Financial abuse: circumstances of occurrences against older adults

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To analyze the occurrences of financial abuse against older adults. Methods: a descriptive and retrospective cross-sectional study with a qualitative and quantitative approach was conducted through the analysis of 209 Police Reports (PR) of financial abuse against older adults, dated between October 2016 and March 2017. Data analysis was performed by content analysis in the thematic modality. Results: The profile of the victims was characterized as follows: male (50.72%), aged from 60 to 69 years old (56.6%) and living with a partner (48.33%). Financial abuse against older adults is mainly committed by strangers, in 85.6% of cases, and in 6.7% of cases by family members. The sociodemographic characteristics of most offenders were unknown. Three cores of meaning relating to the types of financial abuse were identified: appropriation and damage; exposure to fraud/extortion and theft/robbery. Conclusion: There is a need for actions aimed at preventing and protecting against the financial abuse of older adults, in order to avoid suffering and emotional, physical and social harm. In addition, further studies are needed to more effectively highlight the association of alterations during the aging process and financial violence.