My dad has two grandsons that live with him. He gives them the credit card from time to time to go get gas or buy a few groceries. They spend hundreds of dollars more than than he gives them permission for. Most of the charges are to the same convenience store, multiple times in one day, for amounts in the $50 -90 range. This occurs almost every day or at least every other day. Most of the other charges are to auto parts stores. When asked about these charges Dad says he doesn't know what they are for. When we find out that it was the grandsons making the charges he covers for them. He has also started lying about the cash he gives them. Daddy does not have a problem with his memory nor has he been known to lie. The grandsons are in thier late 20"s and early 30's and do not work. They live off of Dad. Since Daddy doesn't see well the grandson's mother writes out his bills. She is aware of her sons taking advantage of Dad's generosity but does nothing to prevent it.
"Financial elder abuse occurs when someone (a loved one, a close friend or even a stranger) preys on a senior citizen and cheats the senior out of money or property. It is a heinous crime and one that goes vastly underreported. The senior may be embarrassed at having been swindeled, may be afraid of retaliation if the abuser is a family member or caregiver, may be conflicted about reporting a family member to the authorities or may be unable to comprehend that he was, indeed, the victim of a crime."