"The overall psychological feel is a whole new dynamic, and it’s a strange dynamic for a lot of people,” he said. "The next thing we know, the adult child snaps and becomes physically violent.”
Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Peter Haddock said he’s prosecuted cases where caregivers have wiped out bank accounts, stolen homes and ruined credit histories.
One Edmond woman was taken for more than $100,000 by a yard maintenance man who befriended her. Another’s home was stolen by a neighbor, who convinced her to sign its rights over to her, Haddock said.
"These crooks are good at coercing senior citizens into getting what they want with a sob story,” Haddock said.
"They’ll tell them no one else will care for them, and if it weren’t for them they’d go to a nursing home.”
There are instances where seniors don’t want to pursue charges because they’re too embarrassed, or they don’t want to see a family member go to jail. Haddock said most times charges are pursued even if the victim isn’t cooperative.
"My goal is to recoup the loss for the victim, get jail time for the perpetrator and make sure they don’t do it again,” Haddock said.
Trouble often emerges when a parent has medical issues that force relatives into caregiver roles, said Tulsa County sheriff’s deputy Wayne Pauley.
He recalled a recent case in which a man severely beat his mother while acting as her caretaker. The man was arrested after he withheld medical care and threatened to kill the 96-year-old woman.
Medical frustrations are a primary factor behind abuse, particularly for untrained families that can’t afford to send the relative to a center, Pauley said.
CONTRIBUTING: Tulsa World Staff Writer Matt Barnard
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