Financial abuse of older people
| Date | 01 February 2000 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200000004 |
| Published date | 01 February 2000 |
| Pages | 21-29 |
| Author | K. Walsh,G. Bennett |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 2 Issue 1 • February 2000 © Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Limited 21
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ELDER ABUSE ENCOMPASSES a number of categories of mistreat-
ment including physical abuse, neglect, psychological, sexual
and financial abuse. Although there is a large body of literature
on the prevalence and character of the various types of elder
abuse, little has been written about financial abuse.
Despite increasing attention directed towards elder abuse,
financial abuse remains difficult to discover and prosecute in
part because it is poorly understood and ill-defined.
Financial abuse of older people is a guileful crime that can
result in dire material and personal outcomes for the victim. It
is frequently overlooked and its consequences are often lasting
– with most of their earning ability behind them, elderly
people find it impossible to recover financial autonomy.
Definition of financial abuse
Financial abuse may be defined as the theft or improper use
of money or objects belonging to an elderly person. Financial
abuse may be accomplished by coercion or through falsification.
Financial abuse is also referred to as material abuse, financial
exploitation, fiduciary abuse, financial mistreatment and
financial victimisation.
Financial abuse of
older people
K.Walsh
Lecturer and Specialist Registrar, Department of
Health Care for the Elderly, St. Bartholomew’s
and the Royal London School of Medicine and
Dentistry
G. Bennett
Reader and Consultant Physician, East
London Elder Abuse Education and Research
Department, Department of Health Care for
the Elderly, St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal
London School of Medicine and Dentistry,
Bancroft Unit, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft
Road, London E1 4DG.
Practice paper
key words
financial abuse
elder abuse
dementia
long-term care
abstract
Financial abuse is widely
recognised to be an important
but under-reported risk area for
vulnerable adults, especially elderly
people.This paper provides an
introduction to relevant issues,
indicators and remedies. It also
highlights areas needing further
attention both within the
professional council and financial
systems such as banking.
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