Grandma abused financially

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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:02AM

Dear Annie: My mother is 86 and lives in another state. My 33-year-old nephew and his three kids live with her, as do my niece, “Joanna,” and her two children. Not one of them has a job.

Several months ago, Mom broke her hip and was in rehab for four months. During that time, Joanna used Mom’s ATM card and took all the money out of her account. She also opened credit cards in Mom’s name and ran up huge bills and stole Mom’s mail-order pills and sold them on the street.

What’s worse is that my sister, the mother of this niece and nephew, insists that I am not permitted to say one negative word to my mother about them. She claims the thievery is between Joanna, Mom and God. My mother is scared of all of them. I have called Adult Protective Services, but was told they’d only step in if my mother made a report.

My sister says I need to forgive Joanna and let it go. How do I do that? There has been no accountability, no restitution, no apology. Also, I found out that Mom’s good jewelry was pawned for drugs. Any ideas?

Mad in Omaha

Dear Omaha: Adult Protective Services may not be able to step in if Mom appears to be mentally healthy and refuses to cooperate. Your sister is trying to protect her children. Shame on her for allowing them to financially abuse their grandmother. Please try the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 (eldercare.gov) and ask what assistance is available in Mom’s state.

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