COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on Monday announced two new partnerships aimed at increasing awareness of elder abuse and stopping financial exploitation before it harms older residents.
The Ohio Bankers League and the Ohio Health Care Association are joining the Attorney General’s Office as part of a statewide campaign to educate Ohioans about warning signs of elder abuse and how to prevent it. The effort builds on a partnership announced last fall with the Ohio Pharmacists Association.
“Elder abuse doesn’t always leave bruises,” Yost said. “Sometimes it looks like unusual withdrawals or a sudden change in financial behavior. Our financial institutions are a first line of defense.”
Under the new partnerships, the organizations will participate in training to identify signs and symptoms of elder abuse and financial exploitation. The groups will also distribute educational materials and use their websites and member networks to expand outreach and encourage reporting.
“When you’re dealing with an epidemic, you need a big army,” Yost said at a press conference with representatives of the trade associations. “These partnerships are critical.”
As scams targeting older adults grow more sophisticated, financial institutions are often positioned to spot potential red flags, including suspicious withdrawals, unusual check-writing patterns and sudden wire transfers. Through coordination with law enforcement and improved reporting, banks can help prevent financial losses.
“On behalf of the Ohio Bankers League and Ohio’s community banks, I want to thank Attorney General Yost and his team for inviting us to be a partner in this critically important effort to combat elder financial fraud,” said Mike Adelman, president and CEO of the Ohio Bankers League, which represents more than 170 FDIC-insured financial institutions. “This partnership matters, and it sends a powerful message to Ohioans that government and local banks are standing together to protect our most vulnerable neighbors.”
Health-care providers, including assisted-living communities, home care and hospice providers, and skilled nursing facilities, also may be in a position to identify signs of physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
“For every Ohio Health Care Association member, the safety, well-being and compassionate care of residents, especially in their most vulnerable moments, are our highest priorities,” said Scott Wiley, CEO of the Ohio Health Care Association, which represents more than 1,300 providers statewide. “Every Ohioan entrusted to our care deserves to feel safe, respected, seen and valued.”
According to the Attorney General’s Office, reported elder abuse in Ohio has increased 400% over the past seven years. Estimates indicate that one in 10 Ohioans age 60 or older experience abuse, though only one in five cases is reported.
Sara Kilpatrick, executive director and CEO of the Ohio Pharmacists Association, said her organization is working with the Attorney General’s Office to distribute educational materials, including information printed on prescription bags and window-ledge cards for pharmacies.
“Too many older Ohioans suffer in silence,” she said. “Pharmacists are in a unique position to help protect and support these vulnerable neighbors.”
Since October, the Attorney General’s Office has expanded its awareness campaign urging Ohioans to learn the warning signs of elder abuse and financial exploitation and report suspected cases. A central component is a video titled What’s Done in the Dark, shared by the office’s Elder Justice Unit and partner agencies.
The state’s Elder Abuse Commission recently released its biennial report outlining prevention efforts, training initiatives and coordination among agencies focused on protecting older adults.
Officials encourage Ohioans who suspect elder abuse, neglect or financial exploitation to contact local law enforcement or their county Adult Protective Services office.