Elder financial abuse: an evaluation framework and supporting evidence.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a valid and reliable framework for evaluating cases of alleged elder financial abuse.


METHODS
Experienced experts in elder financial abuse rated a framework with eight elements.


METHODS
Professionals attending an advanced training course on elder abuse.


METHODS
Deputy district attorneys (n=44), senior law enforcement detectives (n=59), Adult Protective Service workers, and public guardians and victim advocates (n=56) who had a combined total of 1,985 years of experience and who had investigated a total of 3,225 cases (mean of 13.1 years and 21.2 cases) were included.


METHODS
These experienced professionals were asked to rate how well an evaluative framework matched their experience with elder financial abuse using a 5-point rating scale ranging from very little to almost entirely.


RESULTS
The mean rating for the model was 4.4 out of 5. About 90% of the sample rated it as almost entirely or very much matching their experience. There were no differences between professions. The reliability measure was 0.85.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest a reliable and valid framework for evaluating cases of possible elder financial abuse.
Kemp
Bryan J
BJ
Elder Abuse Forensic Center, University of California at Irvine College of Medicine, Irvine, California 90242, USA. bkemp@uci.edu
Mosqueda
Laura A
LA
D000368:Aged; D004467:Economics; D004552:Elder Abuse; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D014481:United States