Strengths-Based Approaches in Peer-Led Parenting Groups.

It is estimated that at least 10% of adults over the age of 65 experience some form of elder abuse []. About 5.5% of older adults experience financial exploitation, which was recently recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a serious public health problem []. Frailty, or the accumulation of age-related health deficits and increased vulnerability to stressors, has been correlated with greater rates of financial exploitation, highlighting the importance of protective interventions for older hospitalized individuals []. The cognitive vulnerability associated with frailty can be taken advantage of in a healthcare setting, causing financial loss to patients and constituting fraud. It is estimated that between 3% and 10% of yearly total health care expenditures in the United States are lost to fraud, making this a significant concern []. We present a case involving a hospitalized older adult who, during a period of transient cognitive impairment following an acute injury, was approached by an outside agency and agreed to a costly service arrangement that was not consistent with the recommendations of his clinical team. The transition from hospital to home is often marked by time pressure, complex decision-making, and reduced family oversight, which may leave cognitively vulnerable patients susceptible to arrangements that do not reflect their actual care needs. This case raises concerns about the potential for financial elder abuse during such transitions and highlights a need for additional systemic safeguards to protect this population. A 74-year-old man with a history of non-valvular atrial fibrillation on rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and a repaired ascending aortic aneurysm presented to the emergency department following a mechanical fall resulting in head trauma. On initial assessment, the patient demonstrated altered mental status with impaired recall of recent events. Physical examination was notable for a significant periorbital hematoma and facial soft-tissue injury as noted in Figure .