Caregiver steals $30,000 dollars from Elderly Woman
In Jefferson, Indiana an elderly woman was victimized by her caregiver who stole approximately $30,000 over a period of six months while working for her. 86-year old Merlene Black has stated that the caregiver had isolated her from her friends and family, not allowing them to visit and even listening to her phone conversations.
Mary Long, a second cousin of Merlene Black who is her new caretaker stated that the woman was far from trustworthy. Black’s financial documents show a string of cash withdrawals from credit cars and many checks written for cash. Black was unaware of the transactions until she had received her bank statement and received phone calls from her bank expressing concern over her account. The caregiver (whose identity has not been released by the police) had allegedly used Black’s funds for restaurants, car maintenance, sporting goods stores, ect.
Financial exploitation is one of the most pervasive types of elder abuse. When you put your trust into a caregiver you never expect them to deceive you. Not only do you trust them into your house and around your most precious belongings, but you trust them with your life. In a case like this it is important to report any suspicious behavior to family member and especially to a professional. In order to prevent from finding out too late that your caregiver is deceiving you it is important to take precautions. For instance, monitor your bank accounts and keep valuables in a safe. You may not know what course of action to take when a caregiver is stealing for you. Contacting an Arizona personal injury attorney can aid in bringing these people to justice.
