IN-CASE

Indiana Council Against Senior Exploitation

Every year, older Americans lose an estimated $36.5 billion dollars to financial exploitation, abuse, and scams, which is destroying the security of older adults and their families. By the year 2030, 1 out of every 5 Hoosiers will be age 65 or older, according to population projections by the Indiana Business Research Center with the IU Kelly School of Business. Having so many older adults in the state of Indiana creates "a growing marketplace for those who may be looking to take advantage of vulnerable adults," says Chris Naylor, Executive Director of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. That's why the Indiana Secretary of State's office has partnered with other experts in fraud prevention to form the Indiana Council Against Senior Exploitation, or IN-CASE.

The Indiana Secretary of State's office is already a leader in elder justice. The Indiana Securities Division protects Hoosier investors against securities fraud. With IN-CASE, we saw an opportunity to amplify our efforts by teaming up with others who are equally committed to protecting our state's senior citizens. In fact, in 2016 and 2017, the Indiana Secretary of State and the Indiana Securities Division worked with the Indiana General Assembly, Indiana Adult Protective Services, and industry professionals to pass senior savings protection legislation.

IN-CASE is a statewide collaboration between dozens of organizations and individuals who are dedicated to the goal of preventing and ending all forms of senior exploitation and abuse. IN-CASE members include government agencies, law enforcement, not-for-profits, medical providers, and legal providers.

At IN-CASE, it's our mission to empower Indiana communities to prevent and end senior exploitation and abuse. All IN-CASE members agree to a "no closed door" approach, meaning if any one of us is approached with questions related to the abuse or exploitation of an elder, we are equipped to refer that person to the proper resource. If you, or someone you know, may be the subject of senior financial exploitation, the Get Help section of the IN-CASE website is a great resource to get the help you need. Organizations listed at that location can provide information and resources if you or someone you know may be the victim of senior exploitation or abuse. The list below will help you recognize common risk factors and red flags.

Risk Factors

The victim has dementia.
The perpetrator and/or the victim has mental health and/or substance abuse issues.
The victim is socially isolated.
The victim is in poor physical health, which increases vulnerability and thereby may increase risk.

Red Flags

Sudden changes in the elder’s appearance: poor hygiene, dressed improperly for the weather, sunken eyes, bedsores, loss of weight.
Sudden changes in the elder’s personality; increased or unreasonable levels of anxiety, fearfulness, and/or depression.
The elder becomes uncommunicative and unresponsive.
Sudden or swift decline in the health; malnourishment or sudden loss of weight.
Visible injury that has not been cared for or cannot be explained with a realistic explanation.
A change in routine, no longer attending or participating in events enjoyed in the past.
Social isolation / not allowed to visit alone.
Sudden loss of ability to meet financial obligations.
Going without things the elder needs or has always had in the past.
The elder states that they have had conflicts or problems with their caregiver and/or they use coded disclosures.

Presentations
Many IN-CASE members, including the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State, have public speakers available to present materials that will help people understand the risks and harms of senior financial exploitation and abuse, as well as recognize when this exploitation or abuse may be occurring. All IN-CASE speakers provide presentation services free of charge on a first come, first served basis. Visit the Request a Speaker page to find the email addresses of available speakers. Additionally, IN-CASE members organize many of our own events, and you can RSVP through the Events page of the IN-CASE website.

The Indiana Secretary of State's office invites you to explore the IN-CASE website and connect with IN-CASE on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

IN-CASE Members