Vulnerability to financial exploitation
When an older person who is both (a) vunerable and (b) in possession of something of value encounters a greedy person, the likely result is financial exploitation. There are several types of financial exploitation, including direct theft, conversion of public entitlement benefits, coerced transfer of property, consumer fraud, confidence games, and others.
The essence of "vulnerability" to exploitation is poor EXECUTIVE FUNCTION. This refers to the ability to apply judgment, weigh competing considerations, evaluate novel situations, and choose solutions never before utilized. It requires long- and short-term memory, abstraction, calculation, social savvy, insight, and mental flexibility.
When these are impaired, the person is vulnerable to exploitation. Such a person will believe far fetched statements by a fraudster, and place trust in people whose lies would be obvious to a nonimpaired individual. Such impaired people will not effectively resist coercion or undue influence.
The essence of "vulnerability" to exploitation is poor EXECUTIVE FUNCTION. This refers to the ability to apply judgment, weigh competing considerations, evaluate novel situations, and choose solutions never before utilized. It requires long- and short-term memory, abstraction, calculation, social savvy, insight, and mental flexibility.
When these are impaired, the person is vulnerable to exploitation. Such a person will believe far fetched statements by a fraudster, and place trust in people whose lies would be obvious to a nonimpaired individual. Such impaired people will not effectively resist coercion or undue influence.