The New York Times is reporting that thousand of doctors and medical professionals are taking part in a new effort to screen older patients for financial vulnerability as well as indications they are being exploited financially by family members, friends or strangers.
Introduced in 25 states, the program is modeled after a 2008 pilot project at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas and is being paid for by the Investor Protection Trust, a nonprofit organization that is financed by fines levied against companies for financial misconduct.
After spotting elderly people at risk, doctors can refer them to state securities regulators and adult services providers for help. The North American Securities Administrators Association and the National Adult Protective Services Association, the group for social workers who handle abuse cases, are backing the program, which provides medical professionals with specific resources to aid their patients.
Each doctor receives a laminated four-page pocket guide listing the names and Web sites for groups including the National Center on Elder Abuse and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
