Brilliant Idea to Protect Elders’ Money with Home Care Workers

Brilliant Idea to Protect Elders’ Money with Home Care Workers

By Carolyn L. Rosenblatt, R. N., Attorney at Law

Do you ever worry about caregivers doing shopping for elders with elders’ money? Worker access to cash or credit cards can be a problem. The risk of financial abuse, whether large or small, is always looming for those whose workers handle money. Stanton Lawson, owner of Senior Care Solutions of Petaluma, California, has come up with a brilliant idea to keep elders’ money safe. Read more, or listen to our interview with Stan…

Stan read about financial elder abuse and knew the potential was there for theft by his workers. As an agency owner, he wanted his clients to be protected. He creatively figured out that gift cards could be purchased to cover caregiver purchases, and that he could then monitor the expenditures on the computer, just as you do a credit card purchase. Here’s how it works.

Stan purchases the cards in the agency’s name, using his money. The information about how much is on the card is on an account record on the internet, for each card. He allows the caregiver to use the card. His office staff logs on to the account and checks the card purchases often to see if there are any improprieties. He creates an invoice for each client, and the amount spent on the gift card is added to the client invoice every two weeks.

According to Stan Lawson, it’s working beautifully. For the bank trust officers, lawyers, fiduciaries and managers who are responsible for the elder’s financial welfare, this system is a secure way to be sure the elder is not taken advantage by any worker or caregiver who handles money for their clients. He reports that the financial community is very satisfied with his method.

It’s a win-win for everyone. The client is protected, Stan Lawson and his agency can be proud of their awareness of financial elder abuse and proactive work, and everyone who is connected to watching out for the elder has greater peace of mind. Congratulations to Stan Lawson at Senior Care Solutions in Petaluma, California, for sharing his creative idea with us at AgingParents.com. Elders are safer because of you!

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