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The report states that the man is missing up to $50,000, of which Martin is responsible for stealing $10,000. There is no information on the penalties that Martin may face as a result of this incident.

One of the major problems that plague both nursing homes and assisted living centers is the lack of monitoring and screening of employees. A nursing home or assisted living facility should be a place where you and your loved ones can rest assured that they will receive the care they need and deserve. It should never be a place where they feel abused or neglected in any way.  Nursing homes and assisted living centers should be held accountable for the actions of their employees.
 

Both of Cubbage’s parents are named as victims in the reports of the incident. Cubbage argued that his mother instigated the charges initially as retribution for showing loyalty toward his father and his mistress of 20 years. The report states that Cubbage had obtained power of attorney over his father’s assets after his father contracted a rare form of encephalitis, a disease that causes inflammation of the brain. As a result, Cubbage’s father was deemed incapable of making informed financial decisions and therefore Cubbage was given power of attorney. However, after receiving power of attorney, Cubbage’s father’s retirement accounts began depleting and were completely emptied. The total amount that Cubbage attained was estimated at slightly less than $500,000.

Everybody knows every story has two sides. In this incident, Cubbage argues that the allegations are untrue and that the charges are unwarranted. However, Cubbage’s mother and sister argue otherwise, stating that Cubbage took advantage of his father and used him to steal all the money that he stole. The decision on which argument is true should rightfully be left to the courts. However, if there is significant evidence that demonstrates that the allegations are true, then the Cubbage family should have the justice that they seek. Regardless of whether Joe Cubbage was formerly a well-known racer and philanthropist, it does not excuse him from any sort of punishment if these allegations are true.
 

The transfers she conducted were discovered during a bank audit, according to the report. Aguilar pleaded no contest to felony charges of grand theft and elder fiscal abuse. A judge stated the jail term that Aguilar faces will be dependent on the amount of compensation she can pay before the day of her sentencing on October 13th.

People will go to huge lengths to steal money from others including committing identity theft in order to do so. This only complicates matters for them as they end up facing more severe charges if police or other authorities are able to catch them. The report states that Aguilar used the money that she stole in order to pay off credit card debt. However, there is no excuse for committing a crime like this, especially when it involves stealing money from relatives.
 

The report states police had been looking for Liu for 2 years before she turned herself in. Liu reportedly abused and robbed the 74-year-old victim and withheld food from her in order to make her comply with what she wanted her to do.

The victim reportedly suffered a stroke that left her debilitated. Prior to that, the victim lived independently and built a large monetary fortune through several investments including commercial real estate. Liu had created over 60 bank accounts at various banks and laundered the $4 million from the elderly victim’s account with the help of her boyfriend and son. If she is convicted, Liu faces jail time and liquidation of her assets in order to reimburse the victim of the crime.

When an elderly person hires somebody to assist them with their daily activities, they never suspect that they will subsequently be the victims of an abusive person. Elderly people and their families always believe that they are hiring somebody that will treat them with great care and not attempt to harm them in any way. This incident demonstrates that it is always possible for your loved ones to become the victim of a scammer or a thief. You can protect your loved ones from facing this or any other type of abuse against them. If your loved ones have been the victim of elder financial abuse or any other kind of abuse, you can contact an Arizona attorney who can assist you in getting compensation for damages.
 

“We believe that keeping seniors well-informed provides the best defense against fraud and scams,” Goddard said. “Protecting seniors has long ranked as a top priority for the Attorney General's Office, and our Senior Anti-Crime University moves our efforts up another notch. I look forward to meeting with seniors and helping them avoid becoming victims of fraud.” 

Financial exploitation is a serious issue for all seniors, but especially for seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  Nursing home staff members and administrators may take advantage of vulnerable residents and attempt to bilk them of their assets.  Some warning signs of financial exploitation in nursing homes include:

* Sudden interest in banking transactions
* Forged Signatures on financial or banking transaction
* Withdrawal of large amounts of money
* Expanded withdrawal of small amounts of money
* Cashing of checks without proper approval
* Possessions and assets disappearing
* ATM withdrawals that are not approved
* Change in living will that does not reflect the individual
* General changes in financial matters

For more information on Attorney General Goddard's Senior Anti-Crime University, visit their website.  For more information on financial exploitation in nursing homes, visit the Nursing Home Advocates' Financial Exploitation Information page.

The core message of this year's World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is "Never ignore elder abuse."  The IPNEA says most elder abuse is hidden and caused by ageism and is working to expose abuse and fight ageism.

The IPNEA said the following in annoucing this year's World Elder Abuse Awareness Day:

Throughout the world, abuse and neglect of older persons is largely under-recognized or treated as an unspoken problem. Unfortunately, no community or country in the world is immune from this costly, public health and human rights crisis. Research indicates that public education campaigns like World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) are vital for informing people in a growing number of countries about elder abuse and active involvement of the media is central to its success.

According to the IPNEA, 4% to 6% of all elderly people have experienced some form of abuse in the home.  This percentage is much higher for elderly people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as 36% of nursing home staff say they have witnessed physical abuse in the last year, 10% admit to committing physical abuse themselves, and 40% say they have psychologically abused residents.

For more information on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and elder abuse in general, please visit the following resources:

• INPEA
• National Center on Elder Abuse
• National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life
• Administration on Aging

If you believe a loved one has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation while in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you should visit Solomon & Relihan's Nursing Home Advocates website.