Elder financial abuse and exploitation: a systematic review of vulnerabilities and protective factors

Purpose This study aims to systematically review the literature on elder financial abuse and exploitation, with a specific focus on identifying key vulnerabilities and protective factors. It consolidates fragmented evidence to inform policy, safeguarding practices and future research. Design/methodology/approach A structured title-based search was conducted in Web of Science using population-related terms (e.g. elder, older adult, vulnerable adult) combined with financial abuse terms (e.g. financial exploitation, economic abuse, financial harm). The query retrieved 186 records, of which 93 peer-reviewed papers met the eligibility criteria. Data extraction covered theoretical approaches, contexts, methodologies and documented vulnerabilities and protective mechanisms. Findings Research has expanded substantially since 2010, with the USA, Israel and the UK contributing most studies. Frequently reported vulnerabilities include cognitive decline, limited financial and digital literacy, social isolation, minority status and complex family dynamics. Protective factors, less commonly examined, encompass financial education, community engagement, social support, policy reforms and multidisciplinary safeguarding frameworks. Significant geographic gaps exist in Latin America, Africa and parts of Asia, limiting the global applicability of current evidence. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first systematic review to integrate vulnerabilities and protective factors in elder financial abuse and exploitation through a cross-disciplinary perspective. It reveals a marked imbalance between risk documentation and prevention research, underscoring the need for culturally sensitive, evidence-based interventions and proactive safeguarding strategies.