Beware of unlicensed personal care facilities.
News of elder abuse is unsettling.
No one likes to hear of seniors being victimized.
But these issues should not be avoided.
You should know what crimes this particularly reprehensible criminals are capable of committing on vulnerable seniors and how to recognize red flags.
If you do see signs of abuse, you should report it.
According to a recent WABE report titled “‘Horrific’ Elder Abuse Case Highlights Crackdown On Unlicensed Ga. Facilities,” a housing scheme was discovered because concerned citizens saw the warning signs and reported them to authorities.
What happened?
An unlicensed personal care facility robs seniors of food, shelter, health care, and social security benefits.
As a result, many residents of this Albany apartment were forced to beg for food and money.
Licensed personal care facilities are required to provide the exact things this specific facility was robbing from its tenants.
The three individuals running this unlicensed facility were charged with neglect, intimidation, and exploitation of senior adults.
They were also charged with violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The Department of Community Health regulates and licenses Georgia personal care facilities.
This department also investigates complaints against such facilities.
In the past three years, they have investigated between 250 and 300 facility complaints and found about 30 percent of these facilities to be unlicensed.
The Georgia government is working to protect its elderly citizens.
Since 2010, Georgia has charged more than 3,000 individuals with committing crimes against the elderly.
Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When making your financial, tax and estate plans, do not go it alone. Be sure to engage competent professional counsel.
Reference: WABE (January 16, 2018) “‘Horrific’ Elder Abuse Case Highlights Crackdown On Unlicensed Ga. Facilities”
Comments