ing is also at considerable risk due to shame, mistrust, and depression (Navarro, Gassoumis, & Wilber, 2012). A MetLife study (2009) found that elder financial exploitation costs elderly victims an estimated $2.9 billion per year resulting in cascading effects for individuals, families, and communities. A study by Kemp and Mosqueda (2005) explains that “Financial abuse is one of the more common forms of abuse perpetrated against older people” (p. 1123). Financial loss is exceptionally painful to older adults because a chance for remediation is nearly impossible. As the older population continues to expand, the issue of elder abuse increases as well. Presently, resources are not in line to keep pace with actual need. Meaningful prevention and intervention strategies are vital to intercede on behalf of vulnerable older individuals.
Currently, the primary source of dealing with elder abuse is Adult Protective Services (APS). In the United States, individual states have some form of APS, but each state maintains various approach methods (Mukherjee, 2011). Each year the national Administration on Aging demands each state to submit plans, goals, and strategies on how they will meet the standard requirements of the Older American’s Act (OAA) (Atlanta Regional Co...