Financial Caregiving Options: Working with Older Adults

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) offers a collection of free resources for older adults and the families who help manage their finances, with a strong focus on protecting against fraud and exploitation and on handling financial caregiving responsibilities well. As a federal agency, the CFPB provides authoritative, unbiased guidance that families can trust.

The resources span several areas. For fraud prevention, the CFPB offers “Money Smart for Older Adults” and tools to recognize and respond to elder financial exploitation, including how to find state, local, and legal-aid help. For later-life financial security, it provides guides on debt, housing, and retirement decisions, plus research on planning for the possibility of financial incapacity. For family members and caregivers stepping in to manage a loved one’s money, the CFPB is well known for its “Managing Someone Else’s Money” guides for fiduciaries — agents under power of attorney, court-appointed guardians, trustees, and representative payees — which explain their duties and how to avoid problems.

This resource matters because financial caregiving is a heavy, often legally complex responsibility, and older adults are frequent targets of scams and exploitation. Clear, trustworthy guidance helps caregivers manage money properly, protect a loved one’s assets, and recognize red flags before harm occurs. For caregivers navigating these duties, the CFPB’s resources are a credible, no-cost foundation. Browse the tools at consumerfinance.gov or call (855) 411-2372.