Woman, 68, facing elder abuse charges
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A 68-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the Ontario Provincial Police’s East Algoma Detachment recent investigation of a complaint about the unsanitary living conditions of an elderly man living in Elliot Lake. The alleged elder abuse in the Ontario community mainly populated be seniors showed that a large quantity of money had been stolen from the man and that many legal documents were forged using his name. The authorities believe there may be more victims in the community and in the Sault Ste. Marie area.
The woman has been charged with failing to provide the necessities of life; criminal breach of trust; theft over $5,000; 14 counts of theft under $5,000; 14 counts of fraud under $5,000; 14 counts of making forged documents and 14 counts of use, deals, acts on forged document. The incident was investigated by the OPP Crime Unit, Scenes of Crime Officer and uniform members under the direction of the OPP’s Criminal Investigation Branch. Police are asking those who believe they are also the victims of the accused to call their nearest OPP detachment.
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Unfortunately, elder abuse is a very much underreported crime. Victims may be embarrassed to report these incident. Often the very people these elders look to for support and safety are the ones being financially abusive. The seniors usually don’t wish to get their family members into trouble with the law, so they say nothing.
But Ontario seniors who believe they have been the victims of elder abuse have the right to speak to a lawyer about pursuing legal recourse. Often these people are bilked out of their life savings. A compassionate lawyer may be able to offer advice and help to these seniors whose lives may have been made less comfortable because of the criminal acts of others.
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