Theft from elderly disabled parent by family member

[Helpathome]

I have found out that a family member who is also a carer for an elderly parent has been withdrawing money from their bank account. The carer has had a problem with drugs in the past and it seems likely that they have started using them again as they have got through hundreds of pounds in the last few weeks with nothing to show for it.

I don't know what to do, I live overseas and for obvious reasons I can't travel to the UK. We cannot involve the police. Apart from cutting off the access to the bank account what other measures can we take?

Why can't you involve the police?

It sounds like social services need to involved as they are vulnerable and being stolen from by their carer!!!

Ss and police, what other option?

How did you find out?.

Why can't you involve the police?. Just because its amongst family; if so that is no reason not to involve them!. Elder abuse is certainly not unknown nor is it all that uncommon. A crime is being committed here.

Give the people in the UK this information. Support and advice can be obtained from:

Adult Social Services at your local council
Your GP or other NHS health providers
The Care Quality Commission
Domestic Abuse helpline 0808 2000 247
Action on Elder Abuse helpline: 0808 808 8141
The Police

I have online access to the bank account. Thank you for the names and numbers of support services. If the carer went to prison then the elderly person would not be able to stay in their own home and they would hate to be moved to a care home.

"If the carer went to prison then the elderly person would not be able to stay in their own home and they would hate to be moved to a care home".

Elder abuse is a crime and this needs to be reported all the same. You have online access to the bank account; have you yourself raised concerns with the bank?.

I would think your second sentence is unlikely to happen, this person would be able to stay in their home with support provided by people other that the thief. Care home moves are not happening with regularity at present if at all because of coronavirus.

What do you think would happen when the elderly relative is stone cold broke and destitute and anything of value is gone? You think that's a healthier situation than involving police and getting SS involved? Think with your logic vs emotions

You contact the banks fraud department, and the services others mention. The police need to know and your relative will be able to stay at home.

Care home moves definitely are happening at the moment!

Are you able to come to the UK to provide care for your relative? Air travel is still happening, you'd need to isolate if not from a travel corridor country, but that could be with your relative.

Its not just stealing the money. If the caree is on drugs then they are not capable of giving safe care. This is a safeguarding issue and the eldeely relative deserves better either in their own home with emergency carers or in a carehome.

I do know you're right about the safeguarding issue and of course the fact that they won't have any money left if this goes on.

As soon as the cash is gone so will the carer.
If they are in the throes of their addiction you have no clue if any care is being given.
Sadly it's act now or wait for the money to finish and act then.

It's it your parent? Can you not request a SS assessment urgently, raising a safeguarding concern re financial abuse but making it clear that the care needs provided by the relative will need to be met by an agency instead. Depending on amount of care needed, you may find the relative is cheaper than an agency but hopefully careers will not be under influence of drugs whilst caring. What type of help is needed? Most areas have hot meal delivery services who will visit daily with ready to eat meal and can leave a packed tea in fridge ready to eat. Telecare lifeline type services have lots of tech to help keep people safe. I would request an urgent assessment of need.

first thing I would do is call the bank and the police, they can put a stop on the bank cards so the carer will not be able to access any money. have you got power of attorney? does the elderly relative have the capacity to make any of their own decisions or appoint you as their financial support?
if the carer is under the influence of drugs then that is very serious, you don't know what sort of "care" they are giving, this is abuse and you need to contact the authorities.
even if the elderly relative is placed in emergency accommodation in a carehome or has emergency carers put in then surely that is far better than the current situation.
if the carer accepts what they have done and seeks help they may be grateful in the longrun anyway.

They might not have to leave their home if they can get proper carers to look after them in their own home. Is this not an option?