Older Americans are losing $2.9 billion annually to elder financial abuse, a 12 percent increase from the $2.6 billion estimated in 2008, according to äóìThe MetLife Study of Elder Financial Abuse: Crimes of Occasion, Desperation, and Predation Against America’s Elders.äó
Other major findings from the study, which was produced in collaboration with the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) and the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech, include:
äó¢ æWomen were nearly twice as likely to be victims of elder financial abuse as men.
äó¢ æMost victims were between the ages of 80 and 89, lived alone and required some help with either healthcare or home maintenance.
äó¢ æNearly 60% of perpetrators were males, mostly between ages 30 and 59.
äó¢ æVictims were particularly vulnerable during the holidays when overall dollar losses due to family and friends were higher than any other category.
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