The CNN headline read: “Brooke Astor’s Son, His Lawyer Guilty of Bilking Estate.”

Recently, in a very public way, we’ve learned of the disrespectful and greedy actions of Brooke Astor’s son and only child, Anthony Marshall. As his mother progressed into Alzheimer’s dementia, he systematically stole millions of dollars from her estate.

He told her that they were broke and must sell a favorite painting for $10 million. He pocketed a $2 million “commission” for himself.

At the time, Mrs. Astor was worth more than $100 million. He used unscrupulous lawyers to get his mother to sign a will leaving him and his wife $60 million.

This charming fellow made his mother sleep on a urine-stained couch and put her on a diet of peas and porridge.

For centuries, the Astors had been New York City’s unofficial royal family, with a neighborhood named after them in Queens and a Manhattan hotel — the Waldorf-Astoria — bearing their name in gold-leafed lettering above the door.

Through the Astor Foundation, which contributes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library, Brooke Astor gave $200 million to charitable and civic causes in New York.

Yet, with all of this, Anthony Marshall forced his mother to live like a pauper.

Mrs. Astor was 105 when she died in August 2007.

The case against Anthony Marshall began when his son, Philip, filed a petition in 2006 asking the court to appoint a guardian for his grandmother. He alleged “elder abuse” of his grandmother and sought to transfer control of her care from Anthony Marshall to Astor’s friend, Annette de la Renta.

After the verdict, Philip wrote, “I hope this brings some consolation and closure for the many people, including my grandmother’s loyal staff, caregivers and friends, who helped when she was so vulnerable and so manipulated. I sincerely hope these sad circumstances contribute to the recognition of elder abuse and exploitation as a growing national problem.”

To that, I say Amen!

Elder abuse, across the nation, is growing at an alarming rate.

As seniors are living longer, our chances for one day needing the services of a caregiver are very real.

Usually, people hire caregivers to come into their homes and do the duties that they can no longer do for themselves. For the most part, caregivers are kind, efficient and helpful.

However, we are reading more and more of the criminal types who make a living serving as caregivers while stealing from the elderly. What’s to stop them? The patient often is bedridden, dependent on the caregiver for his or her every need, leaving the caregiver the run of the house and free to steal jewelry, money, whatever catches her fancy.

No state or federal laws require fingerprinting or background checks for caregivers.

One wonders where the action is from our lawmakers. Where’s the outrage? There are laws to protect our children, abused wives and even animals, but not our most vulnerable citizens.

Like the man in the movie “Network” said, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Shouldn’t we all take an active role in battling this crime against the elderly? I suggest that we contact our state and federal representatives and ask that they please introduce or support bills to protect the frail and elderly from abusive caregivers.

Who to contact:

The local office for Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, is 1040 Main St., Suite 101, Napa, 94559. Phone 226-9898.

State Sen. Pat Wiggins and Assemblywoman Noreen Evans share a local office, also at 1040 Main St., Suite 205. Phone 224-1990 for Wiggins, 258-8205 for Evans.

In addition, we should make ourselves self-appointed “mandatory reporters.” If you reasonably believe that an elderly person is a victim of abuse or neglect, contact the police at 253-4451 or Adult Protective Services at 253-4625.

Elder abuse manifests itself not only financially, but also physically and mentally, as well.

The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study conducted by the National Center for Elderly Abuse found that close to half a million elderly adults in domestic settings were abused or neglected in 1996. The study also estimates that for every reported incident of elder abuse or neglect, five others go unreported. In 13 years, one would imagine that this figure has risen substantially.

In our county, there’s a possible plan afoot to help protect the elderly and disabled from unscrupulous caregivers by requiring a background check before the county would grant them a work permit. As far as I know, Napa County would be the first in California to enact this protection for the elderly and disabled. As a senior, I’m very proud to see our county considering this big step and count my blessings that I live in a community that takes good care of their elderly.

Senior Corner appears every other Monday, alternating with Jim Ford’s Napa As It Was. Betty can be reached at bettyrrhodes@sbcglobal.net.