That's not nice

[color=indigo:0560ce6bc8][b:0560ce6bc8]Elderly being swindled by families[/b:0560ce6bc8] [/color:0560ce6bc8]
04 June 2006
By EMILY WATT

An Otago woman will be sentenced on 11 counts of fraud this month after stealing money and credit cards from her elderly mother-in-law. The case is one of many in which elderly New Zealanders are being swindled by their families, says Age Concern.

The victim realised she had been robbed after being unable to find her credit cards or cash while at the supermarket. A bank statement later showed more than $5000 had been taken and gambled away. She did not complain to police until it happened again. When police went to her son's home to seize items bought with her stolen credit cards, her son rang his mother and abused her. He hasn't spoken to her since, and she has lost contact with her grandson.

Age Concern said many elderly were too scared to speak out when they were ripped off, and the Otago woman wished she had gone to the police earlier. "Take them to court immediately. I wish I'd done that the first time." Age Concern this month launches a campaign to highlight the growing issue of elder abuse and neglect. They say it's common for family members to steal blank cheques or eftpos cards, renege on loans, and even sell their homes from under them.

Spokeswoman Betty Jean Eydt said the issue had a huge impact on the elderly's health and well being. She said family members needed to value older people and understand they didn't have a "right" to an inheritance. "People are living longer and they need their own money to have quality of life."

Eydt said most abusers were family members or others in positions of trust who thought they had a right to the money or wanted money due to debt or greed. Those who were isolated, dependent, or who had dementia were particularly at risk.

One 73-year-old woman was persuaded to sell her home to her nephew and moved into a cottage on his property. Within two years, he ordered her to leave and she discovered he had drawn up a sale agreement that left her with no money.

Another elderly couple loaned money to their son and daughter-in-law to renovate their house. Their son later refused to repay the loan, claiming it was a gift. He then disowned his parents and cut off access to their grandchildren.

Counsellor Rhonda Pritchard, author of How Money Comes Between Us, said money could create divided loyalties in a family and had the potential to ruin relationships. Even the most mentally alert older person was vulnerable to financial abuse. "They have a history of providing for their young and are often prone to rescuing them. They want to be generous and they also feel duty if they've been cared for by any of their children."

If you are concerned, contact your local Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Service for confidential and free information and support, listed on www.ageconcern.org.nz.