Elder financial exploitation: Implications for future policy and research in elder mistreatment

• Authors: Tom Price, Emory University; Patricia S. King, Division of Aging Services; Rebecca L. Dillard, Wesley Woods Center; James J. Bulot, Division of Aging Services
• Journal Title: Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
• Volume: Volume 12, Number 3
• Publisher: eScholarship Publishing, University of California | 2011-07-01, Pages 354-356
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy; Health Sciences, General

Abstract

Recent advances in the understanding of elder mistreatment have demonstrated that financial exploitation tends to be one of the most common forms of mistreatment affecting older populations. Agencies such as the World Bank and World Health Organization show significant concern regarding financial exploitation and its connection to physical and emotional injury to victims. The World Bank uses the term "financial violence" as a means of generally describing the harm caused to an individual as a result of financial exploitation or abuse. The proportion of financial exploitation in relation to other forms of elder mistreatment is defined in our research. We discuss the potential impact of elder financial exploitation on victims as well as explore the implications for future research and policy development focused on financial aspects of elder mistreatment and call for further study in the concept of financial exploitation as a violent act.