The Lichtenberg Financial Decision Screening Scale (LFDSS): A new tool for assessing financial decision making and preventing financial exploitation

• NCJ Number: 311220
• Journal: Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: 2016 Pages: 134-151
• Author(s): Peter A. Lichtenberg; Lisa Ficker; Analise Rahman-Filipiak; Ron Tatro; Cynthia Farrell; James Speir; Sanford Mall; Patrick Simasko; Howard Collens; John Jackman
• Date Published: March 2016
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2014-MU-CX-0001
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Country: United States of America

Abstract

One of the challenges in preventing the financial exploitation of older adults is that neither criminal justice nor noncriminal justice professionals are equipped to detect capacity deficits. Because decision-making capacity is a cornerstone assessment in cases of financial exploitation, effective instruments for measuring this capacity are essential. We introduce a new screening scale for financial decision making that can be administered to older adults. To explore the scale’s implementation and assess construct validity, we conducted a pilot study of 29 older adults seen by APS (Adult Protective Services) workers and 79 seen by other professionals. Case examples are included.

(Publisher abstract provided.)