Conceptual Model and Map of Financial Exploitation of Older Adults

Abstract

This article describes the processes and outcomes of three-dimensional concept mapping to conceptualize financial exploitation of older adults. Statements were generated from a literature review and by local and national panels consisting of 16 experts in the field of financial exploitation. These statements were sorted and rated using Concept Systems software, which grouped the statements into clusters and depicted them as a map. Statements were grouped into six clusters, and ranked by the experts as follows in descending severity: (a) theft and scams, (b) financial victimization, (c) financial entitlement, (d) coercion, (e) signs of possible financial exploitation, and (f) money management difficulties. The hierarchical model can be used to identify elder financial exploitation and differentiate it from related but distinct areas of victimization. The severity hierarchy may be used to develop measures that will enable more precise screening for triage of clients into appropriate interventions.

Development of short-form measures to assess four types of elder mistreatment: Findings from an evidence-based study of APS elder abuse substantiation decisions

“…We base these brief assessments on the longer forms developed and validated as part of the EADSS study, which was funded by the National Institute of Justice (Conrad, 2015; Conrad et al, 2011; Conrad, Iris, Ridings, Langley, & Anetzberger, 2011; Conrad, Iris, Ridings, Langley, & Wilber, 2010; Conrad et al, 2011; Conrad, Iris, Riley, Mensah, & Mazza, 2013). The goal was to develop brief, valid assessment tools for use in APS investigations and substantiation decisions about specific types of abuse.…”

“…Since the EA and the FE measures required the most input from alleged victims (most items), the majority of caseworker complaints were that these measures were too long. To respond, later in the field test we simply requested that caseworkers ask the first six items of each measure, which were the least severe based on previous psychometric analyses (Conrad et al, 2011,2010), and if there were no indications of abuse the caseworker could skip the rest. The assumption was that if none of the first six items were endorsed, probabilistically, the more severe forms of emotional or financial abuse would also not be endorsed.…”

Elder mistreatment predicts later physical and psychological health: Results from a national longitudinal study

“…Financial mistreatment is the illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property, or assets by someone known to the victim or by a stranger (Conrad et al, 2011). Taking money or property, forcing an elderly person to sign financial documents, and denying an elderly person control over his or her assets are some examples of this type of abuse (Hafemeister, 2003).…”

The Lichtenberg Financial Decision Screening Scale (LFDSS): A new tool for assessing financial decision making and preventing financial exploitation

“…The most comprehensive measure to date for assessing financial exploitation is a self-report instrument, the Older Adult Financial Exploitation Measure (OAFEM; Conrad, Iris, Ridings, Langley, & Wilber, 2010; Conrad et al, 2011). Carefully constructed and later validated against cases substantiated by APS workers, Conrad and colleagues (2010, 2011) define the financial exploitation of older adults as the illegal or improper use of an older adult’s funds or property for another person’s profit or advantage.…”

“…Carefully constructed and later validated against cases substantiated by APS workers, Conrad and colleagues (2010, 2011) define the financial exploitation of older adults as the illegal or improper use of an older adult’s funds or property for another person’s profit or advantage. They propose six domains of financial exploitation: (a) theft and scams, (b) abuse of trust, (c) financial entitlement, (d) coercion, (e) signs of possible financial abuse, and (f) difficulty managing money.…”