[Report] Policy and program options to prevent and address financial mistreatment of older persons

Financial mistreatment of older persons (MOP) is a serious but often hidden form of mistreatment that erodes:

• autonomy
• dignity, and
• financial security

As Canada’s population ages, the prevention of such mistreatment, particularly the misuse of Powers of Attorney (POA), has become a priority. This report builds on prior federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) work on MOP (also known as elder abuse or senior abuse), focusing on financial mistreatment and misuse of POA.

Drawing on a review of literature, jurisdictional frameworks, and targeted stakeholder engagement, the report identifies significant variability in how provinces and territories define and respond to financial mistreatment. While all jurisdictions maintain mechanisms such as Public Guardians and Trustees (PGTs) and POA legislation, their investigative powers, oversight processes, and resources differ. This variation creates systemic gaps, especially in early intervention and prevention. Very little has been evaluated in this area, making it difficult to empirically determine which approaches are working well.

Emerging evidence and stakeholder input point toward the effectiveness of multidisciplinary, networked collaborative models that bring together:

• financial institutions
• police
• PGTs
• health and social services, and
• community organizations

The report outlines several policy and program options to strengthen Canada’s response, including:

• harmonizing POA frameworks and establishing mandatory registration or verification mechanisms
• developing a “Seniors Code Dashboard” with the banking sector to identify and voluntarily report on outcome indicators
• embedding education and evaluation across legal, financial, and community sectors to close current knowledge gaps; and
• expanding multidisciplinary, collaborative teams to include specialized financial mistreatment response teams

Financial MOP can be prevented through coordinated action. By fostering cross-sector collaboration, building consistent oversight mechanisms, and evaluating what works, governments and partners can better protect older Canadian adults and ensure that they can age with safety, respect, and confidence.