Hospice Worker Accused of Stealing from Dying Patient
A New Jersey hospice worker has been accused of stealing money from a dying patient. Tristan Chang, 23, allegedly used the hospice patient's ATM card and PIN number to withdraw $700, the full amount the patient had in their account.
Tristan Chang, 23, has been charged with third-degree theft and third-degree hindering apprehension for this particularly heinous form of financial exploitation of the elderly. He faces up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Financial exploitation is a growing concern for the elderly, particularly those in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospice care, and other such residential facilities. Though this case was a rather simple and obvious incident of outright theft, financial exploitation can take may forms, some of them rather subtle. Nursing home workers can use their positions of trust with residents to misrepresent information or even intimidate residents into giving them money. This is especially true of residents who suffer from mental disabilities such as Alzheimer's or dementia.
Elders and their families should educate themselves on the different forms of financial exploitation that can affect the elderly. Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has been organizing a series of Senior Anti Crime University seminars throughout the state to help educate elders and their families about financial exploitation, identity theft, and other such crimes.
For more information on financial exploitation and other incidents of nursing home abuse and neglect, please visit the Nursing Home Advocates.
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