Written by: Dr. Frannie Koe, MD
Edited by: Breanne Brazeale
When you take on the role of caretaker, it isn’t just the person’s physical well-being that you need to address. Before I began to care for my elderly father, I did not realize how much time it takes to handle the business affairs of a person who can no longer do so for themselves. I was not aware that as the brain ages, some elderly people will make very poor financial decisions and even sometimes try to give it away. Also, after having been a practitioner at my clinic for 15 years, I have seen that unfortunately, there are some people who try to exploit the cognitive challenges that some elderly people develop. Family members may try to take control and slip money away from the elderly person’s accounts. If a step-parent is involved, the family drama can kick up a notch, especially regarding financial matters. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to avoid these issues. We will try to help people understand how to protect their loved ones in all ways as they age.
