Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
Season 3, Episode 26: How We Can Get Justice and Safety for Our Seniors
Would you believe me if I told you that violence against the elderly is tremendously under reported? That might be because, according to the AARP, many victims know or are related to their abusers. That makes me angry, frustrated, and I want to cry - all at the same time. But I’m glad you joined me so we can learn how to keep the seniors in our own lives safe from the garbage people who would abuse and take advantage of them.
Our book this week is Stealing Joy: A True Story of Alzheimer’s, Elder Abuse, and Fraud by Dr. Glynnis Walker Anderson. Our guest is Shannon Dion. She helped found the non-profit organization Secure Our Seniors’ Safety after a serial killer murdered her mother along with at least eighteen other victims, most of whom were senior citizens. We’ll chat with her after we investigate our book which details the death of Rosalind Walker.
Today I want to focus on the story from John chapter 12 where Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany. Remember how she poured expensive oil on his feet and then wiped them with her hair? May seem a little odd to us, and it certainly upset Judas. He asked why the expensive oil hadn’t been sold and the money given to the poor. That sounds reasonable, until you read verse 6, which says “He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.” Wow, can we get a lot from that one verse!
We all have loved ones that are going to need care someday. I know it’s hard to think about and plan for, but today’s case shows us exactly how important it is that we do! It is well worth the investment to have a trustworthy professional set up wills, powers of attorney, advanced directives, long term care plans, and anything else that your elderly loved ones need to be taken care of and to have their assets go to the people they want them to go to. And it’s critical to do it sooner rather than later because you never know when a medical issue could render them unable to set things up themselves.
If you liked this episode, be sure to check out some earlier ones. I’ve had so many amazing guests who gave me fantastic information you won’t want to miss. You can also help someone else begin their journey as a different kind of PI - a person of impact, when you share the episode, and when you subscribe, give me a five-star rating and a nice review.
Get your own copy of “Stealing Joy”
Visit Secure Our Senior's Safety website
Tips on how to talk about money and scams with your parents
People Magazine article about accused serial killer of seniors
Inside Edition video
Fox 4 KDFW story about legislation aimed at senior safety