SAN FRANCISCO, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Philip Marshall's quest to protect his famous and wealthy grandmother Brooke Astor from devastating financial abuse put a national spotlight on a problem that a recent MetLife study, Broken Trust, found costs American seniors $2.6 billion annually.

Marshall shares his story in the keynote address at the Elder Financial Protection Network's (EFPN) 6th annual Call to Action conference and awards ceremony today in San Francisco.  

This year's conference comes at a time not only of increased attention to the problem of elder financial abuse, thanks to the media coverage of the Astor case, but also one of increased risk of financial abuse of seniors because of the current economic downturn.  These factors combined with the passage of the national Elder Justice Act as part of healthcare reform, suggest this year could be a watershed moment for the problem of elder financial abuse.

"In today's economic climate, elders are at greater risk than ever of being targeted for fraud and financial abuse," said Jenefer Duane, founder and CEO of EFPN.  "The passage of the Elder Justice Act and the wealth of information shared by Mr. Marshall and our other great speakers at the Call to Action 2010 event today bolster our ability to prevent this growing problem."

Marshall joins 10 other speakers, including Bob Blancato, national coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition, at this year's event, which brings together experts and community advocates from across the country for a day-long learning experience on the growing crime of elder financial abuse.  

Call to Action 2010 runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn – Golden Gateway and features speakers on diverse aspects of elder financial abuse, including a briefing on the impact of the Elder Justice Act.  

EFPN is an award-winning non-profit organization that works to prevent financial abuse of elders and dependent adults through community education programs, public awareness initiatives, and professional training programs.

SOURCE Elder Financial Protection Network (EFPN)

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