Whether you’re a caregiver, family member or neighbor, it’s important to recognize the possible signs of elder financial abuse.
June is National Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. It’s a good time to remember to stay vigilant to protect our community’s older adults.
Here are some common signs, as recommended by the County of Los Angeles Adult Protective Services (APS), to help you identify elder financial abuse:
- Sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money by someone with the elder/dependent adult
- Names being added to an elder’s/dependent adult’s bank account
- Unauthorized ATM withdrawal of the elder’s/dependent adult’s money
- Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents
- Unexplained disappearance of money or valuable possessions
- Substandard care being provided or bills unpaid despite the elder/depended adult having money available
- An elder’s/dependent adult’s signature is forged for financial transactions or for the titles of their possessions
- Unexplained transfer of assets to another person
- Providing services that are not necessary
- An elder/dependent adult says they are being financially exploited
If you or someone you know has been the victim of elder abuse, or you suspect elder abuse, contact the APS division of L.A. County’s Department of Workforce Development Aging & Community Services at (877) 477-3646 or file a report online.
