title: An educational program to assist clinicians in identifying elder investment fraud and financial exploitation.
abstract: Due to age-related factors and illnesses, older adults may become vulnerable to elder investment fraud and financial exploitation (EIFFE). The authors describe the development and preliminary evaluation of an educational program to raise awareness and assist clinicians in identifying older adults at risk. Participants (n = 127) gave high ratings for the program, which includes a presentation, clinician pocket guide, and patient education brochure. Thirty-five respondents returned a completed questionnaire at the 6-month follow-up, with 69% (n = 24) of those indicating use of the program materials in practice and also reporting having identified 25 patients they felt were vulnerable to EIFFE. These findings demonstrate the value of providing education and practical tools to enhance clinic-based screening of this underappreciated but prevalent problem.
authors.affiliation: Houston Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. wmills@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Whitney L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Roush
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moye
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kunik
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Taffet
authors.forename: Aanand D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Naik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004552:Elder Abuse; D005607:Fraud; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007449:Investments; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013800:Theft; D035862:Vulnerable Populations