Grosse Pointe Police Help Elderly Resident

City of Grosse Pointe police are monitoring a relationship between a 92-year-old resident and a Grosse Pointe Woods man who is serving as his caregiver. 

The resident called police in mid-April for help. While responding to help him, the man told officers he had recently signed legal paperwork he didn't think he should have signed. He told officers he was concerned about it, according to a report. 

Ultimately, detectives helped the 92-year-old resident to reinstate his legal rights and to revoke power of attorney documents giving the Woods resident full access and control of the man's assests. 

Additionally, police helped the 92-year-old man by revoking the caregiver's access to three different bank accounts, Detective Sgt. Alan Gwyn said. 

The caregiver started helping the man in September at first by cutting his grass but the relationship became much more involved over time and the man became a full time caregiver to the resident by helping him with his basic daily needs, transportation and more, according to a report. 

When detectives began looking into the case, several employees of the banks where the 92-year-old man does his financial business reported believing there was some sort of abuse going on between the caregiver and the resident. 

The resident has more than $2 million in assests--a point of discovery during the investigation.

Additionally, the resident seemed nervous about upsetting the caregiver by talking to police given his dependence on him for help with daily tasks, according to a report. 

The man, who is now residing in a nursing facility temporarily, had been taken to an area hospital to be treated for malnourishment after his initial call to police. He said he wanted to be living in a nursing facility but the caregiver did not want that, according to a report. 

Gwyn said the caregiver had sought power of attorney paperwork from an attorney, who gave them blank paperwork and sent them home. The caregiver completed it and asked the man to sign the paperwork, which he did. 

Meanwhile, he also filed a quick claim deed with Wayne County, which means the caregiver now has control over the 92-year-old man's house, Gwyn said.

City of Grosse Pointe detectives got Adult Protective Services involved in the case and a guardian is to be assigned to the 92-year-old man, Gwyn said. Once that person is in place, officials will try to undo the quick claim deed, he said.

Detectives interviewed the caregiver, who has been cooperative from the first time he came into contact with police, Gwyn said. He also turned over his keys to the man's house, his credit card from the man's bank account and provided answers to questions. 

At this point, nothing illegal has happened but the situation is being monitored, Gwyn said.