I was a caretaker for an older couple for about 9 months and we got along great, his family thought I was doing a great job and they did not know what they would have done without me. My husband lost his job and had to find work elsewhere which cause us to move out of state so I put in my notice with him. I wanted to ask him for a small loan but was scared to so I talked it over with his daughter and she told me to do what I thought was right. I waited for a couple weeks until I worked up the nerve to ask him, at first he said he had to talk it over with his wife. A few days went past and he asked me to come over and he handed me a check that he said was a gift for being a great caretaker, I appreciated so much because it helped us out a lot. After we finally moved, me and the older couple stayed in touch. When I came back to visit family I would stop by his house to say hello and catch up. Times got hard where we were at that I could not come back anymore and we did not keep in contact. Several months went by until we had to move again, after we moved and stayed settle for a few weeks I got a call from my sister saying she heard that I had been in some trouble from an elder man with dementia. I was shocked because of what he had said about me. He told police that I stole thousands of dollars from him and I absolutely did not. After hearing that I got mad and a little upset because of how hard I worked for them. I want to know some advice on how to handle this situation because I have never been in this situation. I have to think the worse because I do not know how I can prove my innocence. If anyone has any advice at all please respond, Thank you.
Planeman gave excellent advice.
I dont know you from Adam, but my intinct tells me that you were trying to take advantage of this person...and you got caught...I am glad you got caught. You should have gone to friends and family or a bank rather than to someone you work for for a loan...especially a loan from an elderly person you work for.
Shame on you...I hope every one that does things like this gets caught and are required to repay the money they "borrowed" from the elderly person.
You needed a loan, which you got in form of a "gift," which turned out to be a down payment to somehow lock on to future care that was never rendered when you feel off the map. The fact that you keep on fretting about it tells you it's a loan. I assume the old couple is on a fixed income, and this kind of people usually don't make this kind of gifts to someone they've known for less than a year.
See if he can give you a copy of the cancelled check or a statement that certifies it was in fact a gift. The caregiver community is a small "ghetto," and word gets around in a jiffy. You don't want to be labeled as someone who preys on the elderly. Clear your name.
If this is more horrible than I imagine, just suppose that you were arrested. Then say only one thing, "Lawyer" and nothing more.If you are destitute the court will appoint a lawyer to defend you at no charge. Of course, you have the family to testify for you.
All that being said, looking from your side, borrowing this money was a huge mistake but it was not a crime. Accepting your report, I do not suppose that you will never hear more from this matter.
One thing though, the size of the loan is important. If I were you, I would discuss this with the family. They may well be on your side. Another thing -- did you sign a note? If you did and can produce a copy that would just about completely establish your good faith. It would also be evidence of your good faith if, in the past, you have made an effort to repay the loan or part of it.
Here is the disclaimer -- I am no longer an active attorney having retired a number of years ago. My comments rely upon common law and there may be local statutory laws that would make my comments inapplicable.
having a church family is very helpful, the elders have wisdom here.
Good luck. You've had a rough time. I hope you get this taken care of properly.
Carol