The Census Bureau reports some sobering statistics: The segment of our population that is 90 years old or older has tripled in the past three decades to 2 million. The number is projected to quadruple by 2050.

As the economy continues to limp along and the aging population jumps, an increasing number of elderly people are forced to turn to their younger relatives. Unfortunately, these family members don't always have their vulnerable elders' best interest in mind. This is one of the key reasons why elder financial abuse is growing at epidemic proportions.

A recent USA Today article addresses this troubling problem, reporting the opening of the first elder abuse shelter in Ohio. Despite the statistics that point to widespread abuse, the total number of elder abuse shelters in this country are in the single digits, Non profit groups fund all of them.

Word still needs to get out that our the elder abuse problem is cutting across socio-economic lines.