"The twilight years are our time to enjoy ..."

We hear about child abuse very often, but it is not so common to hear about elderly abuse because it sounds like a major atrocity. Within the Latino community, elderly people are seen as icons of respect and admiration. They are seen as role models. Nevertheless, stories like Irene’s are not unique. Irene, a 75 year old grandmother, dedicated her life to her children. She provided them with the best education she could, in spite of a complicated marriage and an alcoholic husband. Irene had 5 children; unfortunately, her three sons followed in their father’s footsteps, learning to drown their sorrows with alcohol. Her two daughters became pregnant during their adolescence and were unable to keep stable relationships. In spite of her dedication, Irene could not see her efforts reflected in her children, all she saw was a clear reflection of her husband. Although he had passed away 18 years prior, leaving Irene as the sole source of income, she continued supporting her children in their adulthood because she could not allow them to live in the streets. Irene provided for both them and her grandchildren with her small social insurance check and other extra jobs she did for the school’s snack bar. Irene does not regret having provide them with all that she wanted to, but it may be possible she made a mistake. By trying to make up for the lack of affection from an abusive father, their children learned that they ‘’deserve’’ everything. Her children, as well as their father, felt that the ‘’world owes them and also their mother due to the fact that they did not ask to be born.’’ Due to their twisted concept of what it means to take responsibilities for one’s own life, Irene’s children did not leave ‘’their boss,’’ staying with her until they exhausted her means. Although Irene worked tirelessly to provide for her children, they pawned the house she was fighting to keep with savings she had accrued while enduring her marriage tortures. Subsequently, the house was repossessed by the bank when the payments were not made. Irene was forced to ask for accommodation from the church she faithfully attended, where, ironically, other children of God were able to provide her with the shelter her own children could not. You may hear several stories similar to Irene’s- elderly men and women who are emotionally, economically, and physically mistreated. There are elderly people who fear both their children and their own financial well-being. And, not only are their children maliciously uncaring towards them, there even exist people who seek to take advantage of this situation, people who would get married to take over an elderly person’s money, mistreating and neglecting the elderly person once married. The following list shows certain situations considered to be ‘’important facts’’ when a new person, relative, or friend in charge of an elderly person suddenly shows a newfound interest in their situation:
	Changes on the will terms, when a person is not mentally stable to change them.
	Changes in the bank accounts, including financial movements which were not common before.
	Changes on the land registers
	Valuable possessions disappearing at the elderly person’s home.
	Special financial interest of the person in charge
	Promises of special care or observation of certain attitudes that seems like unbounded affection ‘’suspicious’’ for somebody who is outside the circle.
Statistics show that more than a million elderly people in the United States are financially exploited by their family or friends. This cannot be allowed. The twilight years are our time to enjoy what benefits we sowed in our lives and to prepare ourselves for our departure. Elderly abuse must be immediately reported to the authorities.

- Dr. Ana Nogales