Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Connie Gay Cole was her grandparents’ favorite granddaughter. They took care of her most of her life, as she slipped in and out of employment. In return, Cole repaid them by squandering their life savings, according to The Oregonian.

Connie’s grandparents, James and Anne Morgan, had saved nearly $500,000 for their care as they aged. The two moved into a retirement community in 2005 and had turned over power of attorney to their granddaughter. Anne suffered from dementia, and James, who had received a brain injury a few years earlier, was kept heavily medicated by his granddaughter. Connie charged her grandparents $7,000 per month to care for them, though other family members said that care was less than adequate.

During that time Connie had squandered her grandparents’ money away on cars, boats and gambling trips, often lying to her grandparents to get more money. As the funds in their bank accounts began to dwindle, family members began to get suspicious. They moved the Morgans into an assisted living facility, where their social security checks and the state could pay for their care. And they alerted police. When investigators talked with James and Anne, the Morgans defended their granddaughter. But the paper trail was already laid. Connie is now serving time in jail for embezzlement.

The Morgans are just one example of how the elderly are taken advantage of by friends, family and even strangers. Bryan Brock, a deputy district attorney in Clackamas County, says he has seen a dramatic rise in financial abuse among the elderly. Five years ago he used to see only two cases of a year. Now he sees about a dozen per year.

Families of the elderly who suspect financial abuse are advised to contact police with their concerns.

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