1. Financial Elder Abuse AgeUK Symposium Tavis House Tavistock Square London 18 February, 2016 Mary Gilhooly Professor of Gerontology & Health Studies Department of Clinical Sciences and Theme Lead, Ageing Studies Institute of the Environment, Health and Societies Gillian Dalley Visiting Research Fellow Ageing Studies Theme Institute of the Environment, Health and Societies

2. Brunel University London Detecting Financial Abuse Starting Question Q. What do we know about financial abuse? A. Remarkably little

3. Brunel University London Known Unknowns Financial abuse may be the most common or second most common form of ‘elder abuse’ Prevalence ranges from 0.7% to 14.4% Family abusers are more often sons than daughters Significant number of people fall for scams Relationship scams may be going up amongst older people Huge amounts of money may be lost Financial abuse is also psychologically damaging Financial abuse often goes with other forms of abuse

4. Brunel University London Estimated that for every abused and neglected elder reported and substantiated, there were more than five additional cases that have not been reported. Q. If that is the case, why does some elder financial abuse come to the attention of those who could intervene and some does not? and Q. Why is action taken when suspicions are raised in some cases but not in others?

5. Brunel University London Which brings me to our research

6. Brunel University London Bystander intervention - 5 stage model 1.Need to notice the cues to financial abuse 2.Interpret - as financial abuse 3.Assume personal responsibility 4.Feel competent/able to help 5.Help or intervene A break in any one of these steps would lead to a failure to intervene.

7. Brunel University London Cultural Norms of Non-intervention

8. Brunel University London Q. Would mandatory reporting help us to detect more cases of financial abuse? A.Possibly Not  US research suggests that under the pressures of mandatory reporting professionals adjust their criteria for evidence that such abuse is occurring.

9. Brunel University London The Dawes Trust project: Investigating the nature and extent of the financial abuse of individuals lacking mental capacity Background Aims

10. Brunel University London Designing a project problems of identification, hard-to-reach, communication, ethical issues often in domestic settings out of public view perpetrator may be family member, carer, friend Because of this:  not amenable to survey methods, interviews, observation

11. Brunel University London Chosen approach Mix of methods, composite picture-building; including: literature and knowledge review national and local statistics analysis; expert interviews; individual case studies from professionals case study (one London borough) Court of Protection data analysis

12. Brunel University London Court of Protection cases  Analysis of 34 cases – out of 63 cases (27 rejected – about DOLS and continuation/withdrawal of medical treatment; 2 missed out) heard and published between January – November 2015  Analysed by following categories: LPA/EPA revocation, grounds/reason, appointment of deputy, applicant (e.g. Public Guardian, council, relative), respondent, intra-family dispute, outcome.

13. Brunel University London Some findings Classifying financial abuse: Suspicion triggers: >care home fees arrears and failure to provide personal allowance >failure to keep and/or submit accounts to OPG >co-mingling of funds Financially abusive behaviour: gifting to self and others spending on property incompetence neglect and hoarding

14. Brunel University London Some concluding questions/issues  Are all ‘Intra Family Disputes’ abusive?  lack of supervision  lack of redress  lack of punishment

15. Financial Elder Abuse AgeUK Symposium Tavis House Tavistock Square London 18 February, 2016 Thank you Mary Gilhooly Professor of Gerontology & Health Studies Department of Clinical Sciences and Theme Lead, Ageing Studies Institute of the Environment, Health and Societies Gillian Dalley Visiting Research Fellow Ageing Studies Theme Institute of the Environment, Health and Societies