Monday, September 22, 2014

Financial exploitation of Oregon's elderly climbs 18 percent, study shows


Marquettes.jpg
Elmo and Meliitta Marquette, on the front porch of their 1923 home in SW Portland. (Steve Duin/The Oregonian)
Bryan Denson | bdenson@oregonian.com By Bryan Denson | bdenson@oregonian.com The Oregonian
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on September 10, 2014 at 4:06 PM
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Nearly half of the people who exploit the finances of elderly Oregonians are members of their own families, according to a new study.
Financial exploitation allegations in Oregon increased by 18 percent between 2012 and 2013, based on the study of 623 reports on the suspected crimes. That was just a sampling of 2,929 reports documenting nearly 4,000 abuse allegations.
"Family relationships accounted for 46 percent of all substantiated perpetrators of financial exploitation," according to a news release heralding a comprehensive study by the state Office of Adult Abuse Prevention and Investigations. "Beyond family members, the second most common type of alleged perpetrator was acquaintances, followed closely by non-relative caregivers."
"Financial exploitation of individuals over the age of 65 and with physical disabilities has become the most commonly investigated type of abuse that community adult protective services addressed in Oregon," said Marie Cervantes, who heads the office.
The subject of elder financial exploitation recently struck a chord in Oregon. Steve Duin, The Oregonian's metro columnist, wrote about financial shenanigans that caused an elderly Portland couple – Elmo and Meliitta Marquette – to be paid $22,000 for a piece of property worth 10 times that much. The Marquettes are in their 80s.
The study revealed that bank employees and family members of victims were the most likely to report financial exploitation.
-- Bryan Denson

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