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    Financial Exploitation Resources

    ​Financial Exploitation Prevention Efforts

    Pennsylvania’s prevention effort has brought together state agencies, advocates for older adults, law enforcement, and topic experts, all working toward developing practical tools to prevent financial exploitation and raise awareness in communities.

    The Financial Exploitation Task Force

    In response to Governor Wolf's Executive Order on protecting vulnerable populations, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging has released a study on the impact of financial exploitation of older adults in Pennsylvania.
     
    The study reviewed financial exploitation cases in 14 Pennsylvania counties during the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 to examine the types of financial exploitation that occurred, the combined amount lost, and the financial impact of these losses on the victims, the economy and the commonwealth. The study also reviewed financial exploitation studies conducted by three other states, as well as academic literature published on the topic. PA Department of Aging – Financial Exploitation of Older Adults Study Report.

    Task Force Recommendations and Goals

    The Financial Exploitation Task Force met a total of five times, beginning in December 2020 and concluding in April 2021. Over the course of these meetings, Financial Exploitation Task Force members were provided with information regarding the impact of financial exploitation, testimony from victims’ family members, challenges with information sharing, underreporting, law enforcement and cognitive decline. Members then discussed and outlined barriers to reporting elder financial exploitation and identified potential solutions, recommendations, and action items for stakeholders to pursue moving forward.
     
    The Task Force has made recommendations in four category areas – Education, Training, Operations and Procedures, and Legislative Actions – along with strategies and key Financial Exploitation Task Force member leads needed to implement these objectives. The details of the recommendations can be found in the Financial Exploitation Task Force Recommendations Report.

    Task Force Members

    Governor’s Office of Policy and Planning
    PA Department of Aging (PDA), Chair
    PA Department of Human Services (DHS)
    PA Department of Health (DOH)
    PA Department of Revenue (DOR)
    PA Department of State (DOS)
    PA Office of Attorney General (OAG)
    PA Department of Insurance (PID)
    PA Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS)
    PA State Police (PSP)
    PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
    PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD)
    PA Office of Victim Advocate (OVA)
    PA Office of Advocacy and Reform (OAR)
    AARP Pennsylvania
    Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania
    PA Association of Area Agencies on Aging (P4A)
    SeniorLAW Center
    PA Bar Association - Elder Law Section
    Cross State Credit Union Association
    PA Association of Community Bankers
    PA Bankers Association
    PA Society of Tax Professionals
    Temple University Institute on Protective Services
    PA Medical Society
    PA Psychological Association
    Berks County District Attorney’s Office
    University of Pennsylvania, Penn Memory Center and The Penn Program on Precision Medicine for the Brain (P3MB)
    PA Institute of Certified Public Accountants
    PA Chiefs of Police Association
    Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging
    Blair County Area Agency on Aging
    Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging
    PA District Attorneys Association

    PDA News Releases