Financial Abuse in Nursing Homes: How to Spot It and What to Do

Trusting a nursing home with your loved one’s care means expecting safety and dignity. Learning that someone might be stealing from them or manipulating their finances is shocking. Financial abuse in nursing homes occurs more frequently than many families realize and often remains unnoticed for months or years because the victims may be unable to speak out.

If you suspect your family member is being financially exploited in a Greenville-area nursing home, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Our experienced Greenville nursing home abuse lawyer at Jordan Law Center offers free consultations and works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us unless we obtain justice for your loved one. Call 864-808-1810 today.

What Financial Abuse In Nursing Homes Looks Like

Financial abuse isn’t always dramatic. It often starts small and escalates. Here are the most common forms.

• Theft of cash or personal belongings: Cash disappears from a bedside drawer. Jewelry, watches, or other valuables go missing. Staff or other residents may take items knowing the resident cannot easily report them
• Forged checks and unauthorized withdrawals: Someone gains access to a resident’s checkbook or bank account and writes checks or withdraws funds without permission.
• Unauthorized credit card use: A caregiver or other individual uses the resident’s credit card for personal purchases.
• Coerced changes to legal documents: A staff member, fellow resident, or outside “friend” pressures the resident to change a will, add someone to a power of attorney, or alter beneficiary designations.
• Staff pressuring residents for money or gifts: Caregivers develop a relationship with a resident and then ask for “loans,” gifts, or financial favors.
• Misuse of resident funds by the facility: Nursing homes that manage residents’ personal funds sometimes overcharge for services, bill for items never provided, or mismanage the accounts entirely.

Under South Carolina’s Omnibus Adult Protection Act, S.C. Code Ann. § 43-35-10(3), “exploitation” includes the improper, unlawful, or unauthorized use of a vulnerable adult’s funds, assets, property, power of attorney, guardianship, or conservatorship for the profit or advantage of another person. The law also covers situations where someone uses undue influence, harassment, duress, force, coercion, or swindling to take advantage of a vulnerable adult financially.

Warning Signs Of Elder Financial Abuse

You may not catch financial abuse happening in real time. But these red flags should prompt immediate attention.

• Missing personal belongings, cash, or valuables
• Unexplained bank withdrawals, transfers, or charges
• New “friends” or acquaintances taking a sudden interest in your loved one’s finances
• Signatures on checks or documents that don’t match your loved one’s handwriting
• Changes to wills, powers of attorney, or beneficiary designations that your loved one cannot explain
• Unpaid bills despite adequate funds in the account
• The facility is billing for services or supplies your loved one never received
• Your loved one expresses fear or anxiety when discussing finances

If your family member has dementia or cognitive decline, pay especially close attention to their financial accounts. They may not remember transactions or may not realize they’re being taken advantage of.

Who Is Most At Risk

Not every nursing home resident faces the same level of risk. Certain factors make some residents more vulnerable to financial exploitation.

Residents with cognitive impairment

Individuals living with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other cognitive conditions are prime targets. They may not understand what they’re signing, may not remember giving money away, and may struggle to report what’s happening.

Isolated residents

Residents who rarely receive visitors have fewer people watching out for them. Abusers know that families who visit infrequently are less likely to notice missing items or suspicious financial activity.

Residents without family involvement

When no family member is actively monitoring a resident’s finances, care, and well-being, the opportunity for exploitation increases significantly. Even well-meaning facilities can let things slip through the cracks without outside oversight.

If your family member falls into any of these categories, proactive monitoring is critical. We’ll cover how to do that below.

What To Do If You Suspect Financial Abuse

If you believe your loved one is being financially exploited, act quickly. Here’s what to do.

1. Document everything. Gather bank statements, canceled checks, credit card statements, and any legal documents that may have been altered. Photograph missing items or changes to the living space. Write down dates, details, and the names of anyone involved.
2. Contact the facility administrator. Report your concerns in writing. Request an explanation and copies of any records related to your loved one’s personal funds held by the facility.
3. Report to the appropriate authority. In South Carolina, reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in nursing homes should be directed to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. If there’s reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct, the case is referred to the Vulnerable Adults Investigations Unit of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
4. File a police report. Financial exploitation is a crime. Don’t hesitate to involve local law enforcement, especially if significant amounts of money or property are involved.
5. Contact an attorney. A nursing home abuse attorney can help you understand your legal options, protect your loved one’s remaining assets, and pursue accountability.

Need help right now? Call Jordan Law Center at 864-808-1810 for a free consultation. We’re ready to step in and fight for your family.

Legal Protections And Remedies In South Carolina

South Carolina law takes financial exploitation of vulnerable adults seriously. Here’s what you should know about the legal remedies available.

Criminal penalties

Under S.C. Code Ann. § 43-35-85(D), a person who knowingly and willfully exploits a vulnerable adult is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, may be fined up to $5K or imprisoned for up to five years, or both, and may be required by the court to make restitution.

Civil claims

Beyond criminal prosecution, families can pursue civil claims against the individuals and facilities responsible. Civil remedies may include recovery of stolen funds, compensation for emotional distress, and in some cases, punitive damages intended to punish particularly reckless or intentional conduct.

Financial institution protections

South Carolina law (S.C. Code Ann. § 43-35-87) also allows financial institutions to decline or place a hold on transactions if they reasonably believe financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult has occurred or may occur. If your loved one’s bank hasn’t been responsive to your concerns, an attorney can help you escalate the situation.

How To Protect Your Loved One Proactively

Prevention is always better than recovery. Here are steps you can take to reduce the risk of financial abuse in nursing homes.

• Monitor finances regularly: Set up online access to your loved one’s bank and credit card accounts. Review statements monthly (or more often) for any transactions you don’t recognize.
• Establish strong power of attorney safeguards: Make sure the designated power of attorney is someone trustworthy, and consider requiring dual signatures for large transactions. Keep original legal documents in a secure location outside the facility.
• Visit often and vary your schedule: Regular, unpredictable visits make it clear that someone is watching. Talk to your loved one about their daily life, their belongings, and whether anyone has asked them for money.
• Limit cash and valuables at the facility: There’s no reason to keep large amounts of cash, expensive jewelry, or other high-value items in a nursing home room. Minimize the opportunity for theft.
• Know who has access: Keep a record of who is authorized on your loved one’s bank accounts, who holds power of attorney, and who has access to their personal funds at the facility. Review this list regularly.

Jordan Law Center Advocates Justice For Nursing Home Abuse Clients

When a nursing home or its staff takes advantage of a vulnerable person, Jordan Law Center steps in. Our attorneys handle nursing home abuse and neglect cases throughout the Greenville area and across South Carolina, and we know how to hold facilities and individuals accountable.

We don’t pursue justice. We deliver it. Our team is confident and efficient in litigation. We investigate thoroughly, build strong cases, and fight to make sure your family member’s rights are protected.

Your consultation is completely free, and you don’t pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your family. Call Jordan Law Center at 864-808-1810 today. The sooner you act, the better we can protect your loved one.