Concerned Persons Exposed to Elder Financial Exploitation Are Victims, Too

By

Jennifer Sauer, AARP Research

Elder financial exploitation (EFE), the illegal or improper use of an older adult’s funds, property, or assets, affects an estimated one in 10 older adults in the U.S. Yet recent research

reveals that victims of financial exploitation aren’t the only ones impacted by this crime. Family members, friends, neighbors, or professional care providers who are concerned about the

victim and exposed to the incident may experience high levels of distress, and ultimately, become victims of the crime as well.

AARP fielded a poll to gauge the incidence of concerned persons in the U.S. exposed to elder financial exploitation. Among the one in five (21%) Americans who know an adult 50 or older who

has been financially exploited by someone they know, the majority (88%) who say they are concerned about the well-being of the victim are family (56%), a friend (14%), a neighbor (13%), or

someone else (7%).

Methodology

This survey was fielded in July 2023 by NORC AmeriSpeak® and completed by 1,169 U.S. adults age 18-plus.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Sauer at [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact External Relations at [email protected].

Suggested Citation:

Sauer, Jennifer. Concerned Persons Exposed to Elder Financial Exploitation Are Victims, Too. Washington, DC: AARP Research, June 2024. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00726.001

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