Elder Justice: Federal Government Has Taken Some Steps but Could Do More to Combat Elder Financial Exploitation

• NCJ Number: 242179
• Author(s): Kay Brown
• Date Published: May 2013
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: US Government Accountability Office
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Legislative Hearing/Committee Report
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives

Annotation

This report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office contains testimony to a congressional subcommittee on efforts by the Federal Government to combat elder financial exploitation.

Abstract

This report contains testimony presented to the congressional Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the efforts of the Federal Government to combat elder financial exploitation. The testimony was given by Kay Brown, Director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security at the U.S. GAO (Government Accountability Office). The testimony includes a discussion on the different forms of elder financial exploitation and how local, State, and Federal agencies can provide assistance to combat this problem. Different forms of elder financial exploitation include the use of mass marketing scams, exploitation by financial services professionals, and exploitation by in-home caregivers such as friends, family members, and in-home care providers. Ways that the Federal Government can assist local and State agencies in combating elder financial exploitation include improved communication between the U.S. Department of Justice and State and local law enforcement, improved use of background checks for in-home caregivers, training for bank employees to recognize signs of elder financial abuse, and assisting States with improving the collaboration between their social services and criminal justice systems.