Assessing Vulnerability Factors Contributing to Elder Fraud

The phenomenon of elder fraud has become increasingly prevalent with the aging population. This essay examines the various vulnerability factors contributing to this issue by focusing on psychological, social, and economic dimensions that affect older individuals. It highlights the role of cognitive decline in increasing susceptibility to scams, as demonstrated in studies like those by Nyberg et al., who emphasize memory aging and brain maintenance challenges faced by the elderly. Additionally, the essay explores how social isolation, a significant factor identified by Steptoe et al., exacerbates vulnerability by reducing opportunities for older adults to receive support or advice when confronted with potential frauds. Furthermore, Harper’s analysis of economic implications underscores the financial pressures that may compel some seniors into risky decision-making. The discussion also integrates insights from Chasteen et al. on how negative self-perceptions related to aging can weaken defenses against fraudulent activities. In sum, this essay argues for a multifaceted approach in addressing elder fraud, suggesting interventions at both individual and societal levels to mitigate these vulnerabilities effectively.

Running head: CASE STUDY
Case Study
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction..............................................................................................................................2
LO1 2
Answer: 1.............................................................................................................................2
Answer 2..............................................................................................................................3
References...............................................................................................................................4

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Introduction
Most people who work in health and social care settings become familiar with the
occurrence of abuse among the residents staying at the care facilities. Individuals who are at
a risk of abuse stay in such healthcare settings due to reasons such as old age, mental
impairments or physical disabilities. These people are generally not able to take self-care
and fail to protect themselves against exploitations or harms. All health and social care
workers are entitled with the responsibility of safeguarding such vulnerable people by
providing good quality care and empowering them (Penhale 2014). This assignment will
illustrate a case scenario where following the death of her husband, an old widower Bridget
has been subjected to abuse by her friend. The report will further discuss the legislations
and policies that have been formulated to prevent the incidence of such abuse in health care
settings and will finally propose practice strategies that need to be adopted by the
professionals.
LO1
Answer: 1
In United Kingdom, there is significant increase in the older population. According to
reports more that 13% of the total population in UK is above 65 years of age (Spijker and
MacInnes 2013). According to the department of health, UK, the number is expected to
increase up to 20% in the coming years (Cotter et al. 2012). This rapid growth of the older
population raises a serious concern in the domain of the health and well-being of the senior
citizens residing in UK (Spijker and MacInnes 2013). It has known that the population of
older people is most vulnerable, susceptible towards unscrupulous business practises in
comparison to that of the younger groups (Lichtenberg, Stickney and Paulson 2013). The
elders who are unable to protect themselves from the exploitation, abuse and are neglected
by others fall under the group of the vulnerable elders (Harper 2014).
According to Lichtenberg et al. (2016), it is an article of faith in the business of fraud
to go ahead with the older people. Holmes and O'loughlin in the year 2014 reported that the
loneliness of the older persons increases their vulnerability towards several fraudulent
business practices. Another reason pointed out by the Holmes and O'loughlin (2014) is,
older peoples are always in a greater need for social interactions than that of the younger
counterparts and thus further making them vulnerable towards the fraudulent activities. In
case this case, Bridget has no one for her social conversation after the death of her
husband, the only one she can talk or converse with is Mr Y, who was her friend. She trusted

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her friend but in return, got cheated. Moreover, the older people also lack adequate market
knowledge regarding the current laws or what can be the upcoming consequences of a said
act. This lack of knowledge makes them more vulnerable to be targeted by the fraudulent
bodies (Chasteen et al. 2015). In case of Bridget, she was not aware of the consequences of
providing signed consent to Mr Y which gives him the authority of withdrawing money from
her account. Moreover, the lack of knowledge regarding the property and the financial
matters has enabled Mr. Y to take a control over the financial matter of Mrs. Bridget without
having power of attorney.
Answer 2
There are several risk factors that lead to the incidence of harm and abuse among
the older citizens like Bridget. The first risk factors include health status. According to Kerr,
Rosenberg and Frank (2012), older people are “vulnerable decision makers” under the rapid
changing environment. This arises due to the restricted physical activity or mobility, loss of
memory and problem with searching for new or latest information (Nyberg et al. 2012).
Moreover the changes in physic occurring in old age as a result of aging also reduces the
ability to conduct the self activities and increasing the sense of dependence and this in turn
increases the risk factors (Thielke et al. 2012). In case of Bridget, she was physically not fit
and is mostly bed-ridden and has no aces sot her main keys so even if anyone comes for
her rescue she is unable to open her door. She is also unable to carry out her daily activities
and such that she remains undressed. Along with physical limitations, the older people
suffers from extreme depression, this can be the case of Bridget (Bridle et al. 2012). As
discussed before, Bridget was lonely after her husband’s and has no one share her feeling,
making her socially excluded. Now that she is physically incapable to doing her own work,
her depression level is increasing, making her further endangered towards getting affected
with fraudulent activities.
After health, there comes cognitive ability. Older people have decreased ability of the
information processing and lack the adequate problem solving skills due to decline in the
capacity of memory along with reasoning skills (Nyberg et al. 2012). This makes them
vulnerable towards poor decision making. Like in case of Bridget, her lack-of-decision
making skills have made her sell the land behind her house. The money in turn was digested
by Mr y in the name of renovating the cottage.
Lack of social life is the third most important risk factor which makes them vulnerable
towards the frauds. Due to the lack of social life, they try to live like a symbiont, dependent
upon a single person (Steptoe et al. 2013). So even if he or she contributes injustice, they

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fail to raise their voice because they think that if they (upon which they are depending) leave
them, then they will be all alone.
References
Bridle, C., Spanjers, K., Patel, S., Atherton, N.M. and Lamb, S.E., 2012. Effect of exercise on
depression severity in older people: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised
controlled trials. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 201(3), pp.180-185.
Chasteen, A.L., Pichora-Fuller, M.K., Dupuis, K., Smith, S. and Singh, G., 2015. Do negative
views of aging influence memory and auditory performance through self-perceived
abilities?. Psychology and aging, 30(4), p.881.
Cotter, P.E., Bhalla, V.K., Wallis, S.J. and Biram, R.W., 2012. Predicting readmissions: poor
performance of the LACE index in an older UK population. Age and ageing, 41(6), pp.784-
789.
Harper, S., 2014. Economic and social implications of aging societies. Science, 346(6209),
pp.587-591.
Holmes, K.M. and O'loughlin, N., 2014. The experiences of people with learning disabilities
on social networking sites. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 42(1), pp.1-5.
Kerr, J., Rosenberg, D. and Frank, L., 2012. The role of the built environment in healthy
aging: community design, physical activity, and health among older adults. CPL
bibliography, 27(1), pp.43-60.
Lichtenberg, P.A., Stickney, L. and Paulson, D., 2013. Is psychological vulnerability related
to the experience of fraud in older adults?. Clinical gerontologist, 36(2), pp.132-146.
Lichtenberg, P.A., Sugarman, M.A., Paulson, D., Ficker, L.J. and Rahman-Filipiak, A., 2016.
Psychological and functional vulnerability predicts fraud cases in older adults: Results of a
longitudinal study. Clinical gerontologist, 39(1), pp.48-63.
Nyberg, L., Lövdén, M., Riklund, K., Lindenberger, U. and Bäckman, L., 2012. Memory aging
and brain maintenance. Trends in cognitive sciences, 16(5), pp.292-305.
Penhale, B., 2014. Elder Abuse and Neglect, Institutional. Encyclopedia of Quality of Life
and Well-Being Research, pp.1852-1857.
Spijker, J. and MacInnes, J., 2013. Population ageing: the timebomb that
isn’t. BMJ, 347(nov12 1), pp.f6598-f6598.

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Steptoe, A., Shankar, A., Demakakos, P. and Wardle, J., 2013. Social isolation, loneliness,
and all-cause mortality in older men and women. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, 110(15), pp.5797-5801.
Thielke, S., Harniss, M., Thompson, H., Patel, S., Demiris, G. and Johnson, K., 2012.
Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs and the adoption of health-related technologies for older
adults. Ageing international, 37(4), pp.470-488.

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