Things to consider while investigating Caretaker Exploitation:
- Unpaid bills
- Review bank statements for insufficient check charges and negative balances
- Unusual expenses
- New purchases (new car with no license)
- Constant bill collector calls and mailed notices
- Review credit card statements
- Transfers of property
- Life insurance and vehicles
Definition of Caretaker
a person who is responsible for the care of or financial management for a vulnerable adult as a result of family relationship or has assumed responsibility for care of a vulnerable adult voluntarily, by contract, or by friendship; or who serves as a legally appointed guardian, limited guardian, or conservator.
oklahoma.gov | Definition of Caretaker
Definition of Exploitation
unjust or improper use of the person or resources of a vulnerable adult for the profit or advantage of another person through undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false representation, or false pretense.
oklahoma.gov | Definition of Exploitation
Example of Appropriate Findings Narrative
Example of Substantiated Allegation:
Allegation of caretaker exploitation is substantiated. Alleged perpetrator (AP) Pebbles Flintstone is the Power of Attorney (POA) for alleged victim (AV) Fred Flintstone and is responsible for paying the monthly expenses of AV Fred.
Review of bank records for First Bank of Bedrock from May 2020 through 2023 reflect that AP Pebbles accessed client’s income and resources for her own benefit. AP admits to using client’s funds for the casino, shopping and for other expenses not related to AV and without gaining AV’s permission. AV did allow AP access to his debit card but only to assist with expenses related to the household. In December 2021, AP began having her own earned income deposited into the same account.
However, it appears more money was accessed from the account by AP then what AP contributed to the account. The exploitation amount is $13,117.90 but may not be a true representation of the actual exploitation amount as there were payments to convenience stores, restaurants, and retail stores that neither AP nor AV were able to state who those expenses belonged to.
Example of Unsubstantiated Allegation:
Allegation of caretaker exploitation is unsubstantiated due to lack of evidence. There is insufficient evidence to show that alleged perpetrator (AP) Marcus Welby has accessed client’s income and resources for his own benefit.
Review of bank records at First Holley Bank indicate the alleged victim (AV) Mary Moore continued to manage her own finances with assistance from AP until recently. There appears to be a history of AV at times assisting family financially, but worker found no questionable transactions or withdrawals from the account.
AV has two other adult children, Doris Day and Maureen Nabors, that are involved in the management of her finances and neither report any concerns regarding AP’s handling of client’s funds.
