My 91 year old aunt was widowed over 30 years ago. Since then she has lived in genteel poverty, always worried about money, just scraping by etc. However she lives in a house with a glorious position and garden (her true passion). A couple of years ago a neighbour bought the house and my aunt is allowed to stay in it until she dies/goes into a home. She has no children of her own, but one, now elderly, step son.
Sadly for her this influx of money has come at a time her health has nosedived, but it at least means she can pay for (fiercely resisted) carers and a nice care home when the time comes.
Her lovely, patient carer told my sister that aunt’s step son has visited her 3 times in the last week asking for money and aunt is getting worried about it. I know step son owes around £50,000 to one agency and has also taken out equity release on his house. His wife had been ill for sometime and died last year, so I imagine with her lack of pension/ carer’s allowance etc he’s feeling the pinch.
He’s a lovely man but feckless, as soon as he got some money another luxurious new car was bought. The problem is the amounts he needs could wipe out my aunt’s money very quickly. She is very fond of him and has always worried about him, and finds it difficult to say no.
The house my aunt lives in was not the family home. My uncle was a widower, the family house was in his late wife’s name, and she left everything to the children, so it’s not as though step son can claim this house is his inheritance.
My aunt still has capacity, although POAs are in place when needed. In the meantime what can be done? I plan to attempt to ring the bank tomorrow to say she’s vulnerable, another neighbour is going to pop round every-time she sees his car. My aunt doesn’t do online banking so will have to write cheques, which I guess can be stopped. My sister and I do not live close to aunt so can’t just nip in to see her.
I feel so sad that just as she could relax about money step son has screwed it up.
Apologies for the essay.