My Elderly father, Billy B. of southern Virginia, was not diagnosed early for his dementia. My mother knew something wasn't right with dad's memory because she was keeping track of everything for him well before she died suddenly in 2010. She simply stated that he was forgetful and couldn't remember much of anything, like doctor's appts., his keys, passwords on his computer, and where he was supposed to go on any given day when plans were made, and important appointments made. After mother died in 2010, his memory losses were more apparent by my son who lived with him and tried to help him with whatever he needed, cooking, cleaning, laundry, passwords, appts.
He was diagnosed with advanced dementia in 2019, when the decline was so severe that persons known to him and myself had already taken a joint savings from his bank, then all household furnishings, guns, tools, and everything that he had from neighbors, old friends, even some distant relatives who targeted him for anything they could get out of him. By the time I was told what had happened, it was too late, in 2021.
A long known family friend, also an RN, alerted me to the situation six years (in 2021) after I was stationed in Virginia to assist my dad. My son and I were told to leave him alone in 2014. So as we both left, the only close NOK left, my son and I hoped he would be okay.

I drove back to Virginia in March 2021 to get more information on who was involved and what had happened to my father's house and property. My father was unable to see me due to COVID, afraid of contact with anyone. As we spoke by phone he stated that as he went to his bank a few years ago to get some money for his car repairs, and the bank manager told him that his savings account was empty and closed! Bank Manager further stated that, "his daughter and her husband" had come in with a "note" stating, that "they were the only surviving relatives and since my mother had passed away," "they wanted to close the account." My father repeatedly asked his Elder Law Attorney for assistance in the matter, but was never given any hope of finding out how and why this happened. Note: my dad did continue to ask his attorney for years over and over again to help in this matter of his savings account closure and all the missing money. Police were never contacted! I don't know that this attorney ever did anything about this!
I was shocked to hear this, as I hadn't been back to Virginia since 2014. Immediately I went to the bank branch, two police departments, and called numerous state agencies, including APS, State Police, and many Federal Agencies. I called my father back to tell him I going to do my best to have this investigated.

Elder Abuse, Financial Abuse, and/or neglect is criminally wrong. There needs to be an easier way to prosecute persons who think they have gotten away with criminal acts against vulnerable elderly citizens. When you see this happening again and again, it's not an accident, nor just a one time incident. These persons who target the elderly by befriending them, talking them into doing things the Elder Persons normally wouldn't do, is one of worst of criminal and deceitful minds in our society. They must be found, interviewed, vetted by every agency for any sales of property, and carefully looked at to see if their standard of living has changed. I know that some of these persons suddenly moved out of the neighborhood after I started asking for police and other agencies to investigate!

Let the local, state, and federal agencies do their jobs, I found out so much information on my own just calling and asking questions about my father and the persons who were targeting him. I will keep going with my investigation, and questioning to everyone I can find that knew or saw what was happening. This was HIS property, not mine, but many family heirlooms, guns, tools, machinery that he had is now gone. All because too many persons saw how vulnerable he was and just stepped in and took whatever he had that was precious to him, and his family. The other side of this is that he may have needed some of the money, and resources that were taken to help him go into a nursing home, or assisted living facility, and it's all gone now! I am so eager to speak out about this situation, because so many people have been victimized and hurt by perpetrators who think they can do this to anyone who's vulnerable!
If his Elder Attorney would not step in to help him when he asked for assistance, than who does the Elderly victim trust now, if they cannot trust their own attorney???

YES-I will talk to anyone, media, public, elder groups, law enforcement - whether live in-person interview, via video, any way I can help-you name i!. Not afraid to tell this story, it we can stop this and share the clues and warning signs on how it all starts and continues for the very vulnerable Elderly community in today's society!