Financial abuse is stealing from, defrauding someone of, or coercing someone to part with money, goods and/or property. This abuse can be a single act or continue over months or even years. Financial abuse can include:
- the direct theft of money and/or other possessions from an Adult
- overcharging for goods or services
- the misuse of Direct Payments by paid carers or family members
- the misuse of Power of Attorney and other systems giving power to a third party to act on behalf of an Adult
- forcing an Adult to sell their home, having their home sold against their wishes, or significant assets from the value of the property removed without consent or knowledge
- a care worker accepting an inappropriate gift or reward
- a residential or nursing home using resident’s money to pay for goods that the home should pay for
- a care home manager gaining trust of residents and unlawfully taking control over the finances
The outcome of financial abuse against an Adult at Risk can be devastating. Some can lose large sums of money, incur large debts or simply be left in a position where they do not have enough money to live on.
