Catherine Duggan, retired attorney who dedicated her career to defending seniors against elder abuse, was the speaker at the Amazing Care tea in Los Angeles on September 30, 2015. Catherine did a terrific job of identifying warning signs of potential fraudulent schemes perpetrated against older people.

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I have been thinking about Catherine’s messages recently as a good friend’s mother appears to fit a potential victim role. My friend’s mother lives alone three states away from her daughter, has few social contacts, has come to rely on a relatively new “friend” who joined her church. Her new friend has managed to isolate her from family and has taken over financial management of her accounts.

Having heard Catherine’s talk, I urged my friend to talk to her mother and become more involved in the financial management of her accounts. I also asked her to think about getting a durable power of attorney so she can act on her mother’s behalf in the event her mother can no longer manage critical aspects of her life. Catherine’s talk sensitized me to these issues, and I am grateful for her advice and observations.

-Cora