A new form of elder abuse is rearing its head in nursing homes around the country. Only this time it isn’t physical or mental… it’s monetary. In early December the woman pictured, Jacqueline Anne Lumpkin of Birmingham is alleged to have stolen the credit card of a 98 year old resident of a nursing home. If this is true the worst part is Jacqueline Lumpkin is the same person who was getting paid to take care of her.
Identity theft is nothing new to any of us. We all know how to be safe on the internet, shred sensitive documents and keep an eye on our credit scores. But do 98 year old women in nursing homes have to be concerned that their identities will be stolen by their nursing assistants? Let’s hope not!
The report alleges that Ms. Lumpkin charged up over $5,000 worth of purchases on this resident’s credit card and then disappeared. Her location is not known right now but the Birmingham police are looking for her. What could be even more disturbing is they cannot determine if there are more victims.
Some advice to caregivers and family members, If your elder or loved one has the need for a credit card, have a safe place for them to hide it. Get a small safe, have them keep it with the front office, find a safe hiding place for their valuables. Do anything that will deter people from stealing their ID. Talk with your family member about how easy it is for people to get their information and ruin their bank accounts. They must have a heightened sense of this type of fraud.
We must continue to demand that all people that come in contact and take care of our elders are thoroughly examined before given the job. Proper background checks and drug testing are just a start. No matter if they are temporary or full time we need to be assured that the people that give our elders a high quality of life are trustworthy and upstanding people.
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