When you make the decision to let someone else care for your aging loved one, there are many things to consider. The reputation of the person or facility usually tops the list of things you look at before deciding which route to take. Often times, especially with those places with good reputations, neglect and abuse is not reported because it is difficult to identify or define exactly what constitutes either of those. Abuse is treating someone cruelly or violently, especially regularly or repeatedly. Neglect is failure to care for someone properly.

In a recent story reported by KSDK, a woman working for a hospice company has been accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the man who she was caring for. The woman confessed to stealing the man’s credit card and using them after the victim’s daughter noticed her father’s card was missing and purchases had been made.

The Mid-East Area Agency on Aging says that after family members, caretakers are second most common in elder theft because the clients trust them to care for them. They recommend performing background checks on caretakers or hiring a health care agency that requires background checks on their employees.

If you feel like your loved one is the victim of neglect or abuse, contact your St. Louis Nursing Home Litigation Attorney. We can help determine if either of these has occurred and if you can take action.