January 2008 Vol. 27. No. 1

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Warm beds
Ask HICAP: Using Your Medicare drug plan in 2008
Financial Abuse
A1AA: F.U.N. Play Center gives grandparents a place to call their own
Global Warming

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Financial Abuse
Know the indicators for elder vulnerability
by Christina Martinez

Reports of financial abuse are growing at an alarming rate, and consequences of this form of abuse are usually devastating. Have you heard of credit card fraud, fake charities and sweepstakes? With one signature or a single phone call, victims can be stripped of their entire life savings or identity, leaving nothing left to provide for the victim’s needs. Many concerns have been raised in response to the increase in the elderly population. Recent statistics indicate that the population of elderly Americans 65 years and older is expected to double to about 6.3 million Californians by the year 2018.

In 2006, of all cases reported to Humboldt County Adult Protective Services, 49 percent were considered financial abuse. The most widespread forms are telemarketing fraud, identity theft, predatory lending and home improvement or estate planning scams.

Financial abuse can occur in various ways including using or taking money or property without permission; forging signatures or getting an older person to sign a deed, will or power of attorney through deception, coercion or undue influence; promising care in exchange for money or property and not following through on promises; scams and confidence crimes, which is the use of deception to gain victim’s confidence.

Indicators for financial abuse can be
• unusual activity in bank accounts
• signatures on checks that do not resemble the elder’s or
dependent adult’s signature
• checks and documents that are signed when the elder or
dependent adult cannot write
• unusual interest in the amount of money being expended for the
care of the elder or dependent adult
• concern that too much is being spent
• unpaid bills, overdue rent or eviction notices, when someone is
supposed to be paying bills
• lack of amenities (i.e., personal grooming items, food,
clothing) when the elder or dependent can afford it
• missing personal belongings such as art and jewelry
• sudden “new best friends” who take over financial aspects of an
elder or adult dependent’s estate.

As diverse as the forms of financial abuse, so are the perpetrators. People who seek out vulnerable seniors with the intent of exploitation can include professionals and business people or individuals posing as such, family members of any relation to the senior, even friends and caregivers.

Victims of financial abuse can be any senior or dependent adult, regardless of economic status, gender, race or educational background. Certain factors can increase the risk — isolation, loneliness, recent loss of a loved one and reduced visual and hearing acuity.

If you or someone you love suspects financial abuse or other forms of abuse, report to Adult Protective Services at 476-2100 or law enforcement in your area. If the abuse occurs in a nursing home or residential care home for the elderly, contact the Long Term Care Ombudsman office at 443-9747.

Christina Martinez is a student intern with the Long Term Care Ombudsman program, a service of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center.