Elderly Neighbor Happenings -What is Your Opinion?

As many of you know, I have a 99 year old neighbor.  I will call her Grandmother. She has slowed down quite a bit in the last two years.  She uses a walker to get around and is mentally alert.  Of course, occasionally she repeats herself.  She is being cared for full-time by two women from India.  Her grandson has power of attorney and lives in a neighboring city.  He hired these two women who were friends of a former girlfriend.  One woman is about 35 and the other around 25.  They cook food from scratch and there is always one woman with Grandmother.  They bathe her,cut her toenails, dye her hair and help her dress.  I do believe that she is well-cared for.  These women also care for Grandmother's lovely garden and keep her house neat.  I try to go over every day for a few minutes to check on her.  When I was gone, my husband went over several times a week.  Everything seemed to be going well.

Last week, while walking my dogs, I noticed some activity going on in the garage.  It looked like several women were cleaning it.  Two of them were strangers.  One of the caregivers, I'll call her A waved to me and I waved back.  Later, I saw the garage door opened but there was a piece of plywood blocking part of the door.

When I went to see Grandmother the next day, A walked outside with me.  This is what she told me.  "My cousin has moved into Grandmother's garage.  Her husband works in Kuwait and she was living in a hotel, but I requested she move into the garage.  When her husband returns he will live there as well.  She's pregnant and when the baby comes, they will probably find another place.  Grandmother doesn't know but I did tell the grandson."

I was shocked to say the least.  The garage does not have a bathroom or heat.  Also, here in Santa Barbara, there are strict rules about living in garages.  Basically, it's illegal.  We have had to pay a lawyer to stop some other activity basically like this but a different situation.  He was trying to use his garage as a bunkhouse for undocumented workers.

I just asked again if the grandson knew and she said oh yes, he knows but he said not to tell Grandmother because it would upset her.  Upset her?  She would come unglued. She owns that house!  She's worked until her 70's and is very strict about people being in her house and her yard.  My husband just tried to call the grandson to see what he plans to do. 

I feel that not only is this illegal but it is dishonest and disrespectful.  I feel that these two women are taking advantage of a good thing and I feel it is very bold and aggressive to sneak people into a garage.  Last night when we went to lock our gate at 11:30 at night, we saw one sneaking back through Grandmother's gate.  Now, we wonder how many are actually back there.  Who is planning on paying the electric bill - the light stays on all night long!  How can a pregnant woman live in an unheated garage?

This is Santa Barbara.  It is a privilege to live here and we worked hard to buy a house here.  We follow permit laws which are very strict.  Everyone who lives here should.  What do you think?  Thanks for your opinons.  Salud