New 2010 laws target elder abuse
A recent newspaper article discussing adult family homes caused an evaluation into the need for more home regulation laws. The article discussed a Bellevue woman who was accused of convincing an elderly man suffering from dementia to marry her. Her thoughts were to empty his bank accounts that day.
Because of this, Washington State legislators came up with a new law that applies to vulnerable elderly adults. It requires financial institutions to train employees to detect if older adults are victims of financial exploitation. If this is suspected, they are allowed to withhold fund disbursement while they investigate.
Everyone should be trained to keep an eye out for our elderly citizens. If you suspect an older person is being abused or exploited in Washington, call 866-363-4276 and report your suspicions or contact an experienced Elder Abuse attorney and let him or her investigate on your behalf. It is better to be safe than sorry.
