Yes, Eileen's grandson is abusing her by stealing from her. Stealing is a form of financial abuse and it is not acceptable.

These conditions may indicate that an older adult is experiencing financial abuse:

• confusion about his or her own finances
• denial that anything is happening
• resignation and sometimes acceptance of the incidents as being part of being an older adult
• lack of financial choices or decisions
• family members moving in without older adult's agreement and no sharing of costs
• extraordinary interest in an older adult's assets or will
• unusual bank activity, for example, a lot of cash withdrawals
• a noticeable discrepancy between income and standard of living
• withdrawal from activities and communication with others
• marked changes in behaviour, for example, fearful, depressed, mentally confused
• anger, and verbal or physical outbursts

NOTE: Some of these indicators may be present and the older adult is not being abused.

• a person obtains credit by a false pretence or fraud
• a person deliberately makes a false written statement that someone else will rely on to determine if he or she can pay for items such as a loan, a grant or extension of credit, delivery of personal property, payment of money, discount of an account receivable, making, accepting, discounting or endorsing a bill of exchange, cheque draft or promissory note
• a person actually obtains any of the items mentioned in the previous bullet and knows that a written false statement has been made concerning his or her ability to pay for them

She can apply for court orders which tell Jason to stay away. If Jason doesn't stay away, he can be punished. Eileen needs to talk to a lawyer or someone who understands these orders to decide which order to apply for.

Eileen could use the orders that can be obtained using the Protection Against Family Violence Act if she could show that actual physical violence or property damage had been committed or threatened or that Jason had committed an act or threatened to commit an act which made Eileen reasonably fear that property damage or violence would occur. Financial abuse is not included in the definition of family violence but confinement, stalking and sexual abuse are.

On the other hand, Eileen can use the mechanism of a restraining order or a peace bond:

• restraining order through the civil courts
  A restraining order is an order made by a court that would order Jason to stay away from Eileen. It prohibits Jason from hurting or threatening to hurt Eileen.

• peace bond through the criminal courts
  A peace bond is an order from a criminal court. A court could grant a peace bond that requires Jason to have no contact with Eileen and to stay away from specific locations.

Eileen probably does not want to lay criminal charges against her grandson. She would prefer to work things out between the two of them. However, there may be times when this approach doesn't work and she may have to become involved in the criminal justice process.

Eileen needs to make a criminal complaint. To start the process, Eileen will have to make a report to the police by telephoning them or going to a local police station. She can contact a local elder abuse intervention team, if one is available. She may need help from another relative or a friend.

If Jason were charged and convicted of theft, Eileen could ask the court at the time of sentencing for an order of restitution, that is, compensation.

There are several other ways that Eileen can attempt to recover compensation for the stolen money.