I still remember using my first credit card to buy clothes for myself when I was around 21 years old. I can visualize the pair of novelty socks that were going to look good with my “dressy” shorts. Yeah, I’ve never been that great when it comes to fashion, but I recall those socks as my first adult purchase on a credit card.
Now that I work with older adults on a daily basis and help them manage their day-to-day finances, I see how much that checkbook represents. I’ve included a video where I was asked about how someone should talk to a loved one about managing the money and when to recommend a Daily Money Manager.
I recall the frustration I felt when I watched my parents giving away money to a zillion charities they never had an interest in before … missing to pay the water bill … or being asked how you put a check into your checking account. Add to that the number of times my Mom lost her wallet just to fuel my concern … and aggravation. Dealing with numbers and following a multi-step process can be one of the first things you see failing in a loved one with cognitive issues. The consequences can be devastating to financial resources.
Every year, the National Council on Aging estimates more than $36 Billion is lost due to exploitation, fraud, and trust abuse. On a weekly basis, I meet with clients who are giving away money they need to pay for their care, paying for products and services they don’t use, and generally a disinterest in the implications of giving that money to people they never intended to assist.
However, before you tell your loved one they need to hand-over the checkbook, consider what that means to them. If you are concerned, you should start by spending the time to walk through the day-to-day finances with them — help them write checks and manage the cash flow. If you can’t do it, you should be able to find a Daily Money Manager in your area that can help on the website for the American Association of Daily Money Managers.
I hope you will consider how much your loved one has already lost, and don’t be to hasty to take away what might represent to them their last vestige of independence. Recommended.
My mom added me on her accounts 3 years before any concerns arose. Once they did, there was no way to go about her finances gently. They were a mess and I had to take over everything. That is all she focuses on now. That I took everything, not that I saved her from big money losses.
It’s a tough spot to be in.
It’s such a concern! My mother has ordered what she thought were samples and ended up subscribed to monthly deliveries charged to her credit card, even though I’ve told her that if they want your credit card number, it’s not a free sample. And with Medicare issuing new cards, there are scam calls asking for her Medicare number , which , of course , is her social security number, to “ verify” her coverage. It’s so sad and hard to deal with .
So true. There are some ways to address. Does your phone provider offer NoMoRoBo? I will do a follow up.
I’m not sure , I’ll check into that .