Elder Financial Abuse
“Criminals Diagnose Dementia Faster than Doctors” the title for a popular talk I give to conferences describes the problem in a nutshell.
Elders who are lonely, have become more dependent and have lost their risk assessment from early dementia are the most common victims of senior financial abuse.
Sadly, families are most likely to financially abuse the elder. They may justify this theft as, the elder doesn’t need it all, they weren’t nice enough in years past.
The most important step is to name a durable power of attorney (DPOA) for finance and put one’s assets in a irrevocable trust. The trustee has the fiduciary responsibility to use the funds only for the elder.
In addition to our community, in California we offer personalized TeleHealth appointments with Dr Liz, an expert geriatrician who can provide specific recommendations tailored to your loved one’s needs. Whether you’re looking for advice on managing medications, behavioral strategies, or the emotional toll of caregiving, our goal is to ensure you don’t have to navigate this path alone.
Dr Liz Geriatrics is fortunate to have experienced care managers, nurses and social workers to assist families in sorting through the confusing care issues, how to de-escalate aggression, improve sleep (for the elder, and the caregiver!), minimize medications, help find resources and how to find time for self care.
Of course, our book, Living in the Moment: Overcoming Challenges and Finding Moments of Joy in Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias is an invaluable resource for the complete dementia journey from start to finish.