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“This has taught me how vital
seniors are. It has taught me how
they love unconditionally and
how you can care for them more
deeply than you expect.”

— Vicki Howard

CLOCKWISE: Manny
joined the U.S. Cavalry
in 1943 at age 27. In
2012, at age 96. The
invitation Vicki created
to celebrate Manny’s
100th birthday

12

brilliant, but not a businessman,” Vicki says.
Manny moved to California years ago to care
for his parents who lived there. Eventually they
died, as did his wife, and he lived alone in an
apartment in Sherman Oaks.
Manny called his first cousin, who is Vicki’s
uncle, and told him that he had no food and
couldn’t get money out of the bank. Her uncle,
then 82, called Vicki and they flew to California.
There they found Manny’s apartment was
located near a park which attracted street peo-
ple, one of whom, Joyce, had ingratiated herself
with him and gained control over some aspects
of his life. While Joyce did take him to medical
appointments and brought him groceries, she
was clearly taking advantage of his kindness and
memory loss. Vicki noticed, for example, that
Manny reimbursed Joyce twice for the same gro-
ceries within a short time span.
The camera at Manny’s bank recorded Joyce hit-
ting him in the parking lot, and their staff called
social services. Vicki contacted the Veterans
Administration and found that Manny had been
missing medical appointments. She talked to his
landlord and a lawyer. She realized that he had
Alzheimer’s and started to pack up his things.
Abuse of elders — emotional, financial or
physical — affects an estimated 5 percent of
people over age 60, according to a 2010 study
cited by Peter Lichtenberg, Ph.D, a national
expert on elder abuse, a professor of psychology
and director of the Institute of Gerontology at
Wayne State University.
“Many live alone and aren’t able or don’t want
to report problems. Those over 85 are often fear-
ful and don’t think of the options,” he says.
Fortunately, Manny had a determined and
resourceful protector who quickly took control
and rescued him. Vicki knew that her elderly
aunt and uncle couldn’t take care of him and she
decided to bring him into her home.
“He is my oldest relative, had nobody, and
he was so good to me when I was young,” she
says. “I love him, and I was taught to respect my
elders. I’ve always loved old people and helped
take care of my grandparents.
“Manny’s life has been full. We never treated
him like he has Alzheimer’s. We traveled and
sometimes I took him to work. He still talks

July 6 • 2017

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