It's just too easay for elderly folks to be preyed upon.
Several years ago, my aunt, who lives alone, but had a 'girl' who came into help her was nearly victimized by this person. My aunt lived in Florida, the rest of us lived here in NY. (She and my uncle moved there years ago, he passed, and they have no children). When my sister and I arrived down there for a surprise visit, we found my aunt in terrible shape.
It was ruled by a doctor she had the beginning of dementia, and we moved quickly to get her into the hospital, get her medical care, and my sisters hired nurses to take care of her at home....which is what she wanted.
Her new nurses appear very good, and she has a friend who moniters the home, but it's so easy for an older person to become a victim, especially when they have no family or are far from family.
My husbands dad had a 'reputable' Nurses Aide, sent from a private duty company to help him. Well, in the course of 24 hours, this woman dissapeared with husbands dad, just dissapeared. When he was finally found, a month later, this woman had gone through much of his savings. She managed to dissapear before LE could be called in. She wasn't found again.
In many states, you can have a prison record and be a nurses aide. The work is poorly paid, and many go into this field because they have little other opportunity. While there are many great Nurses Aides out there (a close friend is one), it should be noted that its' easy to find work as one....and not all are on the up and up. Older people should be very careful when hiring an Aide.
My heart goes out to the family of these folks, they were someone's mom or dad, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, great aunt, friend.
with heartfelt sympathy,
Fyre