Canadian Woman Loses $82,000 Due to Elder Financial Abuse
A 92-year-old woman has lost her entire life savings as a result of financial abuse from a live-in caregiver. Dorothy Linklater lost over $82,000 in savings in 3 years. In addition, according to the report on the Toronto Sun, Linklater also owed over $7,000 for utility bills in her home. The report states that Linklater’s niece tried to assist her elderly aunt as much as possible to recover what she could.
When Linklater’s nieces arrived at her home, they found the woman had been in the same clothes for days and the windows had been taped shut. In addition, the woman’s belongings had been removed from the home and her caregiver’s son had moved into the home without Linklater’s permission. Her bed was reduced to a box spring and mattress on the floor with unkempt bed sheets. The caregiver pled guilty to fraud and will be sentenced on December 10th.
This horrendous incident is one of many unfortunate incidents of elder abuse that occur very often. People often place a tremendous amount of trust in in-home caregivers and that trust is subsequently abused in this way. The report stated that the elderly woman felt helpless in her own home and that she was reduced to tears when she realized the gravity of her situation. It is extremely saddening when a person is forced to come to terms with the fact that they have lost their entire life savings and are left in shambles in their home as a result of one person’s cruel acts of abuse.
