Elderley Abuse…Who really cares!

As an investigator brought in by the family of Noel Stanley, I have been actively investigating this case since late 2022, a case that, in my opinion, meets the very definition of elderly abuse and financial exploitation. The family initially contacted me in a state of anxiety and confusion following the death of Noel Stanley’s beloved wife, Sue (Harriet Mary Stanley), in June 2022. Their grief was compounded by troubling signs that Noel, a vulnerable and elderly man, was being deliberately isolated and manipulated.

Sue’s funeral was a modest affair attended by only a handful of people. Noel, visibly distressed, was accompanied by a woman named Paulina Blay. This moment marked the beginning of my inquiries. Within weeks, Paulina had positioned herself as Noel’s self-appointed carer and, effectively, gatekeeper to his life.

53 year old Paulina Blay, formally Paulina Lozevski of Melbourne’s northern suburbs, was an Austin hospital admin employee when she met Sue Stanley attending the hospital for treatment.

Family solicitor Tony Sammassimo, who had known both Noel and Sue for over 30 years and was named as Executor of Sue’s Will, met Paulina for the first time at the funeral. She introduced herself as a close friend and carer, roles that were news to both the family and Sue’s medical professionals. Sue’s nieces in the UK, Rae and Anna, who had maintained daily contact with her, were stunned to see Paulina attending the funeral via video link. They were well aware of a serious falling out between Sue and Paulina prior to Sue’s death, during which time the two were no longer speaking.

Dr. Hala Alexander, Sue’s long-time GP, was also surprised to meet Paulina at the funeral, especially when she introduced herself as Noel’s carer. Initially, Dr. Alexander believed Paulina’s presence might be helpful, as Noel was clearly experiencing symptoms of depression. But within weeks, the situation deteriorated.

From early in my investigation, I identified a clear pattern of isolation. Family members reported that Paulina removed both Noel’s mobile and home phones, allegedly because he kept losing them. She cancelled his phone plan and began restricting access to him, blocking visits from relatives and even long-standing neighbours. Paulina also collected all spare house keys from the next-door neighbour and dismissed any objections from Noel by attributing them to dementia.

Equally concerning were the legal changes Paulina initiated soon after Sue’s death. Roughly two months after the funeral, she took Noel to Tony Sammassimo’s office to alter his Will. Tony rightly requested a medical capacity report before proceeding. That report never materialised. Instead, Paulina took Noel to another solicitor, Frank J. Horvat of Glenroy.

In October 2022, Horvat accepted instructions from Noel and facilitated major changes: Paulina was appointed both financial and medical Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) and made sole beneficiary of Noel’s substantial estate. The family was not informed. When Tony Sammassimo contacted Horvat to raise concerns, he was reportedly brushed off.

Dr. Alexander’s concerns deepened in July 2022 when Paulina brought Noel to her clinic, requesting a letter to the bank for the release of $20,000. Paulina claimed the money was needed for bills, and Dr. Alexander assumed it related to funeral expenses. She hand-wrote a letter confirming Noel’s capacity. However, through my enquiries, I confirmed with White Lady Funerals that Sue’s funeral had been fully prepaid, with no outstanding costs. In November 2022, Paulina returned with Noel seeking a more formal, typed letter. Dr. Alexander reluctantly complied but felt pressured. She also made a referral for a cognitive review, which led to a neuropsychological assessment by CDAMS.

That assessment confirmed Noel’s impaired decision-making capacity, directly contradicting Horvat’s prior determination. Compounding concerns, I uncovered VCAT records showing Horvat had a history of professional misconduct, including unethical dealings in estate matters dating back to 2014.

Further enquiries revealed that Paulina had brought a man named “Craig” to live at Noel’s residence, allegedly as an “emergency housing” arrangement. Noel became visibly distressed by Craig’s presence, stating he no longer felt his home was his own. Paulina later admitted she had arranged Noel’s respite care specifically so Craig could stay at the house undisturbed.

I contacted Mind Australia, where Paulina was employed, to clarify Craig’s status. The organisation confirmed that while Paulina worked there, neither Craig nor Noel were registered clients. As such, Mind Australia denied responsibility and declined to take further action.

Noel’s time in respite care from 30 January to 12 February 2023 was deeply concerning. While Paulina holidayed in Bali, Noel lost 12kg, refused to eat, and became withdrawn. Blue Cross staff noted that Paulina refused to take Noel’s calls and instructed staff not to disturb her while she was overseas.

Medical records consistently documented Noel’s cognitive decline. A 2021 Memory Clinic assessment had identified early dementia symptoms. By November 2022, the CDAMS report confirmed he lacked testamentary capacity. A follow-up in February 2023 reinforced this conclusion, noting significant cognitive impairment affecting his memory and decision-making ability.

On 17 February 2023, a Bolton Clarke social worker spoke with Noel and discovered that he still believed Tony Sammassimo was his appointed EPOA. He was vague about the contents of his Will and expressed confusion over whether it had even been changed since Sue's death.

Meanwhile, Paulina allegedly planned to sponsor her boyfriend from Africa to move into Noel’s home under the guise of providing “assistance.” She showed a Bolton Clarke officer the master bedroom, explaining she and her boyfriend would move in, with Noel relocated to a smaller back room. She also planned to hire a mini skip to dispose of Noel and Sue’s furniture and personal belongings to make room for her own.

Further reports indicated Paulina intended to give Noel’s car to one of her cousins. Although the VCAT orders explicitly prohibited her from removing any property, a neighbour later observed Noel’s car being taken away by tow truck after his death. The vehicle’s whereabouts remain unknown. Additionally, VCAT required Paulina to return any items previously removed from the house, including valuable jewellery belonging to Sue. According to the family, she failed to comply.

The family’s concerns also extended to potential physical abuse. A photograph showed Noel with a black eye, raising suspicions that he may have been assaulted, possibly by Paulina or someone visiting the home. While there is no direct evidence to support this, the concern was genuine and shared by multiple observers.

Neighbours described Noel as fearful and intimidated, often “backing down like a scared little schoolboy.” Several residents of his quiet Mill Park court expressed strong views about the treatment he endured, believing it amounted to abuse and control.

In response to the mounting concerns, Bolton Clarke, supported by Noel’s family and other professionals, submitted an application to VCAT. On 15 March 2023, the Public Advocate was appointed as Noel’s guardian. On 3 May 2023, State Trustees Limited was appointed to oversee his financial and property matters. The VCAT orders acknowledged Paulina’s appointment as EPOA on 14 October 2022 but moved to revoke that authority on the basis of undue influence and Noel’s declining capacity.

Noel sadly passed away in 2024. Since his death, Paulina Blay and Frank Horvat have been actively attempting to enforce the 2022 Will, despite the serious concerns raised before Noel’s passing. These actions have only deepened the distress felt by his surviving family, particularly in light of the extensive medical and legal evidence casting doubt on the legitimacy of the estate arrangements.

After more than two years of investigation, it is my firm conclusion that this was a calculated campaign to isolate, manipulate, and ultimately exploit a vulnerable elderly man. The documentation, statements, and expert findings all point to a disturbing pattern of behaviour that warrants continued legal challenge and public scrutiny.

This article has been limited to those facts that can be proven through evidence extracted from documents in the public domain and firsthand statements.

This article does not document this case in its entirety.

Attempts were made during the previous two years to have this matter investigated by police and other authorities however no interest was shown in relation to elderly abuse or any corresponding criminal offenses. Civil matter, a term all too many victims of crime have experienced when reporting matters to police..