070 – Interview: Addressing & Preventing Financial Exploitation in Aging

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with attorney Candace Heisler, JD, an expert on addressing financial exploitation and other forms of elder abuse. Ms. Heisler served as assistant district attorney for the City and County of San Francisco for over 25 years, and remains active in training various professionals to address elder abuse. They discuss:

• What it means to financially exploit an older person
• The role of trust and relationships in facilitating financial exploitation
• Why it can be hard to determine whether financial abuse has occurred
• What to do if you suspect that an older relative has been financially exploited
• The role of Adult Protective Services in investigating worrisome situations
• The difference between pursuing a criminal case versus a civil case
• What is “undue influence” and how it’s related to financial abuse
• Steps older adults can take to reduce their risk of being financially exploited
• How to reduce the risk of that a power of attorney might be misused

Related episode: 

091 – Interview: Reducing the Risk of Power of Attorney Abuse

037 – Interview: Using Powers of Attorney to Help Older Adults

Related Resources:

• Financial Exploitation in Aging: What to Know & What to Do
• Candace Heisler’s recommended resources:
  • National Adult Protective Services: Elder Financial Exploitation
  • US Dept of Justice: Elder Justice Initiative
  • National Center on Elder Abuse
• Legal Services for the Elderly Program
• National Academy of Medicine: Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding and Opportunities for Action
• The New Yorker: My Mother and Her Scammer