Is “Ambivalence” Sometimes a Component of Elder Financial Abuse?

I‘ve written often in our Blog, including here and here, about our growing awareness and national concern about the issue of financial exploitation of older persons.  In brainstorming a bit with another attorney about a thorny case — and trying to decide where a parent/child relationship went wrong —  I was reminded of the work of Professor Karen Hooker, PhD at Oregon State University’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.  A major focus of Professor Hooker’s work is the influence of “personality” in aging across the lifespan.  She has examined spousal caregivers for persons with dementia, looking to see how the individual’s view of self and the relationship affects “success,” including successful caregiving.  Another part of her work has examined closely the issue of “ambivalence” in family relationships.

For example, in Dr. Hooker’s research, her team used qualitative study methods to examine older parent/adult child relationships.  One of the major themes emerging when parents (each aged 67+) talked about their children was awareness that their children were “busy,” and thus there were often ambivalent feelings of need and dissatisfaction about the parent’s interactions with their children.  The study revealed feelings both of resentment and pride about their busiest children.

That has led me to think that “ambivalence” may also be a component of voluntary “principal and agent” relationships, where the adult children are asked by the parent to serve as an agent under a power of attorney, for example.  But as the adult child exercises more control over financial matters, might that parent also begin to have second thoughts, thoughts that are not acted on until “too late.”  The children believe they had authority to “pay themselves” for their roles in handling matters for their aging parent; the parent initially agrees, or at least does not object, and only later, after the money is gone, asserts some “agreement” about the financial matters, arguing there was an “understanding,” even if never express at the outset?  There is room for more research here, yes?

For more on Professor Hooker’s interesting work in personality and life-span issues, read this great interview, with links to her publications and biography here.