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March 22, 2017 at 10:07 AM
The emotional and monetary consequences of elder financial abuse take a toll on caregivers as well as seniors directly victimized, Allianz Life said Monday in releasing findings of a new study.
A vast majority of both active and prospective caregivers reported that they had incurred costs when their elder was financially abused, an average of $36,000, according to the study.
The new research expanded on a 2016 Allianz Life study of elder financial abuse. It involved a poll conducted in August with 1,000 respondents age 18 to 64 who were either actively providing care for a nonspousal elder 65 or older, or could be in a position to do so within the next five years.
The findings showed that the average caregiver spent some $7,000 a year and provided more than 10 hours per week doing chores for elder dependents, with many receiving no financial assistance for that support.
Researchers found that the costs to caregivers increased when the elder had already experienced financial abuse. Caregivers for past victims reported spending nearly $8,400 each year in direct cash and noncash, 56% higher than the amount spent by those caring for elders with no history of financial abuse.
Moreover, in cases where financial abuse had previously occurred, the elder’s need for some sort of direct financial assistance from the caregiver was more than double that of situations where financial abuse has not occurred.
“As America’s population ages, more people will be caregivers,” Allianz Life’s president and chief executive Walter White said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, these caregivers will be at risk of experiencing the negative effects of elder financial abuse perpetrated against the person they’re caring for. While a focus on protecting seniors from financial exploitation is vital, we also need to provide resources to caregivers who increasingly will become collateral victims of the elder abuse.”
Sen. Susan Collins recently introduced legislation that would protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation.
Caregivers’ Retirement Compromised
Two-thirds of active caregivers in the study reported that the cost of providing care was significantly affecting their own finances. They worried about having enough money to retire.
