Concerned persons exposed to elder financial exploitation are victims, too

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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].