Woman accused of exploiting ailing elderly man at West Palm Beach assisted living facility

by Malcolm Shields 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Port St. Lucie woman is facing another allegation of defrauding an elderly person.

According to Palm Beach County court records, Megan E. Bernat, 46, was arrested on Wednesday, July 22, on exploitation of elderly and money laundering transactions charges.

Bernat was arrested on Sept. 3, 2025, on charges of personal identity fraud, exploitation of an elderly person and money laundering transactions of a 73-year-old woman in West Palm Beach.

Megan Elizabeth Bernat

During the West Palm Beach Police Department’s investigation into the 2025 case, it was discovered that another bank account was used to make more than $30,000 worth of payments to Bernat’s credit card.

The account was frozen by the bank, which prevented the account’s use.

Detectives determined the frozen account belonged to a 92-year-old man who lived at the MorseLife assisted living facility in West Palm Beach along with the first victim.

Bernat was a social worker at the living facility, and she was assigned as the second victim's full-time care manager beginning on Dec. 30, 2021.

She assisted with the second victim's financial records.

During that time, the second victim suffered from 18 medical problems including dementia and needed help with routine tasks like laundry, getting dressed and going to the restroom.

According to the arrest report, the second victim died on March 15, 2024, about two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19.

Detectives determined that the second victim’s bank account was used 30 times to make mobile payments to a credit card account connected to Bernat.

An investigation also revealed Bernat’s credit card was part of 30 transactions totaling $31,295.28 between May 11, 2023, and April 22, 2024.

Seven of the 30 transactions occurred while the second victim was in hospice, including six transactions after he died on March 15, 2024.

During a Thursday, July 23 court hearing, a judge ordered Bernat to serve in-house arrest, wear a GPS monitor with bail set at $30,000. 

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Woman accused of exploiting ailing elderly man at West Palm Beach assisted living facility