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Department of Human Services

Elder Financial Abuse Spotlighted in June

In 2010, 41% of Oregon's founded abuse cases against elderly and vulnerable adults involved financial exploitation - that could be anything from a trusted family member or caregiver cashing someone's check with a forged signature to a shady financial advisor persuading someone to give away their life savings in an investment scam. It could mean a caregiver in a nursing facility stealing an ATM card from a resident or stealing their prescription narcotics to sell on the street.
 
"It's the number one issue of abuse affecting our older population in Oregon and across the country," said Oregon Department of Human Services Director Erinn Kelley-Siel. "We must work together to better protect our elderly and vulnerable citizens from financial exploitation and abuse, an unthinkable crime that is becoming increasingly common."
 
A 2010 study from MetLife found that most victims were women---they were twice as likely to fall victim of elder financial abuse then were men.
 
"Each year in Oregon over 600 Oregon seniors are known to be financially exploited --and the number is expected to grow dramatically if efforts aren't made to educate the public," said Fred Steele, Oregon Department of Human Services Community Adult Protective Services Manager.
 
"Education is the answer to curbing the problem of elder abuse," he added. "Everyone needs to know what elder abuse is, the signs and what to look out for, as well as how to report it. The more we talk about it, the more real it becomes and then the more committed as a society we are going to be to doing something about it."
 
Indicators that may be warning signs of financial exploitation:
  • Unusual or inappropriate activity surrounding investment properties or in bank accounts, including the use of ATM cards, to make large or repeated withdrawals.
  • Signatures on checks, etc. that do not resemble the person's signature, or signatures when the person cannot write.
  • Power of attorney given, or recent changes in or creation of a will or trust, when the person is incapable of making such decisions.
  • Unpaid bills, overdue rent, utility shut-off notices.
  • Unpaid bills, overdue rent, utility shut-off notices.
  • Lack of spending on the care of the person, including personal grooming items.
  • Missing personal belongings, such as art, silverware or jewelry.
  • Recent sale of assets and properties.
If you believe an older adult or an adult with physical disability is being subjected to financial exploitation, contact your local DHS or AAA office.
 
In 2011, the Oregon legislature established the Elder Abuse Work Group to convene legislators, prosecutors, law enforcement, advocates, long term care providers, and abuse investigators to propose improvements to our elder abuse prevention and investigation systems. The Oregon Legislature passed HB 4084 in February 2012, a bill that enhanced the tools available to investigators and prosecutors for combating financial exploitation and other abuses against Oregon's seniors.
 
Department of Human Services is working with its partners around the state to increase awareness of vulnerable and elder abuse and signs to look for. More information can be found on the state's elder abuse web page.