South Carolina Woman Pleads Guilty to Exploiting Senior

You never know who you can trust with your seniors. Unfortunately, seniors become especially vulnerable in nursing homes, and opportunistic individuals see them as prime targets. Such was the case with one exploitative woman who took advantage of a senior in a South Carolina nursing home. She is now facing criminal charges. But what if your senior falls victim to a similar act? How can you pursue justice and compensation for your damages? Let’s find out:

Woman Made “Improper Use” of the Senior’s Assets

On March 31st of 2023, it was reported that a woman from South Carolina had pleaded guilty to exploiting a vulnerable adult. This victim was a resident of a retirement community in Darlington County. During a month in 2018, this individual made improper use of the victim’s funds and assets “with fraudulent intent.”

The worst part? She was the victim’s power of attorney – a position that should have been filled by the most trustworthy individual the senior could call upon. Not much further information was revealed about this specific situation, but the defendant was then sentenced to five years in prison, which was suspended with five years of probation.

She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of about $25,500. This probably reflects the money that she stole or redirected, and the sentence highlights how seriously the courts take this sort of behavior in South Carolina. The problem, of course, is that many of these acts go completely undetected and unpunished.

Financial Abuse is a Real Issue

Most family members do not realize the full extent of financial abuse of seniors in the United States. This problem is absolutely rampant. Most people picture senior abuse as being physical, verbal, or psychological in nature. But some of the worst abuse is financial. This is because it robs seniors of their life savings, leaving them destitute and unable to pay their bills. It also has the potential to cause ripple effects throughout the entire family, as beneficiaries can no longer inherit funds left behind.

The type of financial abuse experienced by seniors is also commonly misunderstood. Many people assume that financial abuse is carried about by scam artists and internet hackers. But the truth is that most financial abuse is carried out by those closest to seniors. These might be family members, loved ones, or even staff members at nursing homes. This makes financial abuse very difficult to detect.

The good news is that you can connect with a qualified attorney to review your senior’s financial situation and spot financial abuse before it gets out of control. You can also set up security measures that prevent funds from being misused or stolen.

Where Can I Find a Qualified Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in South Carolina?

If you’ve been searching for a qualified attorney who can help you with your nursing home abuse or neglect lawsuit, look no further than McDougall Law Firm. With our assistance, you can hold negligent parties accountable for a wide range of abuse or neglect, including financial abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse, psychological abuse, and more. Book your consultation today to get started with an effective action plan.

Sources

1. https://wpde.com/news/local/darlington-county-retirement-home-resident-exploitation-fraud-misconduct-assests-victim-vulnerable-adult-attorney-general-alan-wilson-medicaid-fraud-control-unit-orangeburg-south-carolina

McDougall Law Firm, LLC

115 Lady’s Island Commons
Beaufort, SC 29907
843.379.7000

If you have further questions about this article or legal concerns, call 800-672-3103