You might see this phrase in an Adult Protective Services letter, a police report, a bank fraud notice, or a lawyer's demand letter after someone spots missing money, unusual withdrawals, a changed will, or a caregiver suddenly controlling an older adult's accounts. It means taking, using, hiding, or transferring an older person's money, property, or benefits for someone else's gain through theft, pressure, deception, or abuse of trust. That can include misuse of a power of attorney, forged checks, coerced gifts, scam transactions, title transfers, or draining a joint account.

On the ground, the first move is usually to lock things down fast: freeze or monitor accounts, gather bank records, save texts and voicemail, review any trust, deed, or beneficiary changes, and report the conduct to Adult Protective Services, local law enforcement, and the financial institution. A civil claim may involve fraud, undue influence, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, or recovery of assets taken by a caregiver or family member.

It can affect an injury claim when the same conduct is part of broader elder abuse or follows a fall, hospitalization, or cognitive decline. Financial exploitation may be evidence that the older adult lacked capacity, was isolated, or was being controlled by the wrong person. Federally, the Elder Justice Act of 2010 supports reporting and response systems, but deadlines and remedies usually come from state civil and criminal law, so quick action matters.