financial abuse
Coverage of financial abuse in the Nexus archive.
- How scams and exploitation start — and what you can do about it
Scams targeting older adults often begin with friendly interactions, such as a helpful handyman or caregiver, and exploit vulnerabilities like memory impairment and loneliness. Experts emphasize the importance of setting boundaries, securing finances, and recognizing neurological and social factors that increase susceptibility to fraud.
- How scams and exploitation start — and what you can do about it
Scams targeting older adults often begin with friendly interactions, such as a handyman or caregiver, and exploit vulnerabilities like loneliness and a more trusting brain. Experts recommend concrete measures like securing passwords and monitoring conversations to prevent financial abuse.
- Elder abuse reports in Missouri continue to rise. Experts still consider them an undercount
Missouri received 43,208 reports of elder or adult abuse in 2025, a 1,300 increase from the previous year. Experts attribute the rise to greater awareness but note staffing challenges and underreporting due to fear of retribution or isolation. Tim Jackson and Wendy Bruemmer highlight financial abuse, caregiver neglect, and lack of social support as key issues.