Financial Exploitation of the Elderly: An Update of the Literature (Continued)

2003

45. P5345-5
Brammer, A.
Undue Influence?
Journal of Adult Protection; Vol. 5 (1), 40-44; February 2003.
Journal article (scholarship)
In this legal column, the case of Hammond v. Osborn and Others (2002, U.K.) is discussed. Mr. Pritler, who had become distressed in the grocery store, was assisted and befriended by Mrs. Osborn, a neighbor. The 72 year old retiree lived alone, and in appreciation of her help, made a significant gift to Mrs. Osborn. Upon his death, a cousin brought legal action. While Mr. Pritler's intention was to make the gift outright, the gift was set aside due to "presumed" undue influence, as he appeared uniformed of the consequences and tax implications of this transfer. (U.K.)

46. P5489-7
Brisk, W. & Flynn, J.
No Bad Deed Should Go Unpunished: Evaluation and Discovery of Cases of Financial Abuse of Elders
NAELA Quarterly - The Journal of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys;
Vol. 16 (4), 8-14; Fall 2003.
Journal article (scholarship)
As quoted from the article, "This article is intended to help attorneys who encounter cases of elder financial abuse, whether they are inclined to litigate or not. Upon learning of possible exploitation, attorneys have a duty to provide sound advice which requires at the very least, an understanding of 1) how to conduct initial evaluation of such cases, 2) what types of retainers are appropriate, 3) particular discover strategies, and 4) suitable remedies." The author emphasizes that the more effectively the earlier phases of the process are conducted, the greater the chances of a successful outcome. Topics highlighted include capacity/competence, discover strategies (such as preservation of testimony), remedies (such as statutory protections for victims of elder abuse and exploitation, temporary orders, consumer protection statutes, and punitive damages when allowed).

47. P5491-7
Bueno, J.
Reforming Durable Power of Attorney Statutes to Combat Financial Exploitation of the Elderly
NAELA Quarterly - The Journal of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Vol. 16 (4), 20-26; Fall 2003.
Journal article (scholarship)
The very strengths of the Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA or DPA), such as inexpensiveness, simplicity and ease of use, also create the potential for abuse. Agents under DPA are not monitored within the court system as guardians should be. Therefore, infractions easily go unnoticed. In this article, the author reports upon state legislation designed to respond to financial abuse and exploitation through DPA. Legislative initiatives were identified addressing the following six areas: execution (witnessing requirements); disclosure; accounting requirements; agents duties (including gift-giving authority); and the need for an affidavit from a physician.

48. V55
California Community Partnership for the Prevention of Financial Abuse
Be Wise: Preventing Elder Financial Abuse (video training program)
White Light Productions; Redwood City, CA
2003
This video kit, intended for use in training financial institution employees, in the detection of elder financial exploitation and abuse. Information on intervention, reporting, and the development of institutional protocols is also provided. Relevant California statutes are highlighted. (For more information, including pricing, contact the Elder Financial Prevention Network/EFPN at 1-415/897-9555 or visit http://www.bewiseonline.org/what_to_know.shtml. Price: $195 per module with quantity discounts available.)

49. S6290-7
DeMonnin, J.
Case Study: Elder Abuse Financial Exploitation
Victimization of the Elderly and Disabled; Vol. 6 (3), pp35, 36, and 46; September/October 2003.
Newsletter article
This case study focuses on the financial exploitation of an 80 year old woman by her adult granddaughter and the effective though complex and time consuming efforts to successfully prosecute the case. Multidisciplinary collaboration involving law enforcement and adult protective services (APS) of Washington County, Oregon is described.

50. R6017-16
Malks, B., Buckmaster, J. & Cunningham, L.
Combating Elder Financial Abuse - A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to a Growing Problem
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 15 (3), 55-70; 2003.
This article provides an overview of the Santa Clara County's Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST), which was developed to address the increasing problem of financial exploitation among vulnerable adults and the elderly. The team provides a rapid response by freezing assets before the elder or vulnerable adult becomes financially destitute. From May 1999 through February 2004, this multidisciplinary team had prevented the loss of/and or recovered over $106 million. (Note: The FAST video can be obtained by contacting the Department of Justice's Office of Victims of Crime at 1-800-627-6872 or by ordering from the Web site at: http://puborder.ncjrs.org . Price: $12.25.)

51. P5663-13
Marshall, J.
Elder Law Symposium - Practice Perspectives: Power of Attorney - Key Issues for Elder Care Planning (scholarship)
Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly; Vol. 74, p160-p168; October 2003.
Journal article (scholarship)
This article provides an overview of the Power of Attorney (POA) as a tool for elder care planning, particularly as it relates to Pennsylvania statutes. The need to customize the document to suit the principal's specific circumstances is emphasized. The capacity to execute a POA is discussed along with the following critical issues: asset protection (including the authority to transfer and gift); fiduciary duties of the agent (including responsibility for record keeping); health care decision making (including advance directives, limitations of living wills, and the complexities of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA); drafting portable documents; avoiding abuse of a POA; and naming surrogate agents. The author, a certified elder law attorney (CELA), cautions that over reliance upon the default language in the Probate, Estates and Fiduciary Code may limit the effectiveness of the POA.

52. S6132-72
Morgan, S. & Finkey, R. for the White Collar Crime Program of the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI)
Telemarketing Fraud Prevention and Prosecution: The Experience of Five Demonstration Sites
White Collar Crime Program of the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI), Alexandria, VA; 2003.
Monograph (online)
As quoted from the Web site, "...This monograph discusses the challenges, successes, and lessons learned by five telemarketing fraud fighting projects at the California Department of Corporations, Hillsborough County (FL) State's Attorney's Office, Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs, North Carolina Attorney General's Office, and the Vermont Attorney General's Office..." Among the findings, prevention efforts designed at raising consumer awareness resulted in increased reporting of fraudulent complaints, and collaboration across jurisdictions (when perpetrators and victims are not in the same locale) is essential. (Note: This publication, part of series of publications written for prosecutors but available to the public, is accessible only online at: http://www.ndaa-apri.org/pdf/telemarketing_fraud_web.pdf .)

53. S6131-66
Morgan, S. & Scott, J. for the White Collar Crime Program of the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI)
Prosecution of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation: Criminal Liability, Due Process, and Hearsay
White Collar Crime Program of the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI); Alexandria, VA; 2003.
Monograph (online)
As quoted from the Web site, "...This monograph discusses legal issues frequently encountered in prosecuting elder abuse, neglect and exploitation relating to criminal liability in elder neglect, constitutional due process concerns arising from elder abuse and neglect statutes, and admissibility of elder victims' hearsay statements..." (Note: This publication, part of series of publications written for prosecutors but available to the public, is accessible only online at: http://www.ndaa-apri.org/pdf/elder_abuse_web.pdf .)

54. P5464-12
Ockleford, E. et al.
Mistreatment of Older Women in Three European Countries - Estimated Prevalence and Service Responses
Violence Against Women; Vol. 9 (12), 1453-1464; December 2003.
Journal article (research)
The authors of this study sought to survey the experiences of mistreatment among older women from Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom. The convenience sample included 50 Irish, 50 Italian and 49 British women, aged 60 and over. They completed a 34-item questionnaire addressing threats and experiences of physical abuse, psychological abuse and financial exploitation occurring since age 59. Fourteen percent of the women had experienced threats of mistreatment, and 18 percent experienced actual abuse, with financial abuse being the most common. Spouses and other family members were most commonly perpetrators of physical abuse, and others (outside the family and social network) were most commonly perpetrators of financial abuse (79 percent). While acknowledging serious limitations with regards to the type and size of the sample, the researchers indicate that this study identifies the need for further cross-cultural research and increased accessibility of services for older battered women.

55. P5667-47
Pratt, C.
Comment: Banks' Effectiveness at Reporting Financial Abuse of Elders: An Assessment and Recommendations for Improvements in California
California Western Law Review; Vol. 40; Fall 2003.
Jouranl article (scholarship)
This comment is intended to examine how effectively banks combat financial elder abuse and exploitation, particularly in response to California statutes. It also considers arguments for and against mandatory reporting of elder abuse. The effectiveness of mandated reporting by financial institutions in Florida is discussed, along with the model employed to combat financial abuse in Oregon. Current and developing initiatives designed to facilitate voluntary reporting among California banks are described.

56. S6288-4
Snyder, J.
Elder Fraud Project Introduced in Philadelphia
Victimization of the Elderly and Disabled; Vol. 6 No. 3 p33, p45-p46, September/October 2003
Newsletter article
The Elder Abuse Pilot Project, funded by the Administration on Aging, was a joint initiative of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) and the First Union National Bank/Wachovia Corporation. The program was designed to promote collaboration between adult protective services (APS) and financial institutions and involved the development of consumer awareness literature, training curricula, and other materials, and the training and education of frontline bank employees. From March 1, 2003 through June 20, 2003, 51 cases were tracked by the bank, 44 suspected cases were referred to APS (28 of which were substantiated), and a number of interventions were employed, involving APS service delivery, criminal complaints filed, guardianship and powers of attorneys appointed or removed, etc. Actual losses prevented in these cases totaled over $200,000.

57. P5716-5
Sweeney, P.
Exploitation of Adults on the Internet
Victimization of the Elderly and Disabled; July/August; 2003.
Newsletter article
In this article, the author describes various ways in which elders may be exploited through the use of internet technology. Not only are elders susceptible to identify theft and financial exploitation through frauds and scams, pornographic web sites that sexually exploit older females have been identified. Advice is provided for investigators attempting to intervene and prosecute. The article also includes information on web sites such as www.scambusters.org designed to provide information on such criminal activity.

58. P5524-3
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
Shattering the Silence: Confronting the Perils of Family Elder Abuse - Testimony of Leanna Watts
Washington, D.C.; October 20, 2003.
U.S. Senate Hearing
During this hearing, Leanna Watts provided testimony of her personal experience of elder abuse. Under false pretenses, her son invited her to live with his family in an overcrowded apartment. She was drugged, threatened, financially exploited and neglected until a social worker at her dialysis clinic intervened. (Note: This testimony and other transcripts from the hearing, are accessible online at: http://aging.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=36 .)

59. S6287-5
Watkins, G.
Martha's Story
Victimization of the Elderly and Disabled; Vol. 6 (3), p39 and p43; September/October 2003.
Newsletter article
This case study of caregiver financial abuse not only highlights some features of elder financial exploitation, but also highlights the management strategies of the Wellspring Personal Care model which were successfully employed to allow the client to recover from the victimization and to continue a relatively independent lifestyle in the community. Intensive case management involves a coordinated response among service providers, and efforts to ensure the safety, emotional, and physical needs of individuals in their homes are met.

2002

60. S6170-17
Dimah, A. & Dimah, K.
Gender Differences among Abused Older African Americans and African American Abusers in an Elder Abuse Provider Agency
Journal of Black Studies; Vol. 32 (5), 557-573; May 2002.
Journal article (research)
Drawing upon data from an Illinois service provider agency, this study was designed to address the gender differences among male and female African American elder abuse victims and perpetrators. Forty-eight cases of substantiated abuse were analyzed, involving 35 female and 13 male victims. The most commonly experienced abuse was financial exploitation, effecting over 53 percent of all male and 54 percent of all female victims. The only significant gender difference in type of abuse experienced was that males experienced intentional physical neglect more frequently (85 percent) than female victims (42.9 per cent). Among the findings related to perpetrators (n=24 males and 24 females), more female abusers were related to their victims compared to male abusers, and more females abusers than males were legally responsible for their victims. Nearly two-thirds of both male and female perpetrators were informal caregivers for their victims. Implications regarding living arrangements are also presented.

61. S6289-2
Friddle, J.
AARP ElderWatch
Victimization of the Elderly and Disabled; Vol. 5 (3), p42; September/October 2002.
Newsletter article
AARP ElderWatch is an initiative of the AARP Foundation and the Colorado Attorney General's office designed to address financial exploitation of the elderly. This article highlights key features of this multidisciplinary collaboration and reports upon some of the initial successes observed. In particular, coordination of efforts among law enforcement and adult protective services (APS) have been extremely valuable.

62. P5641
Quinn, M. & Heisler, C.
The Legal Response to Elder Abuse and Neglect
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect; Vol. 14 (1), 61-77; 2002.
Journal article (scholarship)
In this article, the authors present an overview of the civil and criminal justice responses to elder abuse and neglect. Using the case study of "Ms. B.," they demonstrate how parallel civil and criminal investigations were used to convict perpetrators of undue influence used to obtain control of the victim's significant assets. Criminal justice system initiatives are highlighted. Discussion is also included regarding the differences in the legal systems, most notably in terms of burden of proof (which is lower in civil court proceedings) and the role of the victim (who is not an actual "party" in criminal proceedings). The article concludes with discussion regarding the necessity for (and obstacles to) multidisciplinary approaches in addressing elder mistreatment.

63. P5852-9
Vida, S., Monks, R., & Des Rosiers, P.
Prevalence and Correlates of Elder Abuse and Neglect in a Geriatric Psychiatry Service
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry; Vol. 47 (5), 459-467; June 2002.
Journal article (research)
This study was designed to analyze the prevalence and correlates of four types of elder mistreatment in a population of geriatric, psychiatric patients. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional retrospective chart review of new in- and out-patients, seen at the Montreal General Hospital Division of Geriatric Psychiatry during 1990. One-hundred and twenty-six medical records were reviewed. Abuse or neglect were suspected or confirmed in 16 percent of the patients. The most common form of mistreatment was financial abuse, occurring in 13 percent of the population, followed by neglect (7 percent), emotional abuse (4 percent), and physical abuse (2 percent). Six percent of the sample were experienced multiple forms of abuse. Correlations between living situations, marital status, and diagnosis are discussed.

2001

64. L4508-10
Dimah, K.
Patterns of Elder Abuse and Neglect in an Illinois Elder Abuse and Neglect Provider Agency: A Comparative Analysis
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect; Vol. 13 (1), 27-44; 2001.
Journal article (research)
This study was designed to examine patterns of elder abuse among African-Americans in comparison with patterns of abuse among non African-American victims. The sample (including 59 African-American and 48 non-African-American victims of substantiated domestic abuse) was drawn from clients of an Elder Abuse Provider Agency (EAPA) in Illinois and the data used was collected during the investigation of abuse allegations. The findings of this study point out gender and racial differences between primary abusers, but did not demonstrate that African Americans are significantly more susceptible to financial exploitation, as had been previously suggested in the literature.

65. S6196-54
Lewis, T.
A Minnesota Comparative Family Law Symposium: Fifty Ways to Exploit Your Grandmother: The Status of Financial Abuse of the Elderly in Minnesota
William Mitchell Law Review; Vol. 28; 2001.
Journal article (scholarship)
This article presents an overview of Minnesota legislation that protects elders from victimization, particularly financial abuse and exploitation, including the Vulnerable Adults Protections Act, the Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult Act, the Deceptive or Unfair Trade Practices and the Elderly or Handicapped Victims Act. Categories of exploitation are described as misuse of assets, which is typically perpetrated by someone the elder trusts, consumer fraud (such as telemarketing, home repair, and health care fraud), theft, and negligence. Model programs from other states are highlighted, including California's Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Team (FAST), Oregon's civil suit legislation, Massachusetts Bank Training program, and the national collaborative program, TRIAD. Recommendations are offered to strengthen Minnesota's existing legislation for the protection of elderly victims and include the addition of clergy and employees of banks and other financial institutions as mandatory reporters; increased penalties; mandatory restitution; and expanding hearsay rules. Additional initiatives would include the implementation of TRIAD type programs in each county, increasing the level of prosecution for elder financial exploitation, and enhancing the accessibility of the court system for seniors.

66. S6207-10
Moon, A., Tomita, S. & Jung-Kamei, S.
Elder Mistreatment Among Four Asian American Groups: An Exploratory Study on Tolerance, Victim Blaming, and Attitudes Toward Third-Party Intervention
Journal of Gerontological Social Work; Vol. 36 (1/2), 153-169; 2001.
Journal article (research)
This multicultural study was designed to compare differences among four Asian groups (American-born Chinese Americans, American-born Japanese Americans, first-generation Korean Americans, and first-generation Taiwanese Americans) in their response to several aspects of elder mistreatment. Participants, aged 60 and over, were asked to respond to fourteen statements regarding tolerance, victim blaming and attitudes towards third-party intervention in elder mistreatment examples. Significant differences were observed among the U.S. born Chinese and Japanese Americans and the first generation Korean and Taiwanese Americans. Among the findings, the Korean Americans differed significantly from the other groups; they demonstrated a greater tolerance for financial abuse, which appears in keeping with traditional expectations regarding filial obligations and the sharing of the elder's assets.

67. P5496-18
Reiboldt, W. & Vogel, R.
A Critical Analysis of Telemarketing Fraud in a Gated Senior Community
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 13 (4), 21-38; 2001.
Journal article (research)
After providing an overview of the literature on telemarketing fraud involving seniors, this article discusses findings from a random sample survey of older residents of a gated community that had a reported problem with this activity. A 10.4 percent rate of victimization was demonstrated among the study's 240 participants. The researchers assessed the beliefs that participants held regarding the truthfulness of the telemarketers, the comfort level they had in conducting business on the telephone, the level of isolation that they felt, and their mobility level. Using logistic regression, only one variable appeared significantly correlated to victimization: the tendency to believe the telemarketer's "pitch." The research suggests that there is not one "typical" fraud victim profile.

2000

68. S6204-7
Allen, J.
Financial Abuse of Elders and Dependent Adults: The FAST (Financial Abuse Specialist Team) Approach
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 12 (2), 85-91; 2000.
Journal article (scholarship)
The Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) of Orange County, California, a multidisciplinary team designed to address cases of elder financial abuse and exploitation, is described in this article. Representatives from a variety of fields and organizations comprise the team, and include volunteers from adult protective services (APS), law enforcement and the legal system, the public guardian office, financial and banking institutions, and mental health and other health and human services. Using a case scenario, the collaborative process of the consultation is highlighted as specific members work to address the client's needs. (Note: This article is part of an issue of JEAN dedicated to the topic of elder financial abuse and financial exploitation.)

69. S6205-4
Alfonso, H.
Mortgage Fraud Prevention Program: Volunteer Legal Services Program of the Bar Association of San Francisco
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 12 (2), 75-78; 2000.
Journal article (scholarship)
In 1992, the Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP) of the Bar Association of San Francisco, California, began an initiative to combat home equity fraud in the Bay area. In particular, the program was designed to address fraud that was resulting in many elders' losing their homes. It was also designed to address unfair, though not fraudulent, lending practices. This article briefly describes such scenarios, and the steps taken by the VLSP, which include the development of a training program for attorneys and community awareness initiatives. (Note: This article is part of an issue of JEAN dedicated to the topic of elder financial abuse and exploitation.)

70. S6203-5
Aziz, S.                
Los Angeles County Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Team: A Model for Collaboration
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 12 (2), 79-83; 2000.
Journal article (scholarship)
This article describes the development of the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Team (FAST), a team which provides consultation and training to adult protective services professionals and other practitioners who may encounter cases of elder financial abuse and exploitation. In addition, team members provide training and education to professionals and the public to raise awareness of the problem and to generate multidisciplinary approaches to prevention and intervention. . (Note: This article is part of an issue of JEAN dedicated to the topic of elder financial abuse and exploitation.)

71. S6200-6
Aziz, S. et al.
The National Telemarketing Victim Call Center: Combating Telemarketing Fraud in the United States
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 12 (2), 93-98; 2000.
Journal article (scholarship)
This brief article describes the National Telemarketing Victim Call Center (NTVCC), a model program designed to combat fraud and exploitation. This collaborative effort of the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspectors, and other members of the Los Angeles Boiler-Room and Telemarketing Task Force (BAT), involves calling potential victims of telemarketing fraud to warn them that they may be targeted, and to provide information on fraud prevention. Calls made by the NTVCC are based upon the names obtained during fraud investigations when "mooch lists" are confiscated. Such lists are typically maintained and circulated by organized scam artists. (Note: This article is part of an issue of JEAN dedicated to the topic of elder financial abuse and financial exploitation.)

72. S6206-16
Deem, D.
Notes from the Field: Observations in Working with the Forgotten Victims of Personal Financial Crimes
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 12 (2), 33-48; 2000.
Journal article (scholarship)
This overview describes various types of "white collar" financial crimes perpetrated against elders, including investment fraud, telemarketing fraud, sweetheart scams, exploitation by individuals in a position of trust, identify theft, and others. The author, a victim witness coordinator, draws upon her own observations to describe the impact, separate from the financial loss, that elder victims experience, including a loss of trust in others, "the system," and their own judgment. The complexities involved in restitution in such crimes are highlighted. A summary of promising programs (such as the Elder Person's Estate Unit in Los Angeles, the Elder Fraud Prevention Team, and other multidisciplinary initiatives) is presented. . (Note: This article is part of an issue of JEAN dedicated to the topic of elder financial abuse and exploitation.)

73. V48
Goldman Institute on Aging
When Help Was There: Four Stories of Elder Abuse
Fanlight Productions, Boston, MA; 2000.
Video
This 19 minute video explores cultural diversity and various aspects of physical, emotional and financial elder abuse. Four case studies are presented: a Hispanic mother living in fear of her mentally ill adult son; a Chinese immigrant couple who are displaced by their son-in-law; an African-American woman who has been physically abused by her husband for forty years; and a White man who is financially exploited by a younger "friend." The vignettes also demonstrate how each person finds assistance. (Note: For more information on this video, contact Fanlight Productions, 4196 Washington St., Suite 2, Boston, MA 02131, telephone 1-617/469-4999 or visit the Web site at www.fanlight.com .)

74. S6201-4
Kaye, A. & Darling, G.
Oregon's Efforts to Reduce Elder Financial Exploitation
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 12 (2), 99-102; 2000.
Journal article (scholarship)
This article briefly describes several initiatives implemented throughout Oregon to prevent elder financial abuse and exploitation. A multi-media training kit developed by the Attorney General's Task Force (funded by the U.S. Department of Justice), an educational program designed for seniors entitled "Elder Financial Exploitation Prevention Program," and a home visit program to directly assist seniors are among the projects described. (Note: This article is part of an issue of JEAN dedicated to the topic of elder financial abuse and financial exploitation.)

75. P5872-25
Nerenberg, L.
Forgotten Victims of Financial Crime and Abuse: Facing the Challenge
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 12 (2), 49-73; 2000.
Journal article (research)
This article reports upon the findings generated through the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) sponsored round table discussions on elder financial abuse. Each roundtable focused on different components of the legal system: local law enforcement; federal agencies (such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office, etc.); the civil justice system (covering issues such as mental capacity and undue influence, guardianships/conservatorships, and Powers of Attorney); and victim service networks. Among the themes that emerged was the belief that financial crimes were not viewed as seriously as other types of crime. In addition, confusion over jurisdiction is often related to the complexity and extent of such crimes. (Note: This article is part of an issue of JEAN dedicated to the topic of elder financial abuse and exploitation.)

76. S6193-8
Tueth, M.
Exposing Financial Exploitation of Impaired Elderly Persons
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry; Vol. 8 (2), 104-111; Spring 2000.
Journal article (scholarship)
In this article, the author argues that in light of the magnitude of elder financial abuse, and the likelihood that patients will not volunteer that they are being financially exploited, physicians should become proactive in the identification of such mistreatment along with other types of elder abuse. After providing a brief overview of elder abuse and neglect, case scenarios are provided that illustrate a variety of situations in which vulnerable elders are targeted and exploited by family members, acquaintances, and professionals, including unscrupulous health care workers. "Red flags" are noted and a guideline for interviewing suspected victims is provided. The balance of respecting the autonomy of the elder while acting in his or her best interest, particularly regarding the need to report suspected abuse, is examined.

77. S6202-4
Velasco, J.
Ventura County District Attorney's Senior Crime Prevention Program
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect; Vol. 12 (2), 103-106; 2000.
Journal article (scholarship)
In 1995, the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Prosecution Unit of Ventura County of California was established to enhance the criminal justice response to elder abuse and neglect. As part of this unit, the Senior Crime Prevention Program was initiated as part of the Victim Services Division. The program focuses on raising public awareness of all types of elder abuse, including financial exploitation. The most recent initiative was the development of a training module for employees of banks and other financial institutions.

Previous Page

For earlier references on this topic, please see
"Financial Abuse, Undue Influence, Scams, Frauds and Protection of Assets"