Safeguarding Against Financial Elder Abuse

Overview

Protecting financial well-being is essential to maintaining independence, security, and peace of mind—especially later in life. Financial elder abuse is a growing concern that can involve strangers, professionals, caregivers, or even trusted family members. This course provides practical guidance to understand, prevent, recognize, and respond to financial abuse with confidence. You will learn what financial elder abuse is, who can commit it, and how to identify common warning signs of manipulation, pressure, and fraud. The course also explores the emotional and psychological impact of financial abuse, helping you build resilience, confidence, and self-trust when managing financial decisions. You’ll gain practical strategies to safeguard financial and personal information, set healthy boundaries, secure accounts, and vet caregivers or hired help. Additionally, the course covers common scams targeting seniors, including mail fraud, emergency scams, and tech support scams, and introduces simple steps to recognize, reject, and report scams. Through interactive lessons and real-world scenarios, you’ll be empowered to take proactive measures, support others at risk, and create a safer financial environment for yourself and your community.

Syllabus

Module 1: Recognizing Risks and Staying Protected

In this module, you will explore the core concepts of financial elder abuse, with a focus on recognizing warning signs, preventing exploitation, and responding to manipulative or fraudulent behaviors. Through practical examples and activities, you will develop the skills necessary to recognize warning signs, understand various forms of abuse, and take proactive steps to protect yourself and those at risk.

Module 2: Final Assessment and Wrap-Up

In this module, you will demonstrate your understanding of key concepts through a comprehensive final assessment and review essential takeaways, along with guidance on next steps.