My clients loved their grandmother deeply. They visited often, and the neighbors all knew them by name. In fact, those same neighbors had become part of a quiet safety net—checking in daily, helping ensure Grandma was eating, and noticing she wasn’t paying her bills. Late notices were piling up in the mailbox.
Then, one day, everything changed.
Grandma left food on the stove. When it burned, the smoke triggered the fire alarm. In a panic, she ran outside, undressed, and confused. The fire department responded quickly, with neighbors already helping. The fire was out, but the deeper emergency remained. Paramedics took her to the hospital, and she was placed under 24-hour supervision.
She insisted she was fine. “It was just an accident,” she said. But the truth was clear—she couldn’t safely return home. A conservatorship was needed so her family could move her to memory care and sell the home to pay for it.
At first, we thought the conservatorship would be simple. But their mother—whom both siblings had long been estranged from—filed a competing petition. She claimed the siblings were trying to steal, despite strong evidence she had already taken over $100,000 from Grandma’s accounts.
In the end, my clients succeeded. The court appointed a trusted professional fiduciary to manage the finances, and the siblings were given authority over Grandma’s health care. It was a costly legal battle, but one that ultimately protected Grandma from further financial abuse and got her the care she needed.
If someone you love is showing signs they may not be safe living alone, or you’re concerned about protecting their finances and well-being, give me a call. Early intervention can prevent crisis—and keep families from tearing apart.
