Senior in care loses thousands of dollars to an unexpected robber. Here's how you can protect yourself
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As people age, they start relying on family members to take care of complicated or physically taxing tasks.
However, for seniors in care, aged care workers often serve as their trusted right hand.
What happens if the trust seniors impose on these individuals gets breached?
A 46-year-old aged care worker admitted to a spree of deceit that stripped a patient of their finances.
The worker, identified as Tracy Leah Salmon, was employed at Carrington Care's Grasmere Terrace facility in Camden.
She pleaded guilty to a staggering 57 charges, including dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, driving while disqualified, and stealing.
The victim, an 89-year-old resident, lost about $18,000 from Ms Salmon's lies.
The case, which unfolded in Sydney's Campbelltown court, shed light on the vulnerabilities faced by seniors in care facilities.
Ms Salmon's case also emphasised the importance of safeguarding assets, especially as people age.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Ms Salmon exploited the fact that her victim, a wheelchair-bound woman of sound mind, had not yet established a power of attorney.
The victim also did not have any immediate family members tending to her needs after being discharged from the hospital.
The court heard how Ms Salmon, who took care of the elderly woman, took advantage of her position.
Ms Salmon would steal the resident's credit card from a purse hidden in a cupboard inside the suite.
Over five weeks, Ms Salmon embarked on a reckless spending spree.
She bought items like designer handbags, fast food, carnival rides and ear piercings.
Ms Salmon used the card's contactless payment feature and kept each transaction under $100 to bypass the need for a PIN.
Her fraudulent activities spanned across Campbelltown, with over 150 purchases captured on CCTV.
Some of the footage also included her at a McDonald's drive-thru, still in her work uniform.
Ms Salmon's spending spree came to an end after the card got cancelled after $1,400 worth of expenses within a day.
This betrayal of trust should be a stark reminder to be vigilant when it comes to the care of our elderly loved ones.
It's essential to take proactive steps to protect them from such exploitation.
This incident deeply saddens us, and we urge our members to remain vigilant. Share your thoughts about this in the comments below, and let's work together to keep everyone safe.
However, for seniors in care, aged care workers often serve as their trusted right hand.
What happens if the trust seniors impose on these individuals gets breached?
A 46-year-old aged care worker admitted to a spree of deceit that stripped a patient of their finances.
The worker, identified as Tracy Leah Salmon, was employed at Carrington Care's Grasmere Terrace facility in Camden.
She pleaded guilty to a staggering 57 charges, including dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, driving while disqualified, and stealing.
The elderly woman had no relatives or immediate family members to take care of her. Image Credit: Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio
The victim, an 89-year-old resident, lost about $18,000 from Ms Salmon's lies.
The case, which unfolded in Sydney's Campbelltown court, shed light on the vulnerabilities faced by seniors in care facilities.
Ms Salmon's case also emphasised the importance of safeguarding assets, especially as people age.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Ms Salmon exploited the fact that her victim, a wheelchair-bound woman of sound mind, had not yet established a power of attorney.
The victim also did not have any immediate family members tending to her needs after being discharged from the hospital.
The court heard how Ms Salmon, who took care of the elderly woman, took advantage of her position.
Ms Salmon would steal the resident's credit card from a purse hidden in a cupboard inside the suite.
Over five weeks, Ms Salmon embarked on a reckless spending spree.
She bought items like designer handbags, fast food, carnival rides and ear piercings.
Ms Salmon used the card's contactless payment feature and kept each transaction under $100 to bypass the need for a PIN.
Her fraudulent activities spanned across Campbelltown, with over 150 purchases captured on CCTV.
Some of the footage also included her at a McDonald's drive-thru, still in her work uniform.
Ms Salmon's spending spree came to an end after the card got cancelled after $1,400 worth of expenses within a day.
This betrayal of trust should be a stark reminder to be vigilant when it comes to the care of our elderly loved ones.
It's essential to take proactive steps to protect them from such exploitation.
Here are some measures you can consider if you're contemplating about aged care facilities:- Establish a power of attorney early on to ensure that financial decisions are in the hands of a trusted individual.
- Keep communication lines open with your loved ones and their carers. Frequent visits could deter potential abusers.
- Keep an eye on your loved one's bank statements and credit card transactions. Unusual activity could be a warning sign of financial abuse.
- Research and select aged care facilities with strong reputations and robust security measures.
- If they are able, educate your elderly family members about common scams and the importance of keeping financial information private.
- Run a background check on potential carers.
