Elder fraud prevention and response network stakeholders
The right stakeholders form the foundation of a successful network. Explore the types of stakeholders you can invite to your convening and build a list of elder financial exploitation professionals.
Download stakeholder planning guide
We created a spreadsheet to help you build a core planning team and identify other stakeholders to invite to the convening.
Download stakeholder planning guide
Types of stakeholders to include in your network
Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services (APS) investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. APS social workers assess reported cases to determine the services most appropriate to help eligible victims. These services may include:
- Home health-aid
- Resources for food
- Medical assistance
- Legal services
- Utility payment assistance
APS may be managed at the state, county, or local level. The ability of APS to investigate different types of elder abuse, including financial, varies by location and the laws of each state.
Law enforcement
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies can locate, investigate, arrest, and charge suspected perpetrators who violate elder abuse or elder financial exploitation laws. Agencies handle cases by area, location, or case type, and some agencies provide specially trained personnel for elder abuse cases.
Additionally, Triads of the National Sheriff’s Association are partnerships among law enforcement, community groups, and older adults created to raise awareness of elder abuse crimes. They are frequently led by sheriff’s offices.
Prosecutors
Prosecutors file criminal charges, present cases in criminal court, and pursue restitution and other legal remedies for crime victims.
Legal service providers
Nonprofit legal service providers offer free or low-cost legal advice and services to targets and victims of elder financial exploitation. There are programs throughout the country that provide legal services specifically for older adults.
These legal services include:
- Revoking a power of attorney
- Filing a temporary restraining order
- Making or revising a will or trust
- Evicting an unwanted person from a home
Most legal service providers operate on a county or state level and usually have elder law programs or staff members dedicated to serving older adults.
Financial institutions and financial service providers
Financial institutions and others that provide financial services have regular in-person interactions with older adults. Their employees may receive training to identify warning signs of elder financial exploitation.
Financial institutions and financial service providers may monitor customer activity to detect suspicious transactions and changes in patterns of financial behavior that may point to financial exploitation.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers and Area Agencies on Aging
These organizations provide a variety of services to help older adults live independently and reduce the risk of financial exploitation.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers and Area Agencies on Aging are often eligible to receive federal, state, local or private funding to provide these services.
Financial regulators
Financial regulatory agencies establish and enforce laws and other rules that apply to financial products, institutions, and individual providers on a state or federal level.
Financial regulatory agencies may:
- Investigate reports of wrongdoing, including fraud, identity theft, scams, and exploitation
- Revoke or restrict professional licenses or registrations of financial service providers
- Fine companies or individuals violating the law
- Have access to SARs filed with the US Treasury
- Encourage financial institutions to engage in activities to protect older account holders from financial exploitation
Inviting financial regulators to your meetings can also encourage the engagement of financial service providers.