Investigating Financial Abuse of Elder and Dependent Adults

Course Description:

As first responders, police officers often have access to the most isolated individuals, including those who are older persons.  Police officers are often an important gateway for older citizens to the community health and social services network.  They are called upon to respond to various elder abuse situations, both at home and in senior living centers.  First responders play a key role in investigating or preventing crimes against older citizens and dependent adults.  However, the detection and assessment of this population is not systematic.  

Understanding the complex dynamics, nuances, and warning signs of elder abuse and dependent adults, is vital for officers to help protect some of our most vulnerable community members and to add elder and dependent adult abuse as a priority for the law enforcement community.  The goal of these training sessions is to present information regarding the complexities of abuse and how law enforcement agencies and their partners can effectively respond to older and dependent victims.  

Core Competency:

• In this three-hour introductory training, participants will identify the necessary and essential components for effective financial exploitation investigations of elder and dependent adults. 

Course Objectives:

• Describe common victim and perpetrator characteristics of financial exploitation.
• Identify and discuss the indications of financial exploitation.
• Discuss the primary components of a financial exploitation investigation, including witnesses and types of information that is to be obtained. 
• Identify the common challenges encountered during a financial exploitation investigation and discuss strategies for overcoming challenges.

Instructional Methods:

• Lecture
• Video
• Group Discussion

Who Should Attend:

• Open to LEO only

Course Requirements:

• 100% Attendance and Participation