02). Dementia, functional impairment, and poor physical health are documented risk factors for financial exploitation (Lachs & Pillemer, 2015, p. 01). The presumed level of impact of elder abuse may be influenced by incorrect assumptions made due to the “aging process” (Phelan, 2010, p. 02). This can mean that a patient who has been abused may appear scared and confused, but is ignored because they have previously been diagnosed with a cognitively impaired illness such as dementia and these are “normal” symptoms (Phelan, 2010, p..