What constitutes financial abuse in elder care?

Financial abuse in elder care is characterized by accessing or misusing an elder's financial resources without their consent. This can include actions such as stealing money or property, improperly using an elder's credit cards, or exploiting their financial accounts for personal gain. The essence of financial abuse lies in the lack of permission or knowledge from the elder, which violates their autonomy and can lead to significant financial harm.

In contrast, managing an elder's assets with their permission, helping them plan their financial future, or negotiating transactions on their behalf typically involve their consent and a legitimate intent to support them. These actions are part of responsible care and assistance when done transparently and ethically. Thus, the distinction is clear: financial abuse involves illicit access and misuse, which is what makes the option of accessing an elder's resources without consent the correct definition of financial abuse.