In healthcare, professionals often need to focus on multiple dimensions of care and well-being for their patients and clients, including non-clinical types like finances. Financial abuse is an aspect of elder abuse that is not always addressed. According to data from the Department of Justice, 26% of reported cases involved financial exploitation. This is the second highest type of maltreatment in this reported data. It is important to recognize the signs that someone may be a victim of financial abuse and fraud. According to a PA Department of Aging study on financial exploitation, 'older adults are at an increased risk for financial exploitation due to health changes which occur during the natural aging process, as well as their steady income, accumulated wealth, and retirement savings over their lifespan." A healthcare professional may be one of the first to notice the health changes that could potentially make someone more vulnerable to financial exploitation. This may put the healthcare professional in the unique, and sometimes confusing, position of how to help a patient when the matter is not necessarily related to their healthcare. It is never for certain that the patient or client has an advocate who is looking out for his or her best interest. It is possible that those close to him or her may be taking financial advantage of the situation. According to the Department of Justice, "A financial loss to the older adult was slightly more likely to occur when the suspect was known (79%) compared to when the suspect was a stranger (75%)." Additionally, "of the 22 states submitting data on perpetrator relationship to victims ages 60 and older, over half had a kinship relationship with the victim." One goal of this program is to enlighten individuals to the fraud and scams that may impact patients and clients that the audience works with to provide information on help and resources addressing financial exploitation. By staying alert to common fraudulent techniques, professionals may be better prepared to share concerns and intervene when appropriate. Sources: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/eappa-data-overview; https://www.aging.pa.gov/publications/older-adults-financial-exploitation-study/Documents/PA%20Department%20of%20Aging%20%E2%80%93%20Financial%20Exploitation%20of%20Older%20Adults%20Study%20Report.pdf