Solutions that reduce potential financial threats posed by others include:
If anyone seems to be pressuring, pestering or trying to take financial advantage of the older adult, tell the older adult what you've noticed. Be specific and honest about what bothers you and why. Ask how the older adult feels about the person.
Tell the older adult that theft, scams or other financial exploitation can happen to anyone and can be committed by professional scammers, paid help, or even friends or family.
Understand that older adults might hear these concerns as questioning their judgment or abilities. Stress that the older adult hasn't done anything wrong.
Encourage the older adult to tell you or another trusted person about any concerns, questions or troubling interactions.
Even if the older adult doesn't share your concerns, ask about increasing financial security by:
Ask others close to the older adult if they have concerns about people trying to take financial advantage of the older adult. Ask what they know about any people or situations that concern you.
If you feel comfortable doing so, talk to the people whose interactions with the older adult trouble you. Ask them to explain what's going on. Make clear that you and others are involved in the older adult's life and will continue to monitor the situation.
Report any evidence of financial exploitation. Contact local law enforcement, county adult protective services or the state's elder abuse hotline. You don't need proof of financial exploitation. The authorities will investigate.
Ask if the older adult would like to reduce unwanted offers by phone, mail or email.
Reduce telemarketing calls by adding the older adult's phone numbers to the U.S. "do not call list" online at DoNotCall.Gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. Look to see if the older adult's state has its own "do not call" list.
Reduce commercial mail and email offers by registering online at DMAchoice.Org, a direct mail association site.
Check the older adult's email program settings to see if the spam filter can be adjusted to reduce unwanted emails. Ask if the older adult would like to add an "ad blocker" to their Internet browser.
Reduce credit and insurance offers by registering with credit reporting agencies online at OptOutPrescreen.Com or by calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT.
Encourage the older adult not to share personal or financial information with any companies that the older adult didn't contact first.
Ask if the older adult felt pressured to make or is having second thoughts about any financial or legal decisions. If so, ask what the older adult wants to do.
Offer to contact legal or financial professionals, to ask for advice or to change official documents.
Ask the older adult what made them feel pressured. Was it a particular situation, salesperson or someone close to the older adult? Discuss how the older adult could avoid or deal with pressure in the future.
Report any evidence of financial exploitation. Contact local law enforcement, county adult protective services or the state's elder abuse hotline. You don't need proof of financial exploitation. The authorities will investigate.
