As people age, they often end up more susceptible to the manipulative schemes of others due to the mental struggles that often accompany growing older.
This is why it is important for the loved ones of elderly individuals to understand the undue influence, so they can act on behalf of said individual before it is too late.
Who does it involve?
The American Bar Association defines undue influence in a legal context. Undue influence typically involves one party, but can involve multiple, who want to manipulate an individual in order to get something out of them.
Specifically, in most contexts, they target someone who has an estate plan or a will and attempt to manipulate the individual in a way that gets them to give up more of their assets or control over their estate.
The manipulators can come from anywhere, but in many cases, it is someone close to the victim such as a family member or once-trusted friend. In other situations, hired strangers such as healthcare workers may attempt to insert themselves into this position.
What tactics do they use?
The manipulative tactics they use can also vary greatly. Some attempt to go a more subtle route, while others may take advantage of existing memory problems to try tricking a victim into signing away their power.
Many manipulators will also do everything they can to isolate their victims. This allows them to manipulate the target more freely and not have to worry about other people starting to detect that something is wrong.
If family members notice anything unusual such as out-of-character statements or a sudden difficulty getting in touch with a loved one, these might serve as red flags.
