Tag: elder abuse

Elder Abuse Lawyers Warn of the “Grandparent Scam”

It is always disheartening to hear stories about the elderly and disabled being scammed or taken advantage of for their money. The elderly can be vulnerable and more trusting of others, so those with bad intentions prey on them as easy targets. As elder abuse lawyers, we strongly urge you to be careful of who you trust and to be wary of where you leave financial documents and account numbers – do not leave them where strangers can access them.

Elderly Scammed Out of Thousands Over the Phone

elder abuse lawyers in NJ and PA A very popular scam in recent years has been to call elderly adults pretending to be a grandchild, asking for money to be wired due to some emergency. This Grandparent Scam has cost people thousands of dollars all over the country. The scam has been around for several years, but it has gotten more elaborate lately. Originally, scammers would call and slowly get details from the victim through the conversation. Now-a-days, the caller will already know detailed information before they make the call. They will immediately identify themselves as a grandchild by name and give other details about their lives in order to increase credibility. Officials are warning everyone, especially the elderly, to never send money to family members or loved ones unless you can be certain you are sending it to the right person. It is easy for predators to access personal information so you must ask more than just basic information.

Floyd Adcock, a 78-year-old man from California, was conned out of almost $3,000 from a man pretending to be his grandson. On November 3 at 10:30 a.m., Adcock answered a phone call from a man saying that he had been in an accident in Mexico and needed $2,900 wired to him. Thinking it was his grandson, Adcock wired the money, costing him $2,988. After the money went through, the elderly man found out that his grandson had never been to Mexico and that he had been scammed out of the money.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently being taken advantage of financially, or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Lawyers: Woman Found in her Own Waste Fused to Chair

Caring for an elderly parent is an incredibly difficult task. As elder abuse lawyers, we see far too many cases of abuse and neglect that involve an adult child disregarding the needs of their vulnerable parent. If your mother or father is being cared for by another sibling, it is very important to check up on them just as you would if the parent was in a nursing home or under the care of another aide.

Son Neglects Mother While Telling His Sister She is Fine

elder abuse lawyers in NJ and PA At the end of October the police went to the son of 74-year-old Carol Brown’s home to find her unresponsive and living in deplorable conditions. The paramedics rushed Brown to the hospital but she died several days later. According to the officers who entered the home, they described Brown as “a rotting corpse that was still breathing.” The rescue crews had to pry her from the leather recliner because her legs had become fused to the chair. Court documents also revealed that she was sitting in her own bodily fluids and waste with a swollen ankle wound with maggots inside. According to Brown’s daughter Laura Sanders, the doctors told her “There were sores on her back the size of a man’s fist.”

Sanders told officials that her brother, James Owens, had been caring for their mother for the past two years. “I know he neglected her,” Sanders said. “He had not fed her in a week. He left her in her own waste. How can you do that to your mother?” She said that she did not check on her mother because her brother always insisted that she was fine. She continued by saying “Knowing that she died and it may have been prevented? … I’m so far passed crying. I am just real mad! I’m beyond mad!” Owens has not yet been charged. The police are waiting for the autopsy results before getting prosecutors involved.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently under the care of an individual or care facility and you have witnessed them being abused, you have noticed strange bruises, scratches or sores, or you fear that the care they are receiving may be considered negligent or abusive, our professional elder abuse lawyers can address your questions and concerns. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Lawyers: Product Increases Safety for Dementia Patients

As elder abuse lawyers, we know having a parent or loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia has a long list of day-to-day challenges. For those who have a parent that has tendencies to wander from the home there is also an added element of constant fear. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are nearly 6 million people with Alzheimer’s in this country and studies have shown that 60 percent of those who suffer from the disease will wander off and become lost. Sadly, about half of those who do get lost and are not found within 24 hours might die. Dr. Andrew Carle, director of the senior housing administration at George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services said, “They might be living in their home but they’re confused… They go for a walk and they can get lost for days.” The problem with Alzheimer’s suffers wandering off is “they don’t think they’re lost. They may actually hide. Paranoia is a manifestation of the disease. So search and rescue is hard to do,” says Carle.

GPS Shoe Will Alert Family of Wondering Alzheimer’s Sufferers

elder abuse lawyers in NJ and PA Carle has served as an advisor on a project by the GTX Corporation to develop location-tracking shoes with a GPS in the heel. They were developing the shoe for marathon runners and children when Carle “pointed out why this was an ideal technology for people with dementia who wander.” There has been GPS pocket devices, wristbands, and bracelets and pendants with names and contact numbers on the market but these were easily lost or removed. The wearer is much less likely to remove their shoes. The shoe’s technology will allow a family member to set a perimeter such as the house and yard that the wearer can move around freely, “But if he breaks the fence, Google maps pops up on my computer or my phone to show me where he is,” Carle explained. When it comes out on the market, the shoe is going to cost about $300 with a $30 to $40 monthly subscription fee.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility, we encourage you to visit frequently and be very observant of any scratches, bruises, or anything that does not look right. If you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate and would like to speak to one of our elder abuse lawyers, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Lawyers Warn of Financial Theft

Financial elder abuseis unfortunately on the rise, happening more and more often to our aging population as the demographic gains a reputation for being an easy target for scams and/or theft. Therefore, the elderly need to be more careful about their finances and who they trust in their homes. As elder abuse lawyers, we sadly hear horrible stories about trusting people who get taken for their entire life savings because of one mistake. Make sure to keep all of your financial documents and checks in a secure, preferably locked, location where strangers or even family or friends cannot locate. Be careful of home health aides and housekeepers. Even those with good intentions may take advantage if given the opportunity.

Woman Arrested Twice for Stealing and Cashing Checks

elder abuse lawyers in NJ and PA Edna Lena Morales, 48, was arrested for the second time on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 for suspicion of elder abuse, forgery and possession of stolen property. She was arrested for the first time on October 17, 2011 after an investigation of her cashing several checks that belonged to an 83-year-old woman. The woman’s bank contacted her in September about the checks and she told them that Morales worked as her housekeeper, cleaning and cooking meals a few times a week. The elderly woman confronted Morales and she agreed to pay the money back. She wrote a check for $4,000 but the check bounced. Police also believe that Morales used the woman’s credit card charging more than $1,200, but Morales told them that the woman gave her permission to use the credit card.

A week later, a second woman went to the police to report that Morales cashed one of her checks for the amount of $5,000 leading to her second arrest. She is currently being held at the Merced County Jail on $130,000 bail.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently being taken advantage of financially, or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate , our professional elder abuse lawyers can help you. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers: Administrator Steals $300,000 from Home

As nursing home abuse lawyers, we see some of the worst kinds of abuse and neglect that the elderly unfortunately have to endure. We continue to fight against this horrible injustice but the problem is not going away. Most of the physical and emotional abuse is the result of frustrated direct care workers, but another growing problem is the financial abuse from administrators and other nursing home officials. They are taking advantage of their power and access to the facility’s finances in order to steal from the home. They are not only stealing from an organization, but from the elderly and disabled residents who need that money in order to keep up their standard of care.

Former Administrator Plead Guilty to Stealing from Facility and Residents

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The Golden Years Rest Home in Jenkins, KY is facing problems after their former administrator James F. Tackett, 69, entered a guilty plea in court for stealing thousands of dollars in funds from the home and from the residents. He admitted to stealing more than $300,000 from the home that was meant to be used for the care of the patients. He also admitted to stealing more than $60,000 from one resident. Tackett used the money to buy himself cars and other personal vehicles including a GMC Hummer, a Chevrolet Silverado, a Ford F-150, and a Suzuki XL-7. He is also in trouble for not reporting any of the funds on his state income tax returns for the past five years.

This started after a complaint was filed in 2009 by the local ombudsman office that multiple residents of the home were not receiving their $250 stimulus check from the American Economic Recovery Act, The Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations started looking into the home. This is not the first strike for Tackett, he plead guilty in 2009 to physical abuse of a resident and in October to charges of theft of federal Social Security funds received on behalf of the personal care home residents. He faces up to 10 years in prison for the state charges.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is missing money or you have witnessed any questionable or abusive behavior in a nursing home facility directed towards them or even another resident and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation with one of our nursing home abuse lawyers at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Disgusted by Maggot Infestations

A state advocacy group in Michigan is calling for increased oversight of state nursing homes, citing as their motive the growing instances of extreme nursing home abuse. One specific case mentioned a nursing home in Washtenaw County, Michigan where maggots infested one patient’s throat and another patient’s catheter. Clinical corporate staff members instructed the nurse who came upon the catheter infestation to document it as “debridement.” Debridement is a name for dead tissue, not maggots. The second maggot incident took place in an Oakland County care facility. Maggots obstructed the airway of a woman had been coughing. The maggots were discovered when the airway was being cleared.

Maggots Sign of Severe Neglect State Wide?

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers maggot infestationsThe group, a non-profit Michigan Protections and Advocacy Service, cited the maggot infestation cases as evidence of a severe problem concerning treatment in the state’s care facilities. Of course, a representative of the state agency that regulates nursing homes insisted to a Michigan radio DJ that these maggot infestations were isolated incidents and that they, in no way, reflect the treatment that the state’s care facilities provide. Mike Pemble of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs said, “I don’t think it’s fair to hold it up and say this is happening in all nursing homes.”

Rhonda Smith, communications specialist with the Michigan Protections and Advocacy Service, did not provided the name of the nursing home involved. A Michigan television station is reporting that the Whitehall Healthcare Center of Ann Arbor was the culprit.

The MPAS reported that the information regarding these horrid incidents of neglect was gathered from surveys performed by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. They are also preparing a report they they claim will highlight “numerous examples of abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities in nursing homes throughout the state.”

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility and you believe that the care they are receiving is negligent or inadequate, contact our professionals for a free case evaluation or consultation. Contact the Mininno Law Office by phone at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers Reminder: Look for Small forms of Neglect

nursing home neglect in NJ and PAWe write a lot about shocking and extreme cases of elder abuse and neglect. But we want to remind you that, as nursing home neglect lawyers, it is just as important to look out for the small forms of neglect. The elderly are very vulnerable and the smallest thing can turn into a serious infection or other medical problem. A nursing home in Petaluma, California is being sued by the family of a former resident. According to the suit, the home did not provide proper care to the elderly 90-year-old woman and neglected her on a daily basis. They “repeatedly failed to perform basic wound monitoring, nutrition and hydration.”

Woman’s Wounds and Infections Worsened when Facility Neglected Proper Care

According to Audrey Gerard, the family’s attorney,

“When my client was evaluating the facility for her mother, she was given documents that described the home as having experts in wound care, but while she was there wounds became huge and infected…The wound was so bad that she had to be taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital, which filed a claim with the Sonoma County ombudsman’s office.”?

The home has received dozens of complaints in the past several years, including not properly hydrating residents, failing to prevent accidents, and not supplying proper diets, which can all be very harmful to the health of the elderly. According to the Medicare website, Petaluma Health and Rehabilitation has spent less licensed staff hours per patient than the average for a facility in California.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have witnessed your loved one being abused, you have noticed any strange bruises, scratches or sores, or you fear that the care they are receiving may be considered negligent or abusive, our professionals can address your questions and concerns. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation with one of our nursing home neglect lawyers at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Report Improvement in Nation Nursing Homes

Our blog contains many stories of negligent and abusive nursing homes and care givers. We report on these cases to raise awareness of the poor conditions that many of our elderly population have to endure. With all of these horrible cases of abuse and neglect, as nursing home abuse lawyers, we were happily surprised to read a recent report that came to the conclusion that overall nursing home care has improved in the past few years. This is incredibly good news and means that nursing home and government officials are finally starting to realize how important this problem is and has begun to fix facility conditions.

Study Shows Measurable Increase in Quality of Care and Life of Nursing Home Residents

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According to a report by the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care and the American Health Care Association, America’s nursing home facilities have increased quality of care in the past few years. Since 2009, facilities have accomplished measurable improvements in nine out of ten quality measures which positively affect the quality of care and life of the nearly 2.5 million people who receive nursing home care a year. Independent researchers used government measured data to analyze the “capabilities of skilled nursing facilities, trends in skilled nursing care and the need for quality measures to effectively evaluate rehabilitation outcomes among an increasingly diverse patient population.” They found that nursing facilities have improved in their short term care, including patient delirium, pain and pressure ulcers, as well as their long term care including daily living, high-risk pressure ulcers, resident mobility and pain.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility, we encourage you to visit frequently and be very observant of their treatment as well as their living conditions. If you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Lawyers Help Get Man 35 Years in Prison for Scamming the Elderly

As elder abuse lawyers, we want to warn the elderly population and their loved ones of the many people who prey on the elderly because they see them as an easy target. The elderly can be vulnerable and too trusting, at times, of people who do not have the best intentions. We have seen many cases where strangers befriend the elderly and make promises that they have no intention of keeping in order to rob them of any and all monies, savings, and belongings. This is a serious problem that is happening far too often. Keep an eye on your loved ones’ finances and remind them to be careful of who they give their personal information.

Man Cons Elderly out of $100,000 After Promising Home Repairs

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Timothy Ralph Carrillo, 49, has been convicted by a California jury and sentenced to 35 years in prison for stealing more than $100,000. Carrillo has been convicted of 24 counts, including financial elder abuse, residential burglary, grand theft and contracting without a license. From 2006 to 2008, Carrillo convinced nine people, mostly elderly with some in their 80s, to pay him in advance for home repairs such as painting, window replacement, and roofing. He then disappeared and never did any of the promised repairs. The victims testified during trial that their losses ranged from $1,260 to $65,000. One of his victims borrowed $65,000 on an equity credit line and was told by Carrillo to pay $50,000 to his “partner” for supplies. But the third man was actually someone Carrillo owed money for a gambling debt.

Carrillo has prior felony convictions for commercial burglary, grand theft, driving under the influence, and obtaining money by false pretenses. Because of his record and California’s three strikes law, Carrillo’s sentence was twice as long as what it would have been. According to Judge Russell Scott, “Based on the defendant’s character … he does clearly fit the purpose of the three strikes law.” Judge Scott went on to tell Carrillo “You’re a predator. I don’t know if anybody’s ever said that to you…Here you are preying on the elderly … and you don’t care.” Carrillo was convicted in 2009 in Texas of similar cases of cheating the elderly and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He will serve his 35 years in California after he has completed his time in Texas.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently being taken advantage of financially, or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate and want to speak with elder abuse lawyers, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers: Nurse Charged for Overmedicating Residents

nursing home abuse lawyers in NJ and PASome caregivers and nurses use medications as a way to calm their patients and make them easier to handle. As nursing home abuse lawyers, we see many cases of abuse where overworked and frustrated care workers abuse and neglect their patients in many different ways. Marty Himebaugh, 60 years old, has pleaded guilty to felony criminal neglect for overmedicating residents and giving patients medications they had not been prescribed. Prosecutors have dropped five other felony counts against the former nurse after her guilty plea, but she still faces up to three years in prison. She admitted to giving the anti-anxiety medication Ativanto an agitated male resident who had not been prescribed the medication by a doctor.

In 2006, authorities began investigating the nursing home facility where Himebaugh worked after six resident deaths involved overdoses of morphine. In 2008, Himebaugh and her former supervisor, Penny Whitlock, were charged due to their connection with the nursing homes. Neither were charged with causing any of the patient deaths.

In 2009, Himebaugh’s nursing license was suspended by the state. This year, Whitlock was acquitted of charges that she allowed Himebaugh to overmedicate her patients and that she tried to obstruct the investigation by ordering an employee to destroy drugs she kept in her desk. Although she denies using the phrase, according to reports Whitlock nicknamed Himebaugh the “Angel of Death” because of the way her patients died.

Victim’s Loved Ones Conflicted about Guilty Plea

According to Himebaugh’s attorney Sam Amirante, “She really felt she did the right thing.” He will be pushing for Himebaugh to be placed on probation, saying that “It’s been a long haul for her. She wanted to get this over with and go on with her life.” But the relatives of the patients that died because of Himebaugh’s actions are upset with the plea deal. “We’re saddened she didn’t have to face trial on all the charges, we’re gratified she admitted some of her guilt,” said Steven Levin, who represents relatives of 78-year-old Virginia Cole.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility, pay attention to the quality of the nursing staff. If you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.