Intersection of Domestic
Violence and Financial
Exploitation/Abuse
National Center for Victims of Crime
FINRA Investor Education Foundation
The National Center for Victims of Crime is pleased
to provide the slides used in our October 20, 2015
Webinar, “Intersection of Domestic Violence and
Financial Exploitation.”
Please be advised that these materials are provided
through the generosity of our presenter faculty. All
copyright laws apply to the proper use and crediting
of these materials.
National Center for Victims of Crime
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Mission: Forge a national commitment to help victims of
crime rebuild their lives.
Dedicated to serving individuals, families, and
communities harmed by crime.
Through collaboration with local, state, and federal
partners, the National Center:
─ Advocates for Stronger Rights, Protections, and Services for Crime
Victims
─ Provides Education, Training, and Evaluation
─ Serves as a Trusted Source of Current Information on Victims'
Issues
Financial Crime Resource Center
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Affiliate of the National Center for Victims of Crime
► Mission: Help victims of financial crime recover their
assets, and recover control of their lives
► Partner with organizations around the U.S. who work
with victims of fraud, identity theft and other financial
crimes to ensure that victims have access to the best
possible recovery
► Advocate for fair compensation and restitution for all
crime victims
FINRA & FINRA Foundation
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
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Independent, non-governmental regulator for all securities
firms doing business with the public in the U.S.
Protects investors and maintains market integrity in a
public-private partnership with the SEC
Created through consolidation of NASD and NYSE
Regulation
Regulation, enforcement, education
FINRA Investor Education Foundation
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Awards grants and manages targeted projects focused on
investor education and protection
Presenters
Bonnie Brandl, Director
National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life
(NCALL)
Cailin Crockett, Special Assistant for Gender Policy &
Elder Rights
Administration for Community Living,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Patrick Doheny
Archstone Foundation
INTERSECTION OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND FINANCIAL ABUSE
ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services | National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)
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Aging in America
10,000 Americans turn
65 every day.
Acierno, R., Hernandez, M. A., Amstadter, A. B.,
Resnick, H. S., Steve, K., Muzzy, W., & Kilpatrick, D.
J. (2010).
Older women
comprise more than
half (55.8%) of the
adult population age
65 and older.
United States Census Bureau (2012).
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In 2010, there were
5.8 million people
aged 85 or older.
By 2050, it is
projected that there
will be 19 million
people aged 85 or
older.
U.S. Dept. of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau.
(2010).
10
Racial and ethnic
minority populations
have increased from
5.7 million in 2000
(16.3% of the elderly
population) to 8.5
million in 2011 (21%
of the elderly).
They are projected to
increase to 20.2 million
in 2030 (28% of the
elderly).
Administration on Aging, 2012. U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services
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Too many older adults
live in at or below the
poverty line. Mostly
older women, these
older adults rely on
Social Security as their
primary source of
income.
Almost 1 in 5 older
adults 65+ live in
poverty (11.3%
women; 7.4% men).
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Abuse in Later Life
Archstone Foundation
Definitional Overlaps and Siloes
CDC Definitions
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Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): physical and sexual
violence, stalking and psychological aggression
(including coercive tactics) by a current or former
intimate partner (i.e., spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend,
dating partner, or ongoing sexual partner).
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Elder Abuse: any abuse and neglect of persons age
60+ by a caregiver or another person in a relationship
involving an expectation of trust which can be physical,
sexual, psychological, or emotional, or take the form of
financial exploitation or neglect.
Perpetrators of elder abuse
are spouses, partners,
family members, caregivers
and other persons in a
relationship where the victim
and society expects
compassion and caring.
Acierno, R. Hernandez-Tejada, M., Muzzy, W., Steve, K.
(2009).
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Power and Control Wheel
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Prevalence of Abuse in Later Life
1 in 10 communityresiding older adults
reported
experiencing elder
abuse in the past
year.
Acierno et al. (2010).
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Studies have
consistently shown
that the majority of
elder abuse cases
involve female
victims with spouses
as perpetrators. They
are cases of IPV
“grown old.”
Lane et al., (2013).
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1 in 4 women in the
U.S. will experience
physical violence from
an intimate partner in
her lifetime. (CDC NISVS 2010
)
Older women who are
functionally
independent
experience IPV at rates
comparable to
younger women. (Mouton,
2003)
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The Intersection of Abuse in Later Life
and Financial Exploitation
How Domestic Violence and
Financial Abuse Intersect
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Financial resources can be used as tools to maintain
power and control within a relationship and/or act as
barriers to living free from an abuser.
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More than 40% of older adults who experience
financial abuse have prior histories of trauma (Acierno,
2010).
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Advocates from elder abuse and domestic violence
fields have core competencies that can be shared to
better serve survivors in later life.
Economic Abuse and
Late Life Partner Violence
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As abusers grow older, they may change their tactics of
power and control, turning to economic domination,
verbal, psychological, and emotional abuse (Crockett, Brandl,
Dabby, 2015).
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‘Autonomy limiting behavior’ such as control over
finances, is shown to increase among aging abusive
partners (Rennison & Rand, 2003).
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Spouse/partner remained the most prevalent form of
abuser (33.7%) followed by daughter, son and in-laws
(28.7%) for all forms of physical, emotional, sexual, and
financial abuse (Luoma, et al., 2011).
Economic Dependence as a Barrier
to Help Seeking…
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…Financial exploitation is not only a form of
abuse, but also a roadblock to escaping abuse.
Older Survivors May Be:
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Economically dependent on a spouse or partner
(generational context: many of today’s older women
were not primary breadwinners)
 Care-dependent on a spouse (or other family member),
and fear placement in a nursing home if abuse is
reported
 With little to no independent resources, particularly if
younger than 65 (not yet eligible for Social Security
or Medicare)
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Financial Exploitation by Others
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Brothers and sisters and trusted friends may be
the offenders (Acierno, 2010)
 Adult children and grandchildren may also
financially exploit older adults
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Three international
studies found overall
rates of abuse of
people with
dementia by their
caregivers ranged
from 34 – 62%.
National Center on Elder Abuse, 2013.
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Some Cultural Considerations
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Some Cultural Considerations
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Case Example
Video: Anne
NCALL and Terra Nova Films
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Indicators of Financial Exploitation
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Forged name on legal documents
Bought items and returned for cash
Made arrangements for reverse mortgage without
her input
Asked her not to tell family members what was
going on
Made her feel confused and unsure of herself
Common Victim Responses
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Wanted to protect son
Was isolated
Reluctant to reach out for services
Questions to Ask
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How often do you get
out to see friends and
family?
What do you do
during the day?
Are you afraid of
anyone in your home?
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Do you have a bank
account? Stocks,
bonds, other
investments?
Does anyone else have
access to your
accounts?
Do you pay your own
bills? Does someone
help you?
Potential Remedies
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Advocates can offer safety planning, including
financial safety planning
Benefits specialists through aging services network
can offer assistance understanding and applying
for benefits
Civil lawyers or legal advocates can assist with
wills, health care initiatives and protective orders
Possible Resources
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Family and friends
Civil attorneys, legal advocates, elder specific lawyers
Benefit specialists
DV program
APS
Aging network
Criminal justice responses
If capacity challenges exist, health care/dementia
experts
Collaboration is Crucial!
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No one agency or program can–or should–do
it all!
 Referrals
between domestic violence agencies and
elder law experts are key for enhancing capacity
to serve older victims.
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Resources
Elder Justice Roadmap Project
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A 2014 report by the field and for
the field – to combat elder abuse,
neglect and financial exploitation.
 Find at ncea.acl.gov
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National Resources
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About Financial Abuse – National Network to
End Domestic Violence
http://nnedv.org/resources/ejresources/about-financialabuse.html
The National Domestic Violence Hotline –
1-800-799-7233 | 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
http://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/abusedefined/#tab-id-5
National Resources
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Financial Protection for Older Americans –
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/older-americans/
Protect Yourself from Abuse, Neglect and
Exploitation – The National Center on Elder
Abuse
http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/Resources/Publication/docs/
NCEA_ProtectYourself_web508.pdf
National Resources
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Safety planning tools – National Clearinghouse
on Abuse in Later Life:
www.ncall.us/gethelp/safetyplanning
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Questions?
Contact Information
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Bonnie Brandl
Cailin Crockett
www.ncall.us
bbrandl@ncall.us
www.acl.gov
Cailin.crockett@acl.hhs.gov
What’s Next?
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Download or order a copy of Taking Action: An Advocate’s
Guide to Assisting Victims of Financial Fraud
• SaveAndInvest.org/FraudCenter – see Program and
Outreach Toolkit
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Upcoming Webinar
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November 17, 2015– An Advocate’s Guide to
Understanding Financials and Best Practices in
Working with Financial Institutions (Wells Fargo
Advisors)
Upcoming Live Free Trainings
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November 5, 2015– Columbus, Ohio
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November 10, 2015- Chicago, Illinois
Thank You for Attending!