Detecting financial exploitation of vulnerable adults: Guidelines for primary care providers and nursing home medical directors

Financial abuse of older persons is a burgeoning problem. Cases like those described in this article are both common and challenging to manage. Regardless of their place of residence, older patients are collectively at risk. Having no characteristic physical signs, this type of abuse can be difficult to detect during an initial clinical encounter. Nevertheless, providers of longitudinal geriatric care are in a unique position to identify and report suspected cases of material abuse. Additionally, geriatric medical providers need to continue efforts to raise awareness of this problem in their own communities, as well as to educate future generations of clinicians to both recognize financial exploitation and respond to suspected abuse situations.