Financial abuse
There are different types of adult abuse, some of which are also criminal offences. See below for more information about adult abuse, however please also note that evidence of one indicator should not be taken on its own as proof that abuse is happening. The list of indicators is not exhaustive, there are other indicators that do not appear here, and individuals may be subject to more than one type of abuse at the same time.
Types of financial or material abuse
- Theft of money or possessions
- Fraud, scamming
- Preventing a person from accessing their own money, benefits or assets
- Employees taking a loan from a person using the service
- Undue pressure, duress, threat or undue influence put on the person in connection with loans, wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
- Arranging less care than is needed to save money to maximise inheritance
- Denying assistance to manage/monitor financial affairs
- Denying assistance to access benefits
- Misuse of personal allowance in a care home
- Misuse of benefits or direct payments in a family home
- Someone moving into a person’s home and living rent free without agreement or under duress
- False representation, using another person's bank account, cards or documents
- Exploitation of a person’s money or assets, e.g. unauthorised use of a car
- Misuse of a power of attorney, deputy, appointeeship or other legal authority
- Rogue trading – eg. unnecessary or overpriced property repairs and failure to carry out agreed repairs or poor workmanship
Possible indicators of financial or material abuse
- Missing personal possessions
- Unexplained lack of money or inability to maintain lifestyle
- Unexplained withdrawal of funds from accounts
- Power of attorney or lasting power of attorney (LPA) being obtained after the person has ceased to have mental capacity
- Failure to register an LPA after the person has ceased to have mental capacity to manage their finances, so that it appears that they are continuing to do so
- The person allocated to manage financial affairs is evasive or uncooperative
- The family or others show unusual interest in the assets of the person
- Signs of financial hardship in cases where the person’s financial affairs are being managed by a court appointed deputy, attorney or LPA
- Recent changes in deeds or title to property
- Rent arrears and eviction notices
- A lack of clear financial accounts held by a care home or service
- Failure to provide receipts for shopping or other financial transactions carried out on behalf of the person
- Disparity between the person’s living conditions and their financial resources, e.g. insufficient food in the house
- Unnecessary property repairs
Real life example of financial abuse
Actor Mickey Rooney was a victim of elder abuse at the hands of his own stepchildren and was granted a Restraining Order to keep them away from him. The 90-year-old actor was granted court protection from his stepson and stepdaughter after he filed a case against them charging verbal, emotional and financial abuse, and for denying him such basic necessities as food and medicine.
The court documents say that both perpetrators have been keeping Rooney as "effectively a prisoner in his own home" through the use of threats, intimidation and harassment. The stepson was also accused of taking control over Rooney's finances, blocking access to his mail and forcing the actor into performances he does not wish to do.
Mr Rooney sought and was granted temporary protection for not only himself but for his wife and his stepson, both of whom lived with him. Mr Rooney was reported to fear for his safety, and was worried the perpetrators might retaliate in a physically abusive way, or try to kidnap him after the case was filed.
A temporary conservator of Mr Rooney’s estate was appointed to ensure the financial abuse ends immediately, and a permanent conservator was later appointed by the courts.