We have all witnessed the effects and confusion of what to do when older adults are financially exploited. People like my neighbors, friends and family have fallen victim. We've seen it in movies and tv, usually computer or phone scams and impersonations, however most people who financially exploit older adults are trusted family members or caregivers. Generally, older adults do not want to be embarrassed that it happened to them or get someone in trouble. 

Each story is unique, and varies in degree of loss, yet the collective nightmare -- is uniformly terrible. 

It's time to take a stance against financial abuse and alleviate the stigma, burden and confusion for those who have experienced abuse. 

Older adults are often the most vulnerable among us, more susceptible to scams and fraud. According to the National Council on Aging, estimated annual losses to older Americans from financial scams range from $2.9 billion to $36.5 billion. Texas ranks third as a state of financial loss by older adults. Being financially exploited creates many challenges to the quality of life. This is a crisis that Texas can ill-afford to ignore.

We seek to halt this stigma surrounding the reporting of elder financial exploitation. Building public awareness and creating safe spaces for older adults to come forward and report abuse is crucial. We want to make it easier to raise awareness, recognize exploitation, record observations, and report incidents to the appropriate authorities.

Everyone has a role to play -- from organizations to individuals. If we can stand united and pledge to create an environment conducive for eradicating exploitation, we can make substantial headway in preventing future incidents.

We need your help! To build public awareness and stop the stigma of reporting incidents of financial exploitation, we need all members of Texas communities to learn and take action.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, there are four steps to a successful intervention involving financial abuse.

1.   Raise awareness.

2.   Recognize the exploitation.

3.   Record your observations.

4.   Report to the most appropriate authority.

The Texas Elder Justice Coalition asks individuals and organizations in Texas to take the pledge to Stop the Stigma so older adults and their families will feel safe to come forward and report any instance of fraud and/or scams as soon as possible.

Sign this petition to signal your support for older Texans. Let's generate a wave of change to end to older adult financial exploitation in Texas. As an individual or organization, we pledge to create a safe space for older adults to come forward to report elder abuse in the form of financial exploitation and encourage our community members to learn how to raise awareness, recognize exploitation, record your observations and report to the appropriate authorities.

Pass it on! Talk about it! Report it! 

For more information about ending financial exploitation of older Texans, visit txelderjustice.org

 

Thank you for your support and interest.