Onlookers who don't see family-perpetrated elder financial abuse: concerned family members' perspectives of healthcare professionals.

Older adults who are financially exploited by family members routinely seek healthcare. Non-abusing concerned family members often accompany older adults to, or know of, their medical encounters. This qualitative study examined 28 family members' perspectives of encounters across healthcare settings at the time that older adults were being harmed in family financial exploitation. A descriptive analysis showed that across potential intervention opportunities, three providers (12%) intervened in exploitation directly; some intervened based on medical information (28%); and others did not intervene (12%). In 32% of encounters, this information was unknown. A thematic analysis showed that financial exploitation was not recognized across (a) primary care, (b) hospital, (c) long-term care settings, and during (d) care transitions. This lack of detection can prolong financial exploitation and its harms, including social isolation. Elder family financial exploitation is discussed as a social determinant of health, with medical providers as key players in its redress.