Money & Retirement
Financial caregiving and fraud prevention
Many older adults get help with money from a son, a daughter, or a trusted friend. That help works best with clear rules: whose accounts, what records, and who else can see them. Without rules, honest helpers get blamed and dishonest ones get room to act.
The guides in this category show how to set up money help safely, keep simple records, and share access without handing over control. You will also learn the warning signs of scams that target older adults, what to do in the first hours after money is sent, and how to report fraud to your bank and the authorities. Older consumers reported billions in losses in recent federal reports, and fast action is what gets some of it back.
The numbers
| Figures for this topic | |
|---|---|
| Losses older consumers reported to fraud (Federal Trade Commission, Protecting Older Consumers, 2024) | $2.4 billion reported in one year |
Guides in this category
Start here: Keeping Records When Managing Someone Else's Money.
Continue on Care and Living Guide
Care costs — See what care costs and how families pay for it.
Free local help
Three national programs connect you to help in your own community, at no cost: