Follow
Share

I discovered by accident the other day that there is a 50 year old man from India living with my 87 year old mother. Mom, who lives in California just visited my house in North Carolina over Christmas and kept secret from me the fact that this man was living in her house. Until I discovered the other night when I called my mother heard a man in the room. Now she tells me that a 50 year old man moved in with her 3 months after my father died at 92 in April 2021. This man has been living with her since July secretly, helping her with "things". And my mother refuses to tell me 1) His Name. 2) Provide Identification... and 3) what her plans are with him for the future. So I am left with an unknown man living with my 87 year old mother and now the situation has estranged me from my mom. I am about to call the local Sheriffs Dept or FBI Elder abuse to find out who is living in my 87 year old mother's house 3000 miles away. I am very concerned that she has lied about it. -She was just in my house over Christmas and mentioned nothing about this unknown person. When my wife and I brought it to her attention tonight, Mom became very defensive and hostile. She refused to provide this man's name. As of this moment there is an unknown man from overseas, approx 50 years old living with my 87 year old recently widowed mother. I have no idea who he is. -And she is verbally abusive and hostile to anything I say about it. I'm about to call the local Sheriffs Dept and FBI Elder Abuse hotline. What should I do?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
Oh HELL no. I would be on a plane STAT if I were you to have a face to face with this man. Don't tell your mother you are coming. Just show up as a surprise visit. This man needs to know she has a family that will hunt him to the ends of the earth if need be. The fact that he is from oversees is particularly alarming as he could be robbing your mother blind and vanish overnight. This is not a normal situation.
Helpful Answer (15)
Report
bundleofjoy Feb 2022
i agree with you, caregiverstress.

OP however has posted nothing; not even thanks for the concern from many people here.

i think OP invented the story.
it's fake.
it's like trying to create a suspense story, and get people hooked on what happens next.

a real person of course flies over to the parent, to get this stranger out.
a real person doesn't waste time on forums about such an issue. they act right away, call the police, neighbours, etc.
(7)
Report
See 8 more replies
I read several responses and all I have to say is this: GET ON A PLANE THIS MINUTE AND GO SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT TH IS GOING ON WITH YOUR MOTHER!

Advice that says this is 'none of your business' is absurd, imo. This is your elderly mother we're talking about and to say it's none of your business is leaving her to possibly *and probably* be grossly taken advantage of here. God knows what the details are of this situation, and how a 50 year old man convinced her to take him in, but I seriously doubt he has good intentions or is 'helping her' in any way without expecting something in return. Maybe in the fantasy Disney movies things work out that way, but in real life in 2022 in California, I doubt it. A lot.

If this is a true story/post, and if this was my mother, I'd have been on a plane at hearing the first word about this.

It's also odd that she's very hostile towards you when you ask questions about this man's identity. What is she trying to hide? If he's a friend, and someone who's genuinely helping her with things around the house, why is she so secretive? That's my question.

Go find out for yourself and don't rely on anyone else to do your homework for you.

Good luck and do come back to let us know what happened.
Helpful Answer (15)
Report
cherokeegrrl54 Feb 2022
Amen, Lea!!!
(3)
Report
Don't call the authorities. Show up and see what's up yourself.
Helpful Answer (12)
Report

I'd be VERY concerned were this my mom.

Mon is 92 and looks every second of it, yet she is convinced that every single man she meets 'wants her'.

I think it's great that she has a good self image, despite what the mirror shows--but if she suddenly had a 50 yo man living with her, that would be of serious concern.

Is there a friend or neighbor you can call? I hate to sound unkind, b/c maybe this guy is really a great guy (I doubt it, as do you, right?) but you need to protect mom.

Best would be boots on the ground--going there and seeing for yourself.

This is a new one on all of us--I hope you'll come back and let us know how it goes.
Helpful Answer (10)
Report
Mysteryshopper Feb 2022
My mentally ill aunt informed the family a while back (she was probably around 70 at the time and looked MUCH older) that 20 year old males had recently been hitting on her. She was overjoyed and took it as a sincere validation and it had been a pattern through life - every man wants her. And, if they don't want her, she will con them into wanting her. If anything, the 20 year olds probably weren't taught respect by their parents and figured she was just an old person and entertained each other by "flirting" with her. My hope would be that she would know not to move one of them in with her.
(3)
Report
Besides the concerns already expressed by others, I also wonder if this man is part of a scam, preying on an older woman who recently lost her husband.   Did your mother mention anything about him telling her he's in love with her?

I'm assuming that you have no access to her accounts, to determine if funds are being withdrawn?  

Do you know any of the neighbors who could provide you with information on this man, assuming that he interacts with them?   Or perhaps discreetly take a photo of him so that facial recognition could be used by law enforcement to identify him?

When she visited you, did she mention whether neighbors were getting her mail?   That would be one method of determining his name.

I certainly would contact the local police and/or sheriff, as well as the local agency that makes welfare checks.  Perhaps some attention from the local LEOs might prompt him to reconsider whatever his plan is, as I have a strong suspicion that he does have one, and it's to benefit him and him only.
Helpful Answer (9)
Report

That's a pretty common sweetheart scam that targets recent widows or widowers.
Helpful Answer (9)
Report

Call the police and ask for a welfare check. Tell them exactly what's concerning you, too. Leaving her alone with that man after the check is not a good idea either, so ask their advice as to what to do if they are turned away.

The fact that your mother has been secretive and gets hostile indicates she is not 100% competent, or she's being exploited or threatened. The timing in particular is extremely concerning.

Contact her bank and any other financial institutions as well to alert them, although I'm not sure what you can do without POA. Nevertheless, it puts her on their radar that something might not be kosher.

You are correct to be concerned.
Helpful Answer (8)
Report

Don't immediately start flinging accusations of elder abuse around, for heaven's sake. Do you have any reason to suppose this person poses a threat to your mother? If you reacted as energetically as this when the subject came up I'm not surprised she doesn't want to talk to you about it. Respect her right to her own business.

Call APS for your mother's area, explain that you're concerned about her living situation given that she is a vulnerable adult and ask them to visit her for a welfare check.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report

jt145please: Go to your mother's residence to see for yourself whether this man is out to do your mother harm. It's best not to make assumptions without factual knowledge, e.g. how did your mother befriend this man?, what are his motives? and the list could go on, but you won't know the story without seeing it with your own eyes. If your elderly mother is being sweetheart scammed, put a stop to it posthaste.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report

You can reverse search her address see who lives there and is getting mail there. Hire a private investigator if you want to, I worked with a man who was 78 and had a 8 year old when his 56 year old girlfriend suddenly died left him with the child it was quite odd but people live their lives. You can't call the police because you don't like something. You can get POA and make sure her money is protected I guess but he helps her with stuff he gets a place to live. Honestly I want some 50 year old living at my house to help me out, that would be awesome, so bugger off unless he is stealing from her.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report

See All Answers
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter