Senate Panel Tackles Fraud and Abuse Targeting Older Adults

AARP Oklahoma’s state director calls for reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and support for state efforts to bolster guardrails against abuse

Miriam Cross,

AARP

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En español

Published July 31, 2025

AARP (Getty Images)

There are numerous gaps in the systems meant to shield older adults from fraud and exploitation.

Family caregivers may not know how to spot signs that their loved one is being targeted. Unscrupulous guardians can cause harm when their powers are left unchecked. Law enforcement officers may not be trained to respond to situations involving older adults with forms of dementia, or they may be overwhelmed by the volume of cases.

Sean Voskuhl, state director for AARP Oklahoma, spoke to these issues during a July 30 hearing held by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. AARP’s efforts to fight these crimes are wide-ranging: The organization supports federal bills that would boost resources for law enforcement agencies to protect older adults and initiatives on the state level that regulate guardianship and maximize independence among older adults so they can handle their affairs.

“Abuse isn’t always the bruises you can see,” Voskuhl told the committee. “Sometimes it’s financial exploitation or intentional social isolation.”

The FBI’s 2024 annual report from its Internet Crime Complaint Center found that individuals over 60 reported nearly $4.9 billion in fraud losses in 2024, a 43 percent increase from the previous year.

“Elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation are still happening every day,” Voskuhl said.

AARP Oklahoma State Director Sean Voskuhl testifying before the US Senate Special Committee on Aging on July 30 on issues relating to elder abuse and guardianship, including AARP's efforts to fight it at the state and federal level.

Courtesy U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

Programs authorized under or funded by the Older Americans Act are critical in counteracting elder fraud. Some directly target the problem, such as legal assistance and the National Center on Elder Abuse, which disseminates research and other resources. Others are tangential but still key, such as in-home support, home-delivered meals or transportation services.

Authorization for the Older Americans Act expired last year, and AARP urges its reauthorization.

“The Older Americans Act is a cornerstone of aging policy and a frontline defense against abuse,” Voskuhl said.

He noted that its programs ultimately save money by helping adults live independently and avoid institutional care for as long as possible.

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“It’s a smart, strong investment,” he said.

AARP also supports the bipartisan Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees From Deception (GUARD) Act, which would provide federal funding for state and local agencies to hire and train personnel and gather the tools they need, such as specialized software, to investigate financial fraud. The Senate bill, cosponsored by Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), was introduced on July 30. A companion bill sponsored by Zachary Nunn (R-Iowa) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) was introduced in the House in April.

These efforts are important because “we hear every day of individuals who are defrauded and go to local law enforcement and are told there is nothing they can do,” Voskuhl said.

The Senior Security Act, a bipartisan bill endorsed by AARP and led by Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) and Gottheimer, passed the House on July 21. It would create a Securities and Exchange Commission task force to study issues facing investors over 65 and require the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the costs of financial exploitation of older adults.

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Meanwhile, actions on the state level could serve as a model for more expansive legislation, especially for issues involving guardianship.

In Oklahoma, Neil’s Law is set to take effect on November 1. It is named after a state resident whose family said he lost his savings and support system after being victimized by a person he trusted. Formally known as the Oklahoma Elder Exploitation and Abuse Act, it lets vulnerable adults or their legal representatives bring civil lawsuits against individuals who have abused or neglected them. The state also passed a law in 2024 (HB 3317) requiring teams investigating elder abuse to receive training in dementia.

This year, Kansas passed an AARP-supported bill limiting full guardianship to an option of last resort. In 2023, AARP Pennsylvania supported the passage of a bill that raises the bar for appointing a guardian and strengthens oversight.

Actions in other states also center on raising public awareness of guardianships and recognizing supported decision-making, or SDM, as an alternative to a full-time guardian.

Watch a recording of the hearing here.

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