Advancing knowledge and improving the financial security of older adults through the translation of research into science-informed policies and practices.
The Aging Adult Fraud Research & Policy Institute conducts rigorous scientific research on the risk factors, protective factors, consequences, and responses to the financial exploitation of older adults. Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the global population and control vast amounts of invested and home equity wealth. These factors—along with characteristics associated with aging, such as declines in physical and cognitive health and shrinking social support networks—have contributed to rapidly increasing rates of fraud and financial exploitation impacting millions of older adults each year. Fraud and financial exploitation victimization can have serious negative and long-lasting consequences for older adults’ health and quality of life. From their scientific findings, the Institute directors develop policy and practice recommendations that are regularly presented to older adult citizen groups, local, state, and national policymakers and financial, legal, and medical professionals to reduce the risk of victimization, the associated negative consequences, and improve responses to confront this growing social problem.
PARTNERSHIPS
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Division of Consumer Services
- Seniors vs. Crime
- The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
- The University of California Berkeley School of Law's Criminal Law & Justice Center
PROJECTS
- Assessing the Prevalence and Exploring Community Level Correlates of Fraud and Financial Exploitation of Older Adults 2025-2026
- Exploratory Study of Elder Financial Exploitation 2015 – 2016
- Consumer Fraud Project 2004 – 2006
HIGHLIGHTED/FEATURED LINKS
- Presentation: United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, 2022
- Presentation: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, 2022
- Presentation: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, 2019
- Article: Gothamist, July 2025
- Article: OLLI Times, Dec. 2019
FEATURED RESEARCH
- Brancale, Julie, Thomas G. Blomberg, and Kevin M. Beaver. 2024. The Connection of Place, Routine Activity, and Financial Exploitation of Older Adults in a Large Retirement Community. Online First. Journal of Aging and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2024.2422670
- Brancale, Julie and Thomas G. Blomberg. 2022. The Role of Normative Age-Graded Transitions and Human Agency in Patterns and Variations of Financial Exploitation of Older Adults. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 60(6), 781-818. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224278221107516
CO-DIRECTOR | Thomas G. Blomberg, Ph.D.
CO-DIRECTOR | Julie Brancale, Ph.D.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information on the Aging Adult Fraud Research & Policy Institute, contact Drs. George B. Pesta or Julie Brancale.