Presentation: “Undue Influence: A Care Management Perspective” by Nicole Amico Kane, MSW, LICSW, CMC

Elder abuse and financial exploitation are alarmingly pervasive, yet often hidden behind complex family dynamics, cognitive vulnerabilities, and ambiguous legal standards. In this session, we’ll explore how to identify cases of undue influence, an especially difficult form of elder abuse to identify. Older adults are disproportionately affected by undue influence, a subtle but consequential form of manipulation often used to exploit financial resources or sway estate planning decisions. With no statutory definition of undue influence in Washington, understanding its legal framework and ethical implications is crucial for attorneys committed to protecting vulnerable clients.

Objectives:

• Understand key elements and warning signs of undue influence

• Explore psychosocial and situational risk factors
• Review clinical assessment tools and intervention strategies
• Understand what community resources are available to attorneys when elder abuse is suspected
• Learn a care manager’s view of proactive steps to reduce risk and safeguard older adults
• Present a case vignette for interactive discussion