Recently, a case involving allegations of elder financial abuse has arisen in California.

The case involves a 51-year-old woman from Victorville, California. The woman has been accused of having stolen money from a 72-year-old woman that she worked for.

According to authorities, the 51-year-old woman met the 72-year-old woman at a gym in Apple Valley, California and befriended her. Allegedly, the 51-year-old woman eventually talked the 72-year-old woman into hiring her as a personal trainer and as a housekeeper.

Authorities allege that, while the 51-year-old woman worked for the 72-year-old woman, she stole the 72-year-old woman's checkbook. Authorities further allege that the 51-year-old woman wrote around $6,000 worth of checks using checks from this stolen checkbook. Allegedly, for several months, the 51-year-old woman was able to convince the 72-year-old woman to not report this alleged theft. Eventually, the 72-year-old woman did report the alleged theft to police.

According to the article on the San Bernardino County Sun's website which reported this story, authorities have arrested the 51-year-old woman in connection to the above allegations. Reportedly, the 51-year-old woman faces charges of grand theft, check fraud, burglary and elder abuse. One wonders what will ultimately happen in this case.

Elderly individuals can suffer great harm when they are subjected to elder financial abuse like that alleged in this case. No elderly individual should have to face elder financial abuse, particularly at the hands of someone who claims to be their friend. Thus, one hopes that individuals are held accountable when they commit financial abuse against an elderly individual.

Source: San Bernardino County Sun, "Victorville personal trainer defrauds elderly woman," Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Feb. 3, 2012