Illinois nursing home workers steal $600,000 from patient

A 97-year-old patient in a Lincoln Park nursing home recently noticed over half a million dollars missing from her bank account. Five workers in the nursing home are now under investigation by the Chicago police department. The patient, who currently suffers from dementia, has resided in the nursing home for over eight years.

Her public guardian believes the workers accused of stealing the residences finances, include the activities director, business manager, receptionist and even a hairdresser working in the nursing home. According to an article by NBC Chicago, employees made deposits that ranged up to $25 thousand and $50 thousand.

Unfortunately, the patient had no living relatives watching over her bank accounts to prevent this from happening. Her public guardian believes the incidents began occurring after she asked a nursing home worker to assist her with her finances. Her bank began to question her activity when it noticed withdrawals for thousands of dollars made being made out to several people.

According to the lawsuit, the employees generally made withdrawals using personal checks or the patient’s ATM card. According to court records, the patient signed many of the checks, often writing “gift” in the subject line. Because of her dementia, the patient has little memory of writing these checks. She is also having trouble understanding the substantial effect the withdrawals have taken on her life savings, which she accumulated after surviving a Japanese internment camp in her younger years.

Situations like this are not uncommon. While financial abuse is one of the most prevalent types of abuse in nursing homes, physical abuse and neglect are also common. It can be beneficial to speak with a nursing home abuse and neglect attorney in Belleville, IL if you believe your loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect.