19/12/2011

Short changed, the report recently published by the Alzheimer's Society highlights the increased risk of financial abuse that people with dementia experience. The findings of a survey of 47 people with dementia, 104 carers and focus groups of professionals indicated that there was an increased risk of financial abuse because of isolation, reduced capacity to assess financial risk and reliance on others to manage their money.

The report said social workers and other professionals need to be aware of warnings signs, which include:

• Significant or sudden changes in a person's behaviour or living circumstances.
• Unpaid bills and a lack of food in the house.
• New interest or involvement from a third party in a person with dementia.
• The person with dementia showing confusion about the value of money or the bill paying process.
• Family members moving into the person's home and taking control of financial issues.

The report makes recommendations which include:

• Recognise that people with dementia are at much higher risk of financial abuse.
• Improve knowledge and awareness about financial management and planning among people with dementia, carers and professionals.
• Improve awareness of effective prevention mechanisams to help stop people with dementia being repeatedly targeted by cold callers and scams.

More information is available at: www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents