Financial elder abuse is one of the greatest crimes of this century. When our aging parents begin to decline, they are usually not the first to notice the problem. These 10 warning signs can help you know when it’s time to take over the checkbook. You can protect your loved one from ruthless people who are bent on ripping them off.

1. The elder has forgotten to pay an important bill and you notice collection letters in the elder’s mail or bill collectors call on the phone when you visit.

2. The elder has neglected a part of daily life, which she or he has always attended to in the past. Forgetting housekeeping, neglecting personal grooming, not maintaining the yard, not putting gas in the car, or other forgetting can alert you.........