Where did all my mom's money go? Is this Financial Elder Abuse?

Did you read in the paper lately about the widow who is thought to have lost over $200,000 to a "professional" conservator over the last few years? Finally, some legal aid came to her assistance and a member of her family took over her care and finances, but not without a major loss to a half-million dollar estate!

The professional conservator system in California is broken. It is now the subject of a state judicial council committee. It is also the subject of a legislative bill, Assembly Bill 1363, by Dave Jones. The bill is now moving through the Senate, having passed the Assembly by a large margin of votes.

AB 1363 is called the "Omnibus Conservatorship and Guardianship Reform Act of 2006." It will regulate private conservators, increase court review of conservatorships, reforms some of the malfunctioning county public guardian practices, and requires additional attorney training and education.

Many families assume that a private, professional conservator or a county public guardian will "take care of everything" for your loved one. However, your eyes and ears are needed constantly to make sure of this. If it doesn't sound right to you, it's probably not!

Are your concerned about mom or dad, or sister or brother, or another loved one or friend who is having their finances managed by someone else? Give a call to an experienced elder abuse attorney in California. The call and the visit are well worth the cost. This may be the one most important thing you can do... money goes away fast in the wrong hands. If you are worried or concerned contact a California Elder Abuse Attorney immediately.

Have you had an elderly parent, relative, or friend call you recently to tell you they've

struck it rich!

in the lotto After a few questions, it turns out that the lotto is in Canada and a small

service charge

is being requested to process the

prize.

Watch out! Lotto and internet fraud are rampant and seniors are the targeted victims. In Sacramento, a grieving widower discovered that all his property and income had been liened away by his wife (now deceased) who had gotten her name on lottery lists.

Professionals will warn that once a name in on one of these lists, the pressure and the promises never let up. Every day there is a tragic story about an elder who has lost everything to one of these phony lotteries or scams.

As a daughter, son, spouse, or friend of a senior you must be always on the alert! Financial scams-financial elder abuse-is on the rise and is the number one source of elder abuse in many places in California. These bogus offers come by mail, by telephone, by person, even sometimes by those who hold themselves out to be trusted financial advisors.

Even if the con artist is arrested and jailed, your loved one will rarely see any of the money come back. It's a crime that cuts across all income levels, all educational levels, everywhere in California. It not just a

poor person's

crime. College professors have been victimized and losses often are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even houses can be lost through phony land and investment transactions and seniors have faced eviction from their own long-time homes.

Do you suspect something is wrong with someone you know? A call to a well respected elder abuse attorney in California is well worth the call and the time. Don't sign anything; don't give any information out by telephone or by mail. An experienced elder law attorney in California can save you a lifetime of grief by avoiding a scam.

As an attorney in California handling nursing home neglect cases I am often asked for information on nursing homes for those who are contemplating putting themselves or someone they love into such a facility. I often refer my clients and friends to California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform's website dedicated to California nursing homes. This site www.nursinghomeguide.org provides a great starting point for anyone wanting to learn more about nursing homes.

The nursing home guide includes:

information about every nursing home in California
state and federal enforcement actions
consumer complaints
financial information
ownership information
detailed information on services offered
tips on how to choose a facility

In the future I will be posting more information that I and other California nursing home neglect attorneys recommend for guidance in the difficult process of finding a suitable nursing home facility for a loved one.