After a long and high profile life of philanthropic endeavors, socialite Brook Astor died in 2007 with an estate worth $200 million. Two years later, her son Anthony Marshall was convicted of stealing millions from her. Astor suffered from dementia, and Marshall was paying himself from her assets. While…
By the end of 2015, it is expected that 5.1 million persons age 65 and over will make their homes in California. Add aging baby-boomers to the state’s current migration patterns and it is entirely likely that the state will be home to more than 8.4 million seniors by 2030.…
In a new and dynamic partnership, The Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner (KSC), the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) earlier in July. WEAAD is a global program created by the…
The National Council on Aging has identified the Grandparent Scam as one of the top 10 cons targeting the seniors. The scam involves asking grandparents to send money to help out a grandchild in a legal bind. This happens quite often, and many grandparents might be too embarrassed or scared…
A Walnut Ridge woman was arrested Thursday for forging a will after someone else had died. Another scammer made the news recently, this time involving a forged will. KAIT reported the story in an article titled "Woman arrested for forging new will after someone died." An Arkansas woman, Kimberly Dement…
The Long Term Care Special Prosecutions Unit was created one-year ago and since then, special agents have opened 113-cases, filing five felony charges since last summer. San Diego families in search of quality care are now getting more allies in the fight against elder abuse. As abuse against seniors is…
As the nation's senior population grows, elder abuse complaints increase as well. The Oregon Department of Justice's Criminal Justice Division is addressing the increasing elder abuse claims by proposing an elder abuse resource prosecutor be added to the staff. Undoubtedly, other states may be adding similar positions as the awareness…
Ernie Banks died on January 23rd at age 83 from a heart condition. Interestingly, his death certificate listed dementia as a “significant condition contributing” to his death. Why is that important? Well, three months before he died, Banks signed a new set of estate planning documents, including a power of…
How big a problem is impossible to say, because hard data is scarce. “The reality is that we don’t even have national data on the scope of the problem,” Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), said at the hearing. It has been found that much of the financial abuse involving seniors goes…
Seniors make up about one-fifth of financial abuse victims nationwide, Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman said Thursday. They're tempting prey for scammers because old age often comes with reduced cognitive abilities. Financial scammers who target elderly or vulnerable Minnesotans would face stiffer penalties under a law Gov. Mark Dayton included in…