So far, Utah is the only state that has attempted to measure how much its elderly residents lose every year to financial abuse, according to the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services.
And the picture isn’t pretty.
A study released last year by Jilenne Gunther, legal counsel for the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services, estimated that elderly Utahns combined lose $1 million a day to financial abuse, with the perpetrators often the people seniors rely on most — their children and grandchildren.
"At some point most people are going to need help with their finances," Gunther said. "And it is extremely important that the elderly and those who love them take steps to put checks and balances in place to protect their assets."
Gunther was on hand at the White House on Thursday when President Barack Obama signed a proclamation making today World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
In the proclamation, Obama noted that elder abuse — whether physical, emotional or financial — takes an unacceptable toll on individuals and families across the nation. Salt Lake Tribune
