Security Director for Los Angeles-Area Nursing Home Arrested on Financial Elder Abuse and Burglary Charges

On March 26th, the security director for a Los Angeles-area nursing home was arrested on burglary and elder abuse charges after reports that he broke into residents’ rooms and stole from them.

Michael Glen South, 57, has been linked to several burglary complaints in the nursing home, according to police reports. South faces charges of elder abuse, felony residential burglary, and possession of stolen property.

“An investigation revealed that South was involved in numerous burglaries and thefts from residents of the complex. Due to South’s position at the complex, he had key access to the senior citizen homes,” the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

After the reports of burglary and financial elder abuse, Ventura County police issued a search warrant for South’s home, whether they found guns, jewelry, medication, and other household items that had been stolen from the University Village Retirement Living facility in Thousand Oaks.

South was one of only two people who had access to the entire nursing home.

“The key is given to security personnel so they can access a home if a senior falls, or if there is an emergency . . . obviously that’s the ultimate trust, but in this case, that trust was taken advantage of,” Sgt. Jason Robarts of the Thousand Oaks Police Department said.

“His actions happened recently, we acted quickly once we knew about it, and removed him, as a threat, away from our community,” Executive Director Ryan Exline said.

Financial Elder Abuse and Exploitation

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.

In financial elder abuse, aging adults are taken advantage of by caregivers (related or unrelated). This can occur by home health care workers or at nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Financial Exploitation includes:

• theft and credit card fraud,
• stealing identity,
• using real estate for personal means, and
• conning nursing home residents into purchasing a fraudulent service or product.

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.

The Strom Law Firm Defends Senior Citizens against Financial Elder Abuse

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