PA Launches Investigative Unit To Fight Back Against Elder Abuse

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania state officials have launched a new investigative unit to help fight back against elder abuse, particularly cases involving financial exploitation, they announced this week.

The Department of Aging now includes a dediated Financial Abuse Specialist Team that is tasked with investigating "complex" cases where older people are targeted as victims of fraud.

"This FAST unit will be available to assist in both investigating and resolving financial exploitation cases," Secretary of Aging Robert Torres said in a statement. "It will also work on building or strengthening relationships with law enforcement to achieve justice for older adult victims and to mitigate damages as quickly as possible."

Officials said they studied 22 recent cases where they used more advanced investigation techniques, including coordination across departments and early intervention. Those cases saw some $3 million in assets gain protection from further fraud, the state said.

One recent state-run study found that the average financial loss to a Pennsylvania victim of financial elder abuse was around $40,000. In cases studied across 10 counties alone, some $12.5 million was lost.

The Department of Aging received a $666,000 federal grant to fund the program for the next two years. The four person team will feature a supervisor, two analysts, and an attorney. They'll work hand in hand with the state's Area Agencies on Aging, responsible for a wide variety of elder resources and protection measures.