"THE LOOK"

I have named it "THE LOOK", and I see it far too often and each time I do it is heartbreaking. "THE LOOK" is the body language and facial expression I see when I have to inform an elderly financial exploitation victim that their family member, friend, or trusted professional is stealing from them.

The victim often gets defensive due to they do not want to believe they were victimized by someone they trusted. Often I truly believe in their heart they know they are being exploited but just can not face the fact that someone they care about is victimizing them.

If exploitation of the elderly is ever suspected please come forward and bring your concerns to authorities attention similar to if it was suspected that a child was being victimized.

Please lets all work together to minimize having to tell an older person that they are a victim 0f someone they have trusted to care for them. Lets eliminate "THE LOOK".

Memorial Day Parades and our Elderly Veterans

What a great day today in central Ohio, watching the Memorial day parade in my community and honoring our country's veterans. This was just one parade around our great country that highlighted what these great men and women have done for our freedoms.

I felt a deep sadness for those who lost their lives or were injured for us, but another sadness sunk in to me while I watched the American Legion float go by.

As I watched the older veterans that proudly wore their ball caps that read WWII it hit me that the float they were on was not as crowded as previous years parades. Reality sunk in that we are losing these great Americans.

As I held my ball cap over my heart as the floats passed carrying the American flag, I kept getting eye contact with these Veterans, I continually mouthed THANK YOU to them.

Their hand wave and smile said it all for me, God Bless America.

Teaching in America's Heartland

This past week I had the pleasure of presenting in Council Bluff, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska on the topic of Exploitation of the Elderly.

I met some wonderful people who have dedicated themselves to protecting the elderly in their communities. There also was a large contingent of senior citizens in the audience.

Whenever I present to seniors I know if I have done my job I will have victims in the audience who I have made comfortable enough to come forward and tell me about their victimization. This once again occurred in Nebraska and Iowa.

I am proud of these victims coming forward, I can instantly get them linked with professionals in their area who will help them with being a victim of crime.

As I was flying back to Ohio the most rewarding part of my trip was knowing that elderly victims of exploitation that I met are now on the road to justice and having their dignity restored.

The Hand Shake

I often hear uneducated comments such as "they should have known better" or "how could they have been so stupid" when referring to an elderly financial exploitation victim.

I recently spoke in Toledo, Ohio and my theory on why the elderly are targeted so often was once again solidified.

There was a man named "Bob" sitting in the front row and I asked him to please stand up and introduce himself, he was a WWII veteran. I reached my hand out and Bob shook my hand with a firm grip.

I then asked him what does a "handshake" mean to you and he quickly responded "a man's word".

This is the theory that our older citizens grew up with, that an individuals word meant the truth. We can not blame the victim for their victimization.

"They were nicer to me than my own Family"

I hear this comment from the elderly exploitation victim far too often, and each time I do I become furious. The predator of the elderly person has to be nice, kind, and considerate in order to win the confidence of their victim.

But once they have established both physical and emotional control over their victim they then are not VERY NICE. I in my trainings I teach the RED FLAG signs of when the victim is being controlled and how to intercede to protect the elderly victim.

Exploitation of the elderly exhibits the same behaviors as domestic violence and child exploitation, the art of Power and Control.

Do not delay getting help for your elderly loved one, they deserve swift JUSTICE for their victimization.

Investments for the Elderly Client

I often am asked to review the "investments" that our elderly citizens are convinced to put their long saved nest eggs into in order to get a far better "return" on their money.

This frequently turns out to be a winning situation for the person who has convinced the elderly person to invest and often the only person who truly benefits (financially). The elderly person (quite frequently suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer's) is sold a set of dreams based on their "Trust and Like" for the individual that convinces them to invest.

Please do your "Homework" on the person who approaches you to invest, do not let them rush you into a decision or pressure you that the opportunity to do it is "now".

Remember: "If it is too good to be true it is not true".

Care Provider or Thief ?

Too many times I have investigated cases where the care provider has stepped over the line from taking care of the elderly persons physical and emotional needs to helping themselves to their client or family members finances. This is THEFT.

The most common answer given by the care provider when interviewed is "they wanted me to have it or I was given it" making reference to the money or property they ended up with that rightfully belongs to the elderly victim.

The cardinal rule in care providing is you never accept anything from the client, period.

If you or your family has experienced this theft from your beloved elderly in your life contact me.