ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE LAWYER SERVICING BALTIMORE, MD
With nearly 10 million people currently living in and around Baltimore, it is no surprise that there is a very large elderly community that resides within and near the city. Baltimore is home to many well established nursing homes and retirement communities to assist and care for its larger elderly community. With nearly 15% of the population being 65 and over, there is a great need for nursing homes and assisted living facilities to cater to their needs. Unfortunately, elderly loved ones have a risk of being abused, both physically and financially, in certain situations. The Whitney Firm has experience representing the elderly and their families. We offer Free Case Evaluations, and attorney’s fees and case expenses are paid from only from compensation we recover for you. Here is what our clients have to say about us.
WHAT FALLS UNDER ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE?
While the topic of elder financial abuse is substantial, there are laws set in place to try and combat a wide array of abuse rather than specific cases. In 2010, the federal Elder Justice Act was enacted and states that elder financial abuse is “the fraudulent or otherwise illegal, unauthorized, or improper act . . . that uses the resources of an elder for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain, or that results in depriving an elder the rightful access to, or use of, benefits, resources, belongings, or assets.” Due to elders having increased dependence on others, as well as usually having more financial assets (due to pensions, retirement or accumulated wealth), they are more vulnerable than others when it comes to scams or exploitation. They become even more vulnerable if the elder person unfortunately suffers from a mental incapacity such as dementia or Alzheimer’s that does not allow them to make rational decisions all of the time.
WHO COMMITS ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE?
It could be anyone. Unfortunately, there is no one specific type of person to look out for as these kinds of predators can be anybody. Some of the more well known scams include identity theft, forgery, unjust pressure from close ones, fraud by telemarketers, and nursing home employees taking advantage of developed relationships. An alarming 90% of elder financial abuse takes place in domestic settings with close family members that have access to personal records and lawyers, as well as making promises to take care of the elder person in return for “financial help”. To try and help a loved one stay safe, take time to learn some of the signs of elder financial abuse:
- Nursing homes and assisted living facilities employees taking charge of financial affairs
- Nursing homes and assisted living facilities charging irregular fees
- Disputes against future inheritance
- Out of the blue new “best friends”
- Heavy interest in personal financial assets
- Unexplained financial transactions
- Previous heavy gambling or financial issues
- Strange activity in their bank account
OUR BALTIMORE, MD ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE ATTORNEYS CAN HELP
If either you or a loved one has been financially abused by a dishonest company, dishonest employee, or dishonest family member, you may be able to recover your losses and receive compensation for the emotional distress suffered as the result of being deceived. The Baltimore elder financial abuse lawyers at Whitney, LLP offer free legal consultations to help you understand what your options are and how much your claim may be worth. For help with your case, call Whitney, LLP today for a free legal consultation. Our number is (410) 583-8000. There are no fees or expenses until we recover compensation for you.