Understanding financial elder abuse in families: the potential of routine activities theory

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to stimulate theoretical thought about financial elder abuse within families, by exploring the potential of ' routine activities theory' for raising our understanding of, and response to, its occurrences. Research into financial elder abuse, defined as the illegal or improper use of a person's finances or property by another person, has tended to emphasise the abusive event and the associated risk factors. 'Routine activities theory ', in contrast, directs attention more to developing prevention strategies that focus on everyday activities and hence seek to reduce the opportunities for illegal activity. The authors' research programme on the broad topic of money management and older people in Australia has conceptualised financial elder abuse as one possible outcome of the family management of older people's assets. This paper reports an application of routine activities theory to in-depth data of the asset-management practices and experiences of 81 family members who were assisting 86 older people. The paper concludes that the theory contributes to our understanding of how and why financial abuse occurs in families. It makes clear the distorting influence of a sense of entitlement and the preventive importance of both capable guardians, to oversee family-asset management and be alert to mismanagement, and the need for improved financial awareness, skills and probity in the community in connection with this common task of assisting older people to manage their financial assets.KEY WORDS -financial elder abuse, family care, asset management, routine activities theory.

Factors used in the detection of elder financial abuse: A judgement and decision-making study of social workers and their managers

“…In Australia, research by Setterlund et al (2007) investigated the management of family finances from the perspective of 'routine activities theory'. This theory sets family involvement in finances as a caring responsibility, suggesting financial abuse is at the extreme end of likely occurrences.…”

Criminological Theory and Elder Abuse Research—Fruitful Relationship or Worlds Apart?

“…Material and financial abuse has been very well documented. This can be explained by the fact that it surfaced as the second most widespread form of abuse in several studies (the first place being occupied by neglect or psychological abuse; see Biggs et al 2009;Setterlund et al 2007;Rabiner et al 2004). Only one case out of 25 would be reported (National Center on Elder Abuse 2005).…”

“…Payne and Fletcher (2005) and Payne andGainey (2006, 2007) also have taken a routine activities perspective on abuse in institutional care. Payne (2006) and Setterlund et al (2007) have applied RAT concepts to financial elder abuse, Dietz and Wright (2005) to the topic of victimization of older homeless people. These studies assume that elder abuse may well be regarded as intentional and goal-oriented behaviour.…”

Responding to the financial abuse of people with dementia: a qualitative study of safeguarding experiences in England

“…Recent definitional debates highlight the importance of trust: "Being attacked or robbed by a stranger or an acquaintance is assault or theft but not physical or financial abuse. Other studies observed that relatives of people with dementia may not intend to abuse but may be confused when managing other people's money (Langan and Means, 1996;Baxter et al, 2008) or hold "distorting'' views about their "entitlement'' to these assets (Tilse et al, 2005;Setterlund et al, 2007). Other studies observed that relatives of people with dementia may not intend to abuse but may be confused when managing other people's money (Langan and Means, 1996;Baxter et al, 2008) or hold "distorting'' views about their "entitlement'' to these assets (Tilse et al, 2005;Setterlund et al, 2007).…”