Other Titles
Implementation of Older Adult Financial Exploitation Measure (OAFEM) in Primary Care [Poster Title]
Other Titles
Rising Star Poster/Presentation
Abstract
Older adult financial exploitation is a growing public health concern that frequently goes unrecognized in healthcare settings. Financial exploitation can result in significant financial loss, psychological distress, and decreased quality of life for vulnerable older adults. Primary care settings represent an important opportunity for early detection; however, routine screening for financial exploitation is rarely incorporated into standard patient assessments. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to evaluate whether implementation of the Older Adult Financial Exploitation Measure (OAFEM) screening tool increases identification of older adults at risk for financial exploitation in a community-based primary care clinic. The guiding PICOT question is: In older adults receiving care in a community-based primary care clinic, does implementing the OAFEM screening tool, compared with standard intake without financial exploitation screening, increase identification of at-risk or exploited older adults? Research demonstrates that financial exploitation is often associated with cognitive changes affecting decision-making, reasoning, and executive functioning, even among individuals without diagnosed dementia. The OAFEM is a validated self-report screening instrument designed to identify financial exploitation and risk factors in older adults. This quality improvement project will integrate the OAFEM screening tool into the intake process for patients aged 60 years and older in a community-based primary care clinic. Staff education and standardized workflow protocols will support implementation. Data will be collected to evaluate screening completion rates and the number of patients identified as at risk for or experiencing financial exploitation. Implementing standardized screening has the potential to improve early detection, facilitate timely referral to social services and protective resources, and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration. By incorporating evidence-based screening practices into routine care, nurses and healthcare providers can play a critical role in protecting vulnerable older adults and addressing a significant yet under recognized form of elder mistreatment.
Notes
References:
Conrad, K. J., Iris, M., Ridings, J. W., Langley, K., & Wilber, K. H. (2010). Self-report measure of financial exploitation of older adults. The Gerontologist, 50(6), 758–773. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnq054
Fenton, L., Weissberger, G. H., Boyle, P. A., Mosqueda, L., Yassine, H. N., Nguyen, A. L., Lim, A. C., & Han, S. D. (2022). Cognitive and neuroimaging correlates of financial exploitation vulnerability in older adults without dementia: Implications for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 140, 104773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104773
Lim, A. C., Weissberger, G. H., Axelrod, J., Mosqueda, L., Nguyen, A. L., Fenton, L., Noriega, D., Erdman, C. E., & Han, S. D. (2025). Neuropsychological profile associated with financial exploitation vulnerability in older adults without dementia. The Clinical Neuropsychologist.
Nguyen, A. L., Mosqueda, L., & Han, S. D. (2021). Recognizing and responding to financial exploitation in older adults. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect.
Sigma Membership
Nu Omicron at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quality Improvement
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Primary Care, Fraud--In Old Age, Vulnerability--In Old Age, Clinical Assessment Tools--In Old Age, Financial Management--In Old Age, Health Screening, Community Health Services, Program Implementations
Recommended Citation
Horvath, Paige N.; Antisdel, J’Andra; and Pajakowski, Lori J., "Improving Identification of Older Adult Financial Exploitation Using the OAFEM Screening Tool" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 142.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/posters_2026/142
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Invited Presentation
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-10-01
Improving Identification of Older Adult Financial Exploitation Using the OAFEM Screening Tool
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Older adult financial exploitation is a growing public health concern that frequently goes unrecognized in healthcare settings. Financial exploitation can result in significant financial loss, psychological distress, and decreased quality of life for vulnerable older adults. Primary care settings represent an important opportunity for early detection; however, routine screening for financial exploitation is rarely incorporated into standard patient assessments. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to evaluate whether implementation of the Older Adult Financial Exploitation Measure (OAFEM) screening tool increases identification of older adults at risk for financial exploitation in a community-based primary care clinic. The guiding PICOT question is: In older adults receiving care in a community-based primary care clinic, does implementing the OAFEM screening tool, compared with standard intake without financial exploitation screening, increase identification of at-risk or exploited older adults? Research demonstrates that financial exploitation is often associated with cognitive changes affecting decision-making, reasoning, and executive functioning, even among individuals without diagnosed dementia. The OAFEM is a validated self-report screening instrument designed to identify financial exploitation and risk factors in older adults. This quality improvement project will integrate the OAFEM screening tool into the intake process for patients aged 60 years and older in a community-based primary care clinic. Staff education and standardized workflow protocols will support implementation. Data will be collected to evaluate screening completion rates and the number of patients identified as at risk for or experiencing financial exploitation. Implementing standardized screening has the potential to improve early detection, facilitate timely referral to social services and protective resources, and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration. By incorporating evidence-based screening practices into routine care, nurses and healthcare providers can play a critical role in protecting vulnerable older adults and addressing a significant yet under recognized form of elder mistreatment.
Description
Older adult financial exploitation is frequently underrecognized in healthcare settings. This project evaluates the implementation of the OAFEM screening tool in a community-based primary care clinic to improve identification of older adults at risk for financial exploitation. Integrating routine screening may strengthen early detection, promote patient advocacy, and support interdisciplinary interventions to protect vulnerable populations.