elder exploitation

Introduction

Misusing of the resources of an elderly or disabled person for personal or monetary benefit

Including, but not limited to:

• taking Social Security checks
• abusing a joint checking account
• taking property & other resources

Etiology

• financial dependence on the patient*
• risk factors
  • mental illness
  • caregiver stress

* exchange of money or resources is a necessary aspect of financial exploitation

• threatening not to allow an elder to see a child is psychological mistreatment but not financial exploitation
• seems a threat involving money is a necessary aspect of financial exploitation
• simply asking for money is not in itself financial exploitation

Epidemiology

• most common form of elder abuse
• 4% of elderly describe financial exploitation
  • 1 year prevalence: 2.7%; lifetime prevalence 4.7%

Clinical manifestations

Warning signs:

• numerous unpaid bills
• missing papers & credit cards
  • cosigning for credit cards, automobiles
• caregiver's refusal to spend money on the elder
• elder unaware of monthly income
• frequent checks made out to cash
• frequent expensive gifts to the caregiver from the elder

Management

• report to adult protective services
  • mandatory reporting of suspected abuse
• appointing a trusted individual as durable power of attorney for finances can help protect a vulnerable elder from financial exploitation

More general terms

• elder abuse
• exploitation