When finances become a health issue for seniors

by Eileen Ambrose, The Baltimore Sun

Doctors are being encouraged to make sure elderly patients aren't victims of fraud.

We have a special relationship with our doctors. We trust them and tell them intimate details about our lives. And doctors who see us regularly are likely to notice changes from visit to visit that might signal that all is not well.

That's why some regulators and advocates for the elderly are reaching out to primary-care physicians, hoping they will use their unique position to help spot when older patients — particularly those with mild cognitive impairment — are victims of financial fraud.

About half the states so far have signed on to the Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation program that aims to train doctors on the red flags of financial exploitation and gives them the information they need to refer patients for help.

The program is run by the nonprofit Investor Protection Institute and the Baylor College of Medicine. Maryland regulators say they will be watching how the program develops before deciding whether to join in.

Read full article...