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Palm Beach County Estate & Probate Attorneys / Blog / Elder Law / Items Stolen from Senior’s Nursing Home Room in Palm Beach County: What Should I Do?

Items Stolen from Senior’s Nursing Home Room in Palm Beach County: What Should I Do?

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Seniors often possess valuable personal items, and they take these items into their assisted living facilities and nursing homes during their twilight years. As a concerned family member, you may be aware of the value of these personal items, and you may notice when they go missing. How do you investigate these thefts? Is this an example of senior financial exploitation in Palm Beach County? Can an elder law attorney help you pursue justice and accountability? Are there strategies to avoid losses in the first place?

Identify High-Value Items Before Seniors Move to Nursing Homes 

If possible, it helps to identify and assess potentially high-value items in your senior’s possession before they move into a nursing home. Items such as precious metals, treasury notes, and collectibles may be more secure in safety deposit boxes outside of the nursing home.

That said, your senior may want to keep certain items close. Examples include jewelry that your senior plans to wear, or military medals that your they are proud of. These military medals could be worth hundreds of dollars or more on the open market.

Consider a Nanny Cam 

In Florida, it is legal to install a nanny cam in your senior’s room. This may help prevent the loss or theft of high-value items. The only downside is that you must inform everyone who visits and all staff members of your nanny cam. On the other hand, the knowledge of a nanny cam may dissuade would-be thieves from taking certain items.

Other technology may also be useful in combating theft at nursing homes. Some seniors and their families use tracking devices to catch thieves, and a common example is an Apple AirTag. If you can hide this tracking device within the item, it may be easier to track down the thief and hold them accountable.

Potential Steps After Suspected Theft at a Nursing Home 

After suspected theft at a nursing home, your first step should be to protect anything else that might be stolen from your senior’s room. Even if a relatively low-value item goes missing, this should cause you to be more careful about more high-value items. The thief may be starting with something small to “test the waters.” Once they feel confident about stealing things like books and clothing, they might move on to more lucrative items.

The Federal Trade Commission has specifically warned about stimulus checks going missing at nursing homes. Seniors and their families should also be wary about any cash left out in the room.

Can an Elder Law Attorney in Palm Beach County Help? 

If a high-value personal item from your senior’s nursing home room is missing, an experienced elder law attorney in Palm Beach County may be able to help you pursue justice and accountability. This could be an example of elder financial exploitation, and you may be able to hold the nursing home liable for this loss. To discuss your legal options in more detail, consider a consultation with Kitroser Lewis & Mighdoll today.

Sources: 

foxbusiness.com/technology/woman-outsmarts-mail-thieves-simple-technology

heraldtribune.com/story/news/state/2024/01/06/bradenton-woman-pushes-for-florida-camera-law-to-prevent-elder-abuse/71879671007/

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