Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp

#122 - My Aging Parent Won't Stop Giving Money to A Scammer. What Can I Do?


Listen Later

What do you do when your aging parent is being scammed—and keeps sending money even after you’ve begged them to stop? It’s heartbreaking. It’s infuriating. And it can leave you feeling powerless.

If this is happening in your family, you’re not alone—and there is hope.

In this episode, I unpack what’s really going on when an older adult falls victim to financial exploitation, why they often can’t stop—even when they know it’s a scam—and how to intervene without shaming or severing the relationship.

You'll learn:
 ✅ Why people get trapped in scams—even when the truth is obvious
 ✅ What “dignity of risk” and “duty of care” mean for families
 ✅ How to lead with compassion instead of control
 ✅ What to do when cognitive decline might be involved
 ✅ Concrete steps to prevent revictimization
 ✅ Where to turn for professional support

Whether you're a family member or a professional working with older adults, this episode is packed with tools to help you respond with clarity, compassion, and courage.

Professionals: Click here to get your free "Support for Older Adults After Financial Scams" Guide


Resources Mentioned:

  • Older Adult Nest Egg: Assess financial vulnerability and get expert tools for reducing risk
  • AARP Fraud Watch Network: Up-to-date scam alerts and prevention tips
  • Give an Hour: Mental health support including for victims of exploitation
  • Center for Mental Health & Aging: Find a therapist specializing in older adults
  • Adult Protective Services: State-specific reporting and support


Click here to see the show notes 

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina KoeppBy Dr. Regina Koepp

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

42 ratings


More shows like Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp

View all
Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

37,832 Listeners

Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

Good Life Project

3,317 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,367 Listeners

Modern Love by The New York Times

Modern Love

8,823 Listeners

Untangle by Untangle

Untangle

818 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,636 Listeners

The mindbodygreen Podcast by mindbodygreen

The mindbodygreen Podcast

2,044 Listeners

Oprah's Super Soul by Oprah

Oprah's Super Soul

31,920 Listeners

Last Day by Lemonada Media

Last Day

3,046 Listeners

Chasing Life by CNN

Chasing Life

8,218 Listeners

How to Be a Better Human by TED

How to Be a Better Human

1,370 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

28,589 Listeners

We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

We Can Do Hard Things

41,407 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,406 Listeners

Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams by Crooked Media

Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

1,546 Listeners