The Arizona Daily Star reports that a 56-year-old home health care worker has pled guilty to stealing over $63,000 from an elderly couple that she was supposed to be taking care of. The worker was indicted on three charges of forgery in addition to a charge of fraud, and a charge of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

The Tucson woman had been recommended to the couple, aged 94 and 95, by a physician's assistant. The woman had previously attempted to become a certified nurse's assistant, but was deemed unqualified because she had two prior convictions for federal drug charges.

The woman apparently swindled the couple by forging checks from their account and using their credit cards without their permission. On several occasions she added thousands of dollars to her weekly paycheck, and then asked the couple to issue her another check, insisting that they had not paid her for the week yet.

While many seniors remain capable of managing their financial affairs, for others, it can become a task for which they are no longer sufficiently capable. Fortunately, there are methods to help protect senior's assets from this sort of fraud and manipulation. Conservatorships allow the court to appoint someone to help protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation.

The home health care worker in this case has not yet been sentenced but face eight years in prison or probation. Even if she receives probation she will likely have to spend at least several months in jail. She will also be required to pay $2,000 to the Arizona Attorney General's office's section for Health care Fraud and Abuse.

Source: The Arizona Daily Star "Tucson health worker admits stealing," Kim Smith, Sept. 8, 2011