Financial abuse of vulnerable adults in Northern Ireland: Safeguarding staff's experiences and the potential application of the Older Adult Financial Abuse Measure

Background: Financial abuse is a prominent form of abuse of adults at risk and can have serious consequences for both the individual and society. Although older people have been shown in health and social care statistics as... [ view full abstract ]

Background: Financial abuse is a prominent form of abuse of adults at risk and can have serious consequences for both the individual and society. Although older people have been shown in health and social care statistics as being more vulnerable to financial abuse than younger adults at risk, this is a serious issue of concern for all age groups. Equally, the literature has disproportionately focused on financial abuse of older people, with scant attention to financial abuse in the larger cohort of adults at risk.

Aim and objectives of the study: 1) To identify types of cases of financial abuse which were presenting to the Health and Social Care (HSC) safeguarding staff in Northern Ireland.
2) To engage HSC staff in the review and refinement of a financial abuse screening tool, the Older Adult Financial Abuse Measure (OAFEM) for use with vulnerable adults in Northern Ireland.

Research Design: Methods of data collection: Focus Groups
Sample: Safeguarding representatives in each of the five HSC trusts
Analysis: Thematic Content Analysis
Ethical approval: Obtained from University College Dublin.

Findings: Findings demonstrate that cases of financial abuse present challenges in the areas related to the adult at risk, namely, his/her capacity, relationships and in relation to broader areas, such as challenges in the safeguarding system and differences in rural and urban safeguarding cases.

Conclusions and Implications: Although the OAFEM is published as a tool for older people, the safeguarding staff who participated in focus groups have explored their experience of adult at risk cases of financial abuse. Findings identified challenges in case management which need policy, practice and legislative reform. Moreover in the review of the OAFEM, the focus groups agreed that this would be a suitable tool to pilot in Northern Ireland for the broader population of vulnerable adults, providing appropriate training and protocols were in place.