The woman never paid a cent to the rest home, leaving Chris with a debt of $4200 for his accommodation. Now his biggest worry is that he'll "be kicked out" of the rest home, though the staff constantly assure him that won't happen.
Sue Evans, senior social worker for Age Concern Wanganui, said Chris' case was typical of what she dealt with every day.
In May alone the organisation had 32 active cases - one a day - and Ms Evans believes that is just the tip of the iceberg.
In Chris' case, his limited mobility meant he gave the caregiver his bankcard so she could pay his bills. As a precaution another woman had the pin number so one could not use the card without the other. The arrangement was that he would see any bills and okay payment.
"But then she stood over my friend [who had the pin number] and got that off her. That gave her free access to my money," he said.
The caregiver had unfettered access to his bank account from July until the middle of last month when access was stopped after the rest home manager asked Chris why his account had not been paid. "The caregiver just dipped into my account whenever she wanted and bought things left, right and centre. She went to clubs around the city and went shopping in Palmerston North - all on my bankcard.
"It makes me feel real gutted - every time I talk about this with anyone it brings it all back and it'll take me two or three days to get over it."
Another case on Ms Evans' books involved an elderly person who had been fleeced of at least $30,000.
"Some of this abuse can lead to elderly people living in penury with huge debts because their bankcard has been misused by someone purporting to be looking after their affairs," she said.
A problem for agencies like Age Concern was that elder abuse had not gained attention to the extent child abuse or family violence had. She wanted the community to take the issue seriously.
"It's often perpetrated by family members because usually you've got to be in a close circle to be able to do this."
Ms Evans has been in her role for six years. Within six months of starting she was "swamped" and it has not let up.
"Elderly people often have a long-standing relationship with the abuser and not everyone likes to admit there's something not quite right in their family."
Age Concern Wanganui manager Tracey Lynn said the organisation was there to help people in those predicaments and contact would always be treated confidentially and anonymously.
Regarding physical abuse, she said there were examples where protection orders had been taken out against family members to protect some of the more vulnerable elderly.
"It's not just about physical abuse, though - it's about power of control, emotional control, controlling their finances. It's insidious but it happens."
