COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Identify & Respond to the Exploitation of Older People course. This program is designed for workers, supervisors, and leaders in residential aged care, home care, community support, and related services who interact with older people and their families. Throughout this course, you will explore how exploitation of older people can occur in family, community, and service environments, and how you can recognise risks, respond safely and effectively, and uphold the safety, dignity, and rights of older people in your day-to-day practice.

This course begins by introducing the core purpose of recognising and responding to exploitation of older people and situating this work within broader safeguarding responsibilities. This section explains why safety, dignity, and rights must sit at the centre of care in aged care and community settings, and how exploitation directly undermines these principles. This section also outlines the role of workers and organisations in prevention and response, highlighting that safeguarding older people from exploitation is a shared, ongoing responsibility that includes awareness, early identification, and coordinated action.

Understanding exploitation and elder abuse is then explored in depth. This section explains what “exploitation” means in the context of older people and how it fits within wider concepts of elder abuse. This section also examines the different forms of harm that may be involved—financial, psychological, physical, sexual, neglect, social, and digital—and discusses how to distinguish exploitation from poor practice, honest errors, or family conflict, while still treating all concerns seriously and acting within your role and organisational requirements.

Rights, autonomy, capacity, and consent are examined next to ensure that responses to exploitation remain firmly rights-based. This section explains the human rights of older people, including the right to safety, dignity, and self-determination, and clarifies what is meant by capacity, consent, and informed choice in aged care and community contexts. This section also explores how to balance protection with respect for personal wishes, and how to support autonomy when some level of risk is present, including working with the older person to identify what safety and choice mean to them.

Types and patterns of exploitation are then analysed so that you can recognise the many ways harm can occur. This section explains financial and material exploitation, psychological and emotional exploitation, and physical and sexual exploitation, and shows how these forms of harm may overlap or reinforce each other. This section also explores neglect, deprivation, social isolation, and institutional or systemic exploitation, highlighting that exploitation can arise not only from individuals but also from patterns of practice, organisational cultures, and systems that fail to protect older people adequately.

Risk factors and vulnerability are then considered to explain why some older people are at higher risk than others. This section outlines individual risk factors such as frailty, disability, cognitive impairment, or communication barriers, and situational factors including isolation, carer stress, family conflict, and dependence on others for care or finances. This section also examines organisational and environmental contributors such as inadequate oversight, poor staffing, or unclear policies, and discusses intersectional influences—such as culture, language, gender, and poverty—that can shape both vulnerability to exploitation and access to help.

Power, dependency, coercion, and control are then examined to show how exploitation can develop and persist over time. This section explains power imbalances in care and family relationships, including control over housing, money, information, and daily routines, and how these can be misused. This section also explores coercive control, manipulation, undue influence, and dependency related to care, housing, or finances, as well as grooming behaviours and gradual escalation, helping you to recognise patterns before they become entrenched.

Warning signs and indicators of exploitation are then identified so you can recognise potential concerns in everyday practice. This section examines physical indicators such as unexplained injuries, signs of neglect, or poor hygiene, and emotional and behavioural indicators including fear, withdrawal, anxiety, or unusual deference when certain people are present. This section also explores financial warning signs such as unpaid bills, sudden changes in financial arrangements, missing belongings, or unexplained purchases, and environmental indicators such as restricted access to the older person, unsafe living conditions, or signs that someone else is exerting excessive control.

Family, informal carer, and intimate partner exploitation is then discussed to address the complex reality that exploitation often occurs within close relationships. This section explains how exploitation can emerge from long-standing family dynamics and may involve adult children, partners, or other relatives who are also providing care or support. This section also helps you distinguish between genuine carer stress or burnout and deliberate exploitation, and examines how to manage situations where the alleged perpetrator is also a key support person, requiring careful risk assessment, planning, and collaboration with other professionals.

Exploitation within services and formal care settings is then addressed, recognising that harm can also occur where older people should feel most protected. This section explores exploitation by staff, volunteers, or other clients, including boundary violations, favouritism, and conflicts of interest that create opportunities for misuse of power. This section also considers systemic exploitation such as overcharging, misuse of restrictive practices, or patterns of neglect at a service level, and clarifies whistleblowing responsibilities, protections, and organisational accountability when concerns arise within care services themselves.

Financial, legal, and digital exploitation is then explored in detail, given its growing prevalence and complexity. This section explains common patterns of financial abuse and misuse of funds, including unauthorised withdrawals, pressure to sign documents, or misusing allowances and benefits. This section also addresses issues relating to powers of attorney and guardianship, including misuse or overreach, and highlights red flags in requests for money management or document signing. This section further explores digital scams, identity theft, and technology-facilitated abuse targeting older people, and outlines how workers can support older people to recognise and reduce financial and online risks within the boundaries of their role.

Screening, assessment, and information gathering are then considered as core skills in identifying possible exploitation. This section explains how to ask sensitive questions respectfully and safely, using language and approaches that minimise distress or shame. This section also explores how to combine observation, conversation, and collateral information from family, other staff, or services to build a clearer picture, how to differentiate exploitation indicators from other issues such as cognitive decline or mental illness, and how to document concerns objectively and accurately without making assumptions or unfounded allegations.

Responding to disclosure and suspicion is then examined to support you in handling these situations with care and professionalism. This section explains how to respond calmly and supportively when an older person or another person discloses possible exploitation, using trauma-informed listening, validation, and reassurance. This section also explores how to clarify immediate needs and the person’s wishes without interrogating or promising outcomes you cannot guarantee, and how to manage situations where the alleged perpetrator is present or nearby, including prioritising safety and privacy.

Immediate safety, risk assessment, and crisis response are then covered for situations where exploitation poses urgent danger. This section explains how to identify situations of immediate risk to an older person’s life, safety, or wellbeing, and how to take protective action within organisational protocols and legal frameworks. This section also outlines when and how to involve emergency services, and how to consider the safety of staff and other clients while acting quickly and proportionately in crisis situations.

Reporting, cultural considerations, and ongoing safeguarding complete the course by integrating legal, organisational, and cultural responsibilities. This section explains mandatory reporting duties and organisational requirements, internal and external reporting pathways, and confidentiality and information-sharing responsibilities when exploitation is suspected or confirmed. This section also explores how to recognise exploitation where communication or cognition is impaired, and the cultural, spiritual, and community considerations that may affect how exploitation is understood and addressed. This section highlights the importance of working with interpreters, advocates, and community supports, and respecting cultural identity while consistently upholding safety, dignity, and rights.

By the end of this course, you will be able to define and recognise exploitation of older people, understand the different types and patterns of harm, and identify key risk factors and warning signs across family, community, and service settings. You will know how to listen and respond to concerns in a trauma-informed and rights-based way, assess immediate safety and take protective action within your role, and follow appropriate reporting and safeguarding pathways. Most importantly, you will be better equipped to uphold the safety, dignity, and self-determination of older people while working collaboratively with organisations, families, and communities to prevent, identify, and respond to exploitation.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Safeguarding Older People from Exploitation

• Purpose of recognising and responding to exploitation of older people
• Importance of safety, dignity, and rights in aged care and community settings
• Role of workers and organisations in prevention and response

2. Understanding Exploitation and Elder Abuse

• Meaning of exploitation in the context of older people
• Forms of harm: financial, psychological, physical, sexual, neglect, social, and digital
• Distinguishing exploitation from poor practice, errors, or family conflict

3. Rights, Autonomy, Capacity, and Consent

• Human rights and the right to safety, dignity, and self-determination
• Understanding capacity, consent, and informed choice
• Balancing protection with respect for personal wishes
• Supporting autonomy when risk is present

4. Types and Patterns of Exploitation

• Financial and material exploitation
• Psychological and emotional exploitation
• Physical and sexual exploitation
• Neglect, deprivation, and social isolation
• Institutional and systemic exploitation

5. Risk Factors and Vulnerability

• Individual risk factors such as frailty, disability, or cognitive impairment
• Situational factors including isolation, carer stress, and family conflict
• Organisational and environmental contributors
• Intersectional influences such as culture, language, gender, and poverty

6. Power, Dependency, Coercion, and Control

• Power imbalances in care and family relationships
• Coercive control, manipulation, and undue influence
• Dependency related to care, housing, or finances
• Grooming behaviours and gradual escalation

7. Warning Signs and Indicators of Exploitation

• Physical indicators such as injuries, neglect, or poor hygiene
• Emotional and behavioural indicators including fear or withdrawal
• Financial warning signs such as unpaid bills or missing belongings
• Environmental indicators including restricted access or unsafe conditions

8. Family, Informal Carer, and Intimate Partner Exploitation

• Exploitation within long-standing family dynamics
• Abuse by adult children, partners, or relatives
• Distinguishing carer stress from deliberate exploitation
• Managing situations where the alleged perpetrator is also a key support

9. Exploitation Within Services and Formal Care Settings

• Exploitation by staff, volunteers, or other clients
• Boundary violations, favouritism, and conflicts of interest
• Systemic exploitation such as overcharging or misuse of restrictive practices
• Whistleblowing responsibilities and organisational accountability

10. Financial, Legal, and Digital Exploitation

• Common patterns of financial abuse and misuse of funds
• Issues relating to powers of attorney and guardianship
• Red flags in requests for money management or document signing
• Digital scams, identity theft, and technology-facilitated abuse
• Supporting older people to recognise and reduce financial and online risk

11. Screening, Assessment, and Information Gathering

• Asking sensitive questions respectfully and safely
• Using observation, conversation, and collateral information
• Differentiating exploitation indicators from other issues
• Documenting concerns objectively and accurately

12. Responding to Disclosure and Suspicion

• Responding calmly and supportively to disclosures
• Trauma-informed listening and validation
• Clarifying immediate needs and the person’s wishes
• Managing situations where the alleged perpetrator is present

13. Immediate Safety, Risk Assessment, and Crisis Response

• Identifying situations of immediate danger
• Taking protective action within organisational protocols
• Involving emergency services when required
• Considering safety of staff and others

14. Reporting, Cultural Considerations, and Ongoing Safeguarding

• Mandatory reporting duties and organisational requirements
• Internal and external reporting pathways
• Confidentiality and information-sharing responsibilities
• Recognising exploitation where communication or cognition is impaired
• Cultural, spiritual, and community considerations
• Working with interpreters, advocates, and community supports
• Respecting cultural identity while upholding safety and rights

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.