family members contacted the police department out of concern for their elderly relative in the nursing home.

Statements indicate that McClure worked as a personal banker for a local bank, and after repeatedly meeting with the elderly victim, the man came to trust McClure with finances that she and her now deceased husband saved for their long-term care. McClure repeatedly visited her at the Oakmont nursing home, where she received long-term care due to an age-related dementia, preventing her from being able to care for herself. Police stated that she was not cognitively able to defend herself from financial elder abuse.

McClure reportedly prompted the victim to sign personal checks before handing them over to him, but to leave the “pay to” section, as well as the dollar amount, blank. He would then forge his own name and deposit high dollar amounts into his bank account.

“McClure had access to the checks because the elderly customer had authorized him to pay her rent and other expenses as agreed,” according to a press release from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. “Instead, McClure deposited the checks into his personal bank account and used the funds for his personal expenses.”

McClure faces charges for financial elder abuse and embezzlement, forgery, and identity theft.

This article brings to mind the importance of protecting SC nursing home residents from financial abuse and embezzlement.

Financial exploitation of a nursing home resident in SC can include:

• stealing cash, using credits cards, or accepting money for improper purposes,
• identity theft,
• using real estate for personal gain;
• using deception to encourage someone to purchase an unnecessary service or product.

The SC Nursing Home Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm Protect Senior Citizens and Their Families from Financial Elder Abuse

Many states define exploitation as the wrongful use of an older person’s resources for another person’s profit or advantage. State laws use various terms to denote the wrongful nature of the act, such as “illegal,” “improper,” “unjust,” and “without legal entitlement.” Some definitions refer simply to the misuse of the person’s funds, property or person. Some states specify that, to qualify as exploitation, the resources must have been obtained without the older person’s consent, or obtained through undue influence, duress, deception or false pretenses.

Financial exploitation might not endanger an older person’s health or safety, but it results in the loss of the person’s estate and self-esteem.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of financial elder abuse and exploitation by your care facility, nursing home, caregiver, or a relative, contact us today. Come in for a free consultation with one of the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. SC nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers to discuss your situation and hear how we can help. 803.252.4800