I have been questioned as to why I am writing this blog and specifically naming names.  The reason behind it is to bring to light the all too common occurrence of Elderly Abuse.  If I can help one person avoid being abused or help someone identify the signs of abuse and stop it, then it is worth it.  It is also to expose and make accountable those who took advantage of my mother (Samuel Arnaldo Hornedo & Christina Hornedo) for their own selfish benefit. Finally, it is a way for me to cope with what has happened and the injustice of it all. My hope is that those of you that read this will re-post and re-tweet my entries and that way more people can be made aware of this issue in general.

‘Financial exploitation occurs when a person misuses or takes the assets of a vulnerable adult for his own personal benefit. This frequently occurs without the explicit knowledge or consent of a senior or disabled adult, depriving him/her of vital financial resources for his/her personal needs.’

In the case of the exploitation of my mother by my brother Sam Hornedo and his wife Christina Meehan Hornedo they took advantage of her vulnerability due to her mental status and her codependent relationship with them.

In March of 2016 my brother Miguel called me to tell that my mother had called him in a panic to tell him that she did not have enough money to pay her rent.  It turns out that she had written a check for $1,000 to my brother Sam so that he could pay his rent.  She said that he had come to her crying that he couldn’t pay his rent (more on this later). My older brother who was unemployed at the time sent her $500 and I sent her $1,000 to make sure that she could pay her rent which was all of $540 and have money for food and expenses.  We talked to my mother and told her that she could not give her youngest son (51) money that she did not have.

I sent my brother Sam an email that stated if he ever tried to discuss finances (sic) with my mother other than paying her back that I would call Adult Protective Services and the police on him.  I expressed my disappointment and embarrassment that a 51 year old man was dependent on his frail 85 year old mother who was on a fixed income.

My older brother and I then planned to go out and visit my mother in San Diego to review her living conditions, finances, visit her doctor and speak with my younger brother.  What would you have done at this point? Please re-post this blog.

‘Assets are commonly taken via forms of deception, false pretenses, coercion, harassment, duress and threats.’

There is more detailed information about financial exploitation here.

Click to access WISERNurseFraudAbuse.pdf