Proposal Presented for the Master Plan For Aging (#112)
Disclaimer
Throughout the MPA process, more than 100 proposals were developed thanks in particular to thousands of hours of work by external stakeholders and members of the public. These proposals and the MPA Council commentary are being submitted to the Governor and shared with policymakers and the public to inform policymaking. These proposals represent a starting point for discussion. Further discussion is necessary between relevant state agencies and stakeholders to both refine these proposals and assess which may be appropriate to adopt and implement.
Summary
Establish public awareness campaigns on financial abuse and fraud prevention. Provide training on financial abuse identification to law enforcement and judicial personnel. This proposal recommends utilizing strategies from the “2021 Seeking Solutions: Elder Abuse Summit,” to respond to under resourced populations.
Justification
Older adults and people with disabilities may fall victim to financial exploitation resulting in financial loss. Culturally responsive public awareness initiatives, training programs for law enforcement professionals, and targeted outreach to underserved communities may work to prevent elder abuse.
Full Proposal
Cultural differences are often associated with reporting financial crimes and elder abuse. Establish culturally responsive public awareness campaigns that acknowledge the range of perceptions and experiences of victims of financial crimes and elder abuse:
- Provide information regarding warning signs of financial abuse/fraud to community gatekeepers, medical providers, financial institutions, retailers, and other non-family members.
- Provide targeted training for police, prosecutors, judicial and non-judicial personnel about identifying financial abuse and what to consider if the perpetrator has legal authority over the victim’s finances.
- Expand outreach to under resourced populations to implement culturally responsive strategies outlines in the, “2021 Seeking Solutions: Elder Abuse Summit,” report.
MPA Council Commentary
This proposal is categorized as long-term and is closely related to proposal 111. A variety of state agencies, including the Office of Victim Services (OVS), NYSOFA, and DFS could be involved in implementation of this proposal. OVS is already engaged in initiatives to implement trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices and to expand outreach to under resourced populations.