GAO contends CMS website falls short in comparing nursing homes

Nursing Home Compare, an online resource provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, enables consumers to research and compare nursing homes using a rating system. However, an audit by the Government Accountability Office has found that while the website is helpful it lacks key information, such as consumer satisfaction scores.

“Nursing home selection can be a stressful and time-sensitive process, so these are important tools that CMS makes available to the public. However, our review found opportunities for improvement in both the website and the ratings,” concludes the report.

In the United States, nearly 16,000 nursing homes participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs provide care to 1.4 million Americans annually—a number that is expected to grow as baby boomers age. To help the growing population of seniors in need of such services, CMS developed Nursing Home Compare to assist consumers in finding and comparing nursing homes based on a five-star quality system.

Specifically, the GAO discovered several factors inhibiting the ability of the rating system to help users understand nursing home quality and choose between high- and low- performing homes—which is the primary goal that CMS is attempting to achieve.

According to auditors, the “ratings were not designed to compare nursing homes nationally, limiting the ability of the rating system to help consumers who live near state borders or have multistate options.” Further, the GAO concluded that the rating system “does not include consumer satisfaction survey information, leaving consumers to make nursing home decisions without this important information.”

To address these and other shortcomings, GAO made four recommendations to CMS on how it can improve the Nursing Home Compare website and make it a better tool for consumers:

• Establish a systematic process for reviewing potential website improvements that includes and describes steps on how CMS will prioritize the implementation of potential website improvements.
  

• Add information to the five-star system that allows consumers to compare nursing homes nationally.

• Evaluate the feasibility of adding consumer satisfaction information to the five-star system.

• Develop and test with consumers some introductory explanatory information on the five-star system to be prominently displayed on the homepage. Such information should explain, for example, how the overall rating is calculated, the importance of the component ratings, where to find information on the timeliness of the data, and whether the ratings can be used to compare nursing homes nationally.
  

A CMS spokesperson declined to comment on the GAO findings and recommendations, and instead referred to the agency’s official written response published in the audit report.

In its written comments, CMS concurred with three of the GAO’s four recommendations but did not agree to add national comparison information to the Nursing Home Compare website. The agency argued that because of state variation in the execution of standard surveys, it is difficult to compare homes nationally on the health inspection component. It also noted that the five-star system is just one of many factors consumers should use when selecting a nursing home.

However, GAO insists that this information is important and should be included.

“We maintain that the ability for consumers to compare nursing homes nationally is critical to making nursing home decisions, especially for those consumers who live near state borders or have multistate options, and that our recommendation remains valid,” states the report.

Full Article & Source:
GAO contends CMS website falls short in comparing nursing homes

Minn. nonprofits seek to overhaul legal guardianship system for vulnerable adults

Steve Allen & Candace Hanson-Johnson

As the final moments of their date night ticked away, Candace Hanson-Johnson burrowed her face into the chest of her longtime fiancé, Steven Allen, and begged him not to leave. In the six years since they met, the adult couple had yet to spend more than a few hours alone together on a single date. Even trips to the cinema required preapproval, and overnight stays have been out of the question.

“It’s like we’re being held hostage for a crime we didn’t commit,” said Allen, 34, of Apple Valley, who has a cognitive disability caused by fetal exposure to alcohol.

Like 15,000 other vulnerable adults in Minnesota, Allen lives under the supervision of a court-appointed guardian. For decades, these caretakers have been granted broad authority over the money, medical care and even the personal relationships of the “wards” they are assigned to protect. Once appointed, guardians are rarely removed, and even when abuses occur their sweeping powers often go unchallenged by the courts.

Now, a coalition of large Minnesota nonprofits is developing a less-intrusive alternative. With a $1 million federal grant, Volunteers of America of Minnesota and Wisconsin will lead a group of social service agencies in building a way to protect vulnerable adults while respecting their dignity and preserving their rights against overzealous guardians. And instead of relying on overburdened courts, the new system will connect people like Allen with relatives and teams of social workers who have expertise in caring for people with disabilities.

Advocates predict that if the model catches on, hundreds of Minnesotans could regain control over such basic decisions as where to live, whom to date and how to spend their money.

“This has the potential to be a revolutionary approach,” said Anita Raymond, project director at Volunteers of America. “We are seeking to change the culture in Minnesota of defaulting to the use of guardianship.”

Dinner and a little TV
 
In guardianship documents, Steven Thomas Allen is categorized as “an incapacitated person.” He needs a guardian, the papers say, because he “lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions” and has “demonstrated behavioral deficits.” A Dakota County judge granted Allen’s adoptive parents all the powers allowed under Minnesota’s guardianship law, including control over his residence, medical care and personal property.

But Allen doesn’t see himself as “incapacitated” or helpless. He holds a job as a courtesy clerk at the Hy-Vee grocery store in Eagan, where he bags groceries and corrals shopping carts for $10 an hour. He cooks his own meals, can balance his checkbook and arranges transportation to and from work. Apart from needing reminders to take medications and pay bills, Allen insists he is capable of living without court-ordered supervision.

“Anyone who spent a day in my shoes would see that I’m not ‘incapacitated,’ ” he said on a recent afternoon after wrapping up a shift at Hy-Vee.

Yet many of Allen’s basic rights have been stripped away. He wants to move out of the group home in Apple Valley, a residence chosen by his guardians more than a decade ago, and move in to his fiancée’s apartment in Eagan. That request was denied by his guardians without explanation, he says. His social life is also carefully circumscribed: He is allowed only three “outings” from his group home each week, each limited to five-and-a-half hours. His fiancé is not allowed to visit his group home.

On nights out with Hanson-Johnson, Allen keeps a close eye on the clock to make sure he does not go over his allotted social time. On most nights, the couple settles for dinner at home and snuggling on a couch to watch “Law and Order” reruns before Candace’s mother rushes Allen home by his 9 p.m. curfew.

On a recent night, the couple cooked spaghetti and meatballs as they talked excitedly about plans to get tattoos. Allen’s tattoo would say, “Why are you so beautiful?” and Candace’s would respond, “Because you think I am!,” mimicking an exchange they repeat each date night.

“It’s hard to believe that we’ve been together for six years, and the most we’ve been allowed to do is take long naps together,” Allen said.

This summer, Allen took the rare step of contesting his guardianship. With help from a family friend, he sent a letter to the court asking that his guardian be removed and that he be given a hearing to explain. Weeks later, a Dakota County judge denied the request, citing his failure to provide “any medical support.” Allen was never granted a hearing.

“It’s frustrating because this is not a medical issue,” said Tammi Johnson, Candace’s mother. “This is a happiness-of-life issue.”

Allen’s guardian declined to comment for this story.

‘Supported decisions’

Allen is hardly alone in his struggle. Each year, Minnesota courts receive 1,500 to 2,000 petitions for guardianship. Even though a guardian’s role can be restricted based on a person’s specific needs, judges routinely grant them unlimited powers under the law.

Minnesota is one of just three states with a “bill of rights” for wards, but these rights are routinely ignored, disability advocates say. For instance, state law explicitly gives wards the right to associate with people of their choosing, yet overprotective guardians often prevent meetings with people who could challenge their authority, said Lee Ann Erickson, executive director of Arc Southwest, a disability rights group.

“Grown adults are treated like children,” she said.

In many cases, guardians seek unlimited powers even when their wards need help only with limited aspects of their daily lives, such as managing money or taking medications. “There is a lot of overreach,” said Hennepin County Judge Jamie Anderson, a former probate judge. “Often a person is able to live independently but may lose track of bills … and suddenly [a guardian] wants total control.”

The new approach, known as “supported decisionmaking,” would allow more flexibility, advocates say. Instead a single guardian having broad legal authority, a team of social workers and family members would guide a vulnerable adult through important decisions. The goal is to pinpoint areas where a client needs help making decisions, then develop a customized plan. Unlike the court system, they say, the model presumes people are capable decisionmakers.

Guardians would be appointed by courts only as a last resort.

To build this system, Volunteers of America plans to create a center to promote supported decisionmaking for older persons and adults with disabilities. The center would train social workers, attorneys and judges and, through a statewide hot line, is expected to help more than 500 people a year and train hundreds of professionals.

While the concept isn’t new, supported decisionmaking is still largely untested in the United States.

Last year, Texas became the first state to recognize supported decisionmaking agreements as legal alternatives to guardians. The most far-reaching reforms took effect in British Columbia, Canada, where people with disabilities can contract with one or more individuals to help with everyday life decisions.

“Guardianship is a forced bludgeon,” said Amanda Vickstrom, executive director of the Minnesota Elder Justice Center in St. Paul, one of the groups spearheading the new effort. “Before we strip away all of a person’s rights, we have a duty to explore less-restrictive alternatives.”

Full Article & Source:
Minn. nonprofits seek to overhaul legal guardianship system for vulnerable adults

VA leaves Veteran's body in shower room; tries to cover it up

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. - Bay Pines VA hospital staff left the body of a Veteran in a shower room for over nine hours, then tried to cover it up.

U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) released a statement in response to the report:

“I am deeply disturbed by the incident that occurred at the Bay Pines VA hospital, and even more distressed to learn that staff attempted to cover it up. The report details a total failure on the part of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and an urgent need for greater accountability. Unsurprisingly, not a single VA employee has been fired following this incident, despite a clear lack of concern and respect for the Veteran. The men and women who sacrificed on behalf of our nation deserve better.” 

Bilirakis strongly supported House passage of the VA Accountability Act, legislation to make it easier for the VA Secretary to fire employees for misconduct or poor performance.

Bay Pines VA's Statement:
I can confirm the accuracy of most of what has been reported, but feel that the words “cover-up” or “hide” used by the Tampa Bay Times are highly inaccurate.  It is true that the general issue identified in the article did, in fact, take place (A deceased Veteran was prepared for transportation to the morgue; however, transport took more than nine hours to occur).  With that being said, our leadership team took swift and deliberate actions to investigate the incident and determine the cause as soon as the issue was reported.

As reflected in the outcomes of our thorough internal reviews, it was found that some staff did not follow post mortem care procedures.  We view this finding unacceptable, and have taken appropriate action to mitigate reoccurrence in the future. Some of these actions include recommitment by all hospice staff to VA’s core values, education and training, and review of policy and procedures. Furthermore, hospice nursing professionals were required to provide a signature commitment of understanding and adherence to policy and practice related to post mortem care.  Nursing safety rounds were also initiated as a way to ensure ongoing education and oversight within the unit.  Appropriate personnel action was also taken, however, I am not able to provide details as these actions are considered confidential between the agency and employees involved. We feel that we have taken strong, appropriate and expeditious steps to strengthen and improve our existing systems and processes within the unit.

Again, this event was undesirable and unacceptable. While there is no specific VA policy or directive that provides guidance on the specific timeframe in which a decedent should be transported, it is our expectation that each Veteran is transported to their final resting place in the timely, respectful and honorable manner.  America’s heroes deserve nothing less.

Thank you,

Jason W. Dangel
Public Affairs Officer
Bay Pines VA Healthcare System

Full Article & Source:
VA leaves Veteran's body in shower room; tries to cover it up

Anemia in Seniors: What to Look for and How to Treat It

Decades ago when my grandmother was alive and living with my family, a public health nurse would come to the house once a month and give her a vitamin B12 shot. While I remember this well, it didn’t register with me at that young age how vital this injection was for Grandma. Once I started writing about health issues, I began to understand the seriousness of her condition. It seems that Grandma had pernicious anemia, which is not uncommon in elderly people.

A number of things can cause anemia in seniors, such as chronic disease, iron deficiency, B12 deficiency (like my grandmother), bleeding, and more. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of anemia to make sure it can be medically treated as quickly as possible.

For more information on this condition, I contacted Carole Eldridge, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, Vice President of Post-Licensure & Graduate Programs at the Chamberlain College of Nursing, and asked her to educate us, as caregivers, about anemia in seniors. Below, Carole shares the knowledge we need to keep watch over our loved ones (and ourselves) as we age.

AgingCare: What exactly is anemia?

Carole: When someone is anemic, the number of red cells in their blood or the amount of hemoglobin in these cells is lower than it should be. This condition is diagnosed by measuring the amount of each through a simple blood test. Anemia can occur due to a loss of blood, insufficient or faulty production of red blood cells (RBCs), or the destruction of these cells.

Hemoglobin is a protein in RBCs that carries oxygen to all the tissues in the body, making it an essential component of health and life. If the hemoglobin level is below 12 grams per deciliter of blood in a woman, and 13 grams per deciliter in a man, that person may be said to be anemic.

AgingCare: What are the signs that we should look for if we suspect anemia in our loved one?

Carole: When older people notice that they are tired or a little weaker than they used to be, they often attribute it to general aging. Sometimes that is a correct assumption. However, common symptoms of “old age,” such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, irritability, pale skin and shortness of breath, often point to more serious (and treatable) illnesses. These signs should always indicate that a loved one needs to be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

AgingCare: What causes low RBC and hemoglobin levels, and how does it develop?

Carole: Anemia can either be acute, with a sudden and severe onset, or it can be chronic, developing slowly over a long period of time. This difference in the two types reflects the cause of the anemia, and the treatment will be different depending on the cause. Sometimes a cause can’t be found, but even then, anemia can often be treated with good results.

Approximately 13 percent of people older than 70 are anemic. In about 70 percent of these cases, the cause can be identified. The two most common are chronic disease (30-45 percent) and iron deficiency (15-30 percent). Between 5 and 10 percent of cases are due to deficiencies in vitamin B12 or folate. Some of the many possible chronic diseases associated with anemia include ulcers, liver or kidney disease, hypothyroidism, inflammation of the stomach or intestines, and cancer.

It is helpful to think of anemia as a symptom of another underlying condition rather than the primary concern. This is especially true in seniors, who often have multiple health issues. In severe cases of anemia, the heart can become damaged from working harder to circulate enough oxygen throughout the body, but the main threat and target for treatment is still the patient’s underlying health conditions.

AgingCare: What are the implications of overlooking the symptoms and not receiving treatment?

Carole: It is important to detect and treat this as quickly as possible. Anemic seniors are twice as likely to lose some of their physical abilities and experience functional decline as those who are not anemic. Furthermore, studies have found a 150 percent increase in the risk of hospitalization for older people with anemia and a 200 percent higher risk of their admission to a nursing home. Even borderline anemia makes a significant difference. Mildly anemic elders experience 1.5 times the risk of losing physical abilities as those without.

AgingCare: How is anemia due to a nutritional deficiency treated?

Carole: Iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, and folate deficiency can be relatively easily identified and treated. Addressing nutritional issues can make an enormous difference in the way a senior feels and functions and may prevent the loss of physical abilities that could result in hospitalization or placement in a nursing home. Simple blood tests are used to diagnose these deficiencies and then dietary supplements are typically prescribed.

Low iron is the most well-known cause of anemia, but typically affects younger individuals. When it occurs in seniors, it is usually due to limited absorption in the intestines or gastrointestinal bleeding.

Someone with iron deficiency anemia may be prescribed iron supplements, and it is crucial to follow the healthcare provider’s instructions regarding supplementation. Too much iron intake can cause vomiting, diarrhea, headache, irritability, fatigue, and even heart and joint damage. Even in proper doses, iron supplements can still cause constipation, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

These side effects may be lessened by taking the pills with food. Iron and calcium supplements should not be taken together, since calcium interferes with the absorption of iron. Timed-release iron supplements are not usually recommended, because absorption is best in the upper part of the digestive tract. Taking these pills with a little orange juice or in conjunction with a vitamin C supplement may help promote absorption as well. Another easy fix may be adding more iron-rich foods to a loved one’s diet. Red meat, egg yolks, nuts, seafood, beans, and whole grains are all healthy sources of this mineral.

Seniors sometimes lose the ability to absorb vitamin B12 from their food. Deficiencies of vitamin B12 may be treated with oral supplements, but injections are usually the most effective treatment. Depending on the severity of the deficiency, these injections may be needed periodically for life. To increase the amount of this vitamin in the diet, seniors should eat beef, poultry, fish, liver, oysters, clams, milk, cheese and eggs.

Folate deficiencies can be helped with a diet that includes plenty of raw or lightly cooked green, leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower), fresh fruits, dairy products, and whole grains. A healthcare provider might prescribe a folic acid supplement, which is a form of folate.

AgingCare: How are other types treated?

Carole: When it is caused by a chronic disease, naturally, the best thing to do is treat the underlying condition. This type is also known as “anemia of chronic disease” or ACD, and patients often have adequate iron and nutrients in the body, but they are not being used efficiently in the formation of new red blood cells. Although the reason for this impaired ability to use iron is not known, some experts believe it to be a part of the body’s immune response to prevent bacterial growth and further harm. This is part of why iron supplementation is not an effective treatment for ACD.

Infections, inflammation, hormonal imbalances and malignancy are a few main causes of ACD.
Chronic kidney disease is one specific example, and there are helpful drugs available that stimulate the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. Another is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of slow-growing cancer that some seniors live with for years before experiencing noticeable symptoms. Other conditions, such as tuberculosis, diabetes, endocarditis, chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), osteoarthritis, hepatitis, lupus, pressure ulcers, myeloma and lymphoma can also be culprits. Specific methods of treatment depend entirely on the individual’s overall health and comorbid conditions.

There are other forms of anemia that are less common and require serious medical intervention. Treatment might include steroids, blood transfusions, or even surgery to remove an enlarged spleen, repair abnormal blood vessels, tumors, or heart valves among other things.

Certain medications can also contribute to anemia. This is especially true for older individuals who typically take multiple prescriptions. Numerous medications can have a synergistic effect and cause side effects to have a greater impact on the body. Examples of these medications include ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), and certain antibiotics and anticonvulsants. Cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy can also damage bone marrow, where red blood cells are created.

The key to dealing with anemia is always to discover the root cause when possible and then to work with a healthcare provider to treat both the cause and the symptoms.

AgingCare: Thank you, Carole, for answering our questions about anemia and helping us know what to look for. As caregivers, this information is invaluable.

Full Article & Source:
Anemia in Seniors: What to Look for and How to Treat It

Probate attorney abandons office, clients; Nevada Bar expected to file for suspension

LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) — A local attorney who handles people's money has suddenly gone missing.

The Nevada State Bar has told News 3 they will soon be filing to have him suspended from practicing law in Nevada.

Attorney Robert C. Graham of Lawyers West handles probate cases that involve wills, trusts, bankruptcies and more.

Thursday morning, News 3 tried going to his office but it appeared abandoned. A note on the door stated Graham is days away from being evicted.

Court filings News 3 uncovered reveal the state bar of Nevada filed to protect Graham's clients by replacing him as their attorney with another law firm.

The filing also states Graham abruptly closed his business without notifying employees and that his clients' files were abandoned in his rented office space.

"We as lawyers have a responsibility to the community and to our clients. There are so many other alternatives for a lawyer to do other than just walking away," said Norman Reed, a long-time Las Vegas attorney.

Reed said it's rare for any attorney to abandon his practice.

"I'd say there's good circumstantial evidence that there's something connected to a trust fund account or some behavior the lawyer did that they're ashamed of and frankly their resolution to that was to run away," said Reed.

Graham's website has been shut down. His office phone number goes straight to voicemail and you're unable to leave a message.

Reed said whatever the issue was to cause this abrupt closure it could have been handled differently.

"Whatever you want to do there's a way to do it short of walking away because it causes such a problem, such a rift not only to the client but to the entire judicial system," said Reed.

Full Article & Source:
Probate attorney abandons office, clients; Nevada Bar expected to file for suspension

Locked On The Psych Ward

Lock them in. Bill their insurer. Kick them out. How scores of employees and patients say America’s largest psychiatric chain turns patients into profits.  

Samantha Trimble Rosalind Adams / BuzzFeed News

On a cool October evening in 2012, Samantha Trimble walked into the lobby of Millwood Hospital, a low-slung brick building on the side of a road in Arlington, Texas, seeking a free mental health assessment.

A few weeks earlier in the AP world history class Trimble taught, after a kid started acting childish, she put a diaper on his head — something she admits was a bad idea. When administrators heard about it, she was escorted off the property. Worried for her job and her ability as a single mother to support her daughter, she visited her doctor’s office in tears. A physician assistant asked if she wanted to talk to someone at Millwood.

Just after 8 p.m. that evening, a counselor at Millwood asked Trimble if she was having suicidal thoughts. With her pastor beside her for moral support, she replied, “Well, who hasn’t had suicidal thoughts?” She said she had no intention to kill herself but joked, “It’s Texas, it isn’t that hard to get a gun.” They all laughed, she recalled. She said she had no idea that the counselor characterized the line as a plan to commit suicide.

Nor did she know, she later testified in a deposition, that the dozen or so forms he gave her were anything other than standard doctor’s-office paperwork. She signed them and waited for her counseling session.

It was nearly 11 p.m. by the time a staff member walked her down a long hallway. She recalled being startled to see rooms that were filled not with desks but with beds.

A technician rifled through Trimble’s purse for sharp objects and then a nurse told her to strip down to her underwear. It was then, she said, that she realized the doors to the psychiatric ward had locked behind her.

Trimble, who has recently reached a settlement regarding her hospitalization, recalled shaking with fear and “deep, shameful humiliation” as the nurse examined her body, noting the location of any identifying marks. “All you can do,” Trimble said, “is stand there and let it happen.”

The nurse handed her a small cup of pills, and soon she was asleep.  (Continue Reading)

Full Article & Source:
Locked On The Psych Ward

Zia Credit Union Strives To Curb Elder Financial Abuse

David Woodruff

On Wednesday of last week, the Senate Special Committee on Aging called for tougher state actions to prevent elder abuse by guardians – and in a 2011 MetLife study, it was suggested that older Americans lost more than $2 billion to financial exploitation by a spectrum of perpetrators in 2010.

In June of this year, the Taos News reported that, in the U.S., approximately 1 in 10 of senior citizens has been a victim of elder abuse, for a total of more than 1 million each year. As more and more reports of elder financial abuse begin to surface, advocates for seniors and the elderly are pushing for greater general awareness and education surrounding elder abuse.

Zia Credit Union spent much of 2016 conducting Elder Abuse informational seminars at senior centers across Northern New Mexico - in Los Alamos, Espanola, Truchas, White Rock and Taos. The seminars are constructed around the foundation that victims of elder abuse are often unaware that abuse is taking place and seldom are they aware of networks or resources that can help them navigate the issue.

Because seniors don’t always have information about elder financial abuse at their fingertips, Zia Credit Union management felt that an important first step to combatting elder financial abuse in the communities his credit union serves is to start with arming potential victims with information, such as tell-tale signs of elder abuse and how to get help.

“At a time when financial and medical improprieties regarding senior citizens abound,” Zia President & CEO David Woodruff said, “those of us who are trusted providers of services for our seniors need to be vigilant to identify signs of abuse or neglect and to help our seniors be informed and know that they can reach out to us and other trusted sources if they feel threatened or are unsure of financial transactions they are being asked to carry out.”

Woodruff noted that Zia Credit Union officials have spoken with various senior center officials about doing a "series of presentations for seniors about protecting themselves, specifically, from the phone scams that have become such an epidemic." The credit union plans on beginning the series in 2017.

Full Article & Source:
Zia Credit Union Strives To Curb Elder Financial Abuse

Eviction notices posted on retirement home doors shock seniors

WESTWOOD, Calif. -- Flossy Liebman is a collector of clocks, but she’s losing time. The 95-year-old says she and the roughly 200 others at Vintage Westwood Horizons senior living center are being evicted, CBS Los Angeles reported.
Many of the residents are in their 90s.

Notices were posted on the residents’ doors last week, saying the seniors have until the end of March to move -- and most don’t know where to go.

“I mean everybody’s panicked,” Liebman said.

“People have been calling around to all of the facilities that take seniors in any capacity and are finding no spaces anywhere,” daughter Jane Blumenfield said. “Just waiting lists.”

Some of the residents have financial limitations. Loneliness is also a factor. At the senior center, they say they don’t feel alone.

“It’s their life,” Blumenfield said. “It’s their whole social network.”


(Click to Continue Reading)

Full Article & Source:
Eviction notices posted on retirement home doors shock seniors

Former investment firm president sentenced

FARMINGTON, Mo. (AP) — An eastern Missouri man who was the former president of an investment company has been sentenced to five years of probation for financial exploitation.

The Daily Journal newspaper in Park Hills, Missouri (http://bit.ly/2h9mpM2 ) reports that Thomas Terry, former president of Farmington Investment Corp., was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty in the midst of his trial.

Terry was accused of selling unregistered investments and misusing the savings of more than 40 people, with their loss estimated at $1.2 million.

As part of an agreement with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to two counts of financial exploitation of the elderly or disabled. He was ordered to pay restitution to the victims amounting to $250,000, paying at a rate of $500 per month.

Full Article & Source:
Former investment firm president sentenced