There's Still Time to Participate in Elder Abuse Awareness Month

Access a free toolkit to help protect older members from financial exploitation.

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and while World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was observed on June 15, there is still time for Dakota credit unions to raise awareness and reinforce their commitment to protecting older members from financial exploitation.

As fraud schemes continue to evolve and increasingly target older adults, credit unions play a critical role in safeguarding members' financial well-being. Through education, awareness, and frontline vigilance, credit union staff are often in a unique position to identify warning signs and help prevent financial abuse before it occurs.

To support these efforts, the Dakota Credit Union Association encourages credit unions to take advantage of the Elder Exploitation Prevention Toolkit, developed through the League System in partnership with the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL). This fully customizable, ready-to-use resource is designed to help credit unions strengthen their efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to elder financial abuse.

The toolkit includes practical resources such as member education materials to help older adults recognize and avoid scams, social media and outreach content to extend awareness into your communities, and staff guides, checklists, and conversation starters to support employees during real-time interactions with members.
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Whether incorporated into member communications, staff training, or community outreach initiatives, these tools can help credit unions of all sizes enhance their elder abuse prevention efforts—not only during June, but throughout the year.

Supporting members at every stage of life is central to the credit union mission. By utilizing resources like the Elder Exploitation Prevention Toolkit, Dakota credit unions can continue leading with purpose while helping protect the financial futures of the communities they serve.

To access the toolkit and related resources, visit aacul.com/toolkit.