Financial elder abuse

Financial elder abuse is theft or misuse of an older person’s money, assets or property.

Financial abuse is theft or misuse of an older person’s money, assets or property.

What is financial elder abuse?

Financial elder abuse is theft or misuse of an older person’s money, assets or property. It can take many forms, some of which are listed below.

  • Withdrawing money without permission

  • Selling an older person’s home without consent

  • Not repaying loans or not contributing to household expenses

  • Pressured into giving or loaning money, possessions or property

  • Misusing Powers of Attorney

  • Pressured to make or change your Will

  • Going grocery shopping and keeping the change

  • Taking advantage of the sharing of resources within families and communities

According to recent Australian research 2% of older people reported experiencing this form of abuse in the last 12 months.1

The National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study highlighted that the most common form of financial abuse reported by older Australians was ‘being pressured into giving or loaning money, possessions or property (41.5%).2 Behaviour amounting to theft was reported by just over a third (34%) of those who reported financial abuse.3 Almost as common (31.4% was failing to provide financial contributions or assistance (e.g. rent, food aged care/home service fees) as previously agreed.4

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Financial abuse resources

More information on elder abuse

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Need information or advice on elder abuse now?
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