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Not everyone discards their principles as soon as they become inconvenient.

This thread does absolutely nothing to support the accusations made in this neurotic title. This type of garbage lowers the tone of the message board.

Perhaps I should have used examples of more obvious predators that are out to separate the elderly from their money, because the principle that it is "their money, their decision", is true enough, but the fact that far too many of the elderly display a greatly diminished ability to make well considered decisions about financial matters, is well known, and well documented.

Now while the churches, due to the position of trust and respect conferred upon them by the public at large, do not feature in the long list of financial abuses perpetrated against the elderly, the police and financial institutions are working together to inform, monitor and protect many elderly from falling victims to such abuse.

Some churches have also been involving themselves in promoting education and awareness of this problem, of which it is estimated that 60% to 90% of the theft and fraud, is perpetrated by family members, or caregivers.

It is incomprehensible for some to think that a church that commits so much effort into caring for and comforting so many elderly people, could also be guilty of predatory behaviour in seeking to also influence them about how best to disperse the assets of their estate.
It is not a clear cut thing like when a crooked advisor takes advantage of the elderly to steal their savings while they are alive, and when a sincere member of the church convinces an elderly person that donating their money to the church is an act of great charity that will produce benefits for the needy.
It is an accepted "fund raising" technique employed by many charities that sincerely believe that they are doing a good thing by "encouraging" elderly people to bequest all or part of their estates to their particular charity, but the point is that when the people make these decisions, they are usually not in the most capable position to make such big decisions.

In an ideal world, these non family beneficiaries should be made known to the family, so that all involved may be satisfied that it is a totally informed, considered, and understood decision being made.

Some elderly people lose a little perspective about the comparative value of cash, and assets, and in their mind think that $20,000 is a huge sum of cash, and not hugely different in worth from a home they bought 50 years earlier for a fraction of that.

Simply put, the elderly are vulnerable, and especially vulnerable when it comes to financially technical dealings, so all care should be taken to ensure complete propriety is always evident, in any dealings with them.

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-AF2R

Interesting point, care to elaborate?

mozzaok wrote on Jan 12^th, 2011 at 9:53am:



I`ll try, for natural justice to function, the crime of false accusation, is as serious as the crime.

Example : If I was to knowingly, falsely accuse you of tweaking the valve caps on my push bike, or equally, falsely accuse you of same without any real proof, my crime would be equal to, or above the heineous act of valve cap tweaking.

Justice and common sense must continually purge themselves of vexatious claims.

Well said/written Mozza,
Yes Nursing Homes do the same - they look after and care for the elderly in the same time they try to take hold of the elderly person's entire finances.
At least these institutions give something in return ...unlike most.

aussiefree2ride wrote on Jan 12^th, 2011 at 10:16am:


Actually, that is exactly what most churches DO do. most churches are not ostentatious places and most salries are quite basic. there are exceptions of course but in the main churches perform an admirable role in society.