After being exposed by a member of the family for taking large amounts from her mothers savings your sister moves her into her home where she has full control over her bank. What can we do?

Answer 1

You should seek the advice of an attorney who is experienced in elder law. Especially if you think your mother is not competent to handle her own affairs and your sister is stealing from her. An attorney could assist you in petitioning the court to be appointed your mother's guardian or conservator. If you don't want to seek legal help then then you should speak with an elder abuse counselor in your area. Check for a local hotline by running a search for "elder abuse" and your city and state. They may be able to put you in direct contact with local authorities who are experienced in matters relating to elder abuse. If you can't find a hotline then search your local phonebook for senior services agencies. There should be one listed under the town offices. By speaking to the authorities you should be able to trigger a home visit by an agency representative who will be able to assess your mother's situation. It sounds like your mother may have granted your sister a Power of Attorney or made her a joint owner of her bank accounts. Someone else in the family, in addition to your sister, should be given the authority to review your mother's income and her bank accounts to make sure that all expenditures are legitimate. Or, you may determine what help is available to you first, then try to speak with your sister. You could threaten to report her unless she opens up your mother's finances for your inspection and voluntarily adds another family member as suggested above. She may reconsider her position if she knows that authorities may become involved.