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Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp
Welcome to The Mental Health and Aging Podcast—your go-to resource for evidence-based strategies, mental health tools, and expert insights to support the psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of older adults.
Hosted by clinical geropsychologist and founder of the Center for Mental Health & Aging, Dr. Regina Koepp, this podcast is designed for therapists, psychologists, social workers, aging life care professionals, geriatric care managers, and healthcare providers who want to confidently address the mental health needs of older adults.
Most mental health and healthcare professionals were trained to focus on the physical changes of aging—but that’s only part of the picture.
This podcast explores the not-so-physical aspects of aging:
- How purpose and meaning evolve later in life
- The emotional and psychological impact of retirement and life transitions
- Spiritual growth that often accompanies physical decline
- Mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, grief, loneliness, and trauma
- And what actually works in therapy with older adults
🎙️ Each episode delivers:
✔️ Practical tools and mindset shifts you can use right away
✔️ Real-life stories of healing, growth, and transformation
✔️ Behind-the-scenes lessons from building a national movement for mental health and aging
✔️ Guidance from leaders in geropsychology, health psychology, palliative care, and beyond
Whether you're seeking continuing education, clinical confidence, or a deeper understanding of how to help older adults thrive, this podcast is for you.
Because aging is more than decline. It’s development.
And there’s no expiration date on healing, transformation, or growth
Subscribe/Follow now and become the clinician older adults deserve.
Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp
#118-How Does Financial Exploitation Affect Older Adults' Mental Health?
Have you ever wondered what really happens after someone is scammed out of $25,000? Not only the steps to take after you've been scammed, but the psychological toll?
A couple weeks ago, I received an email from a listener asking for help—resources for older adults who’ve been financially exploited. That email sparked this episode, and I’m so glad it did.
Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of what it’s really like for older adults after financial exploitation. I’ll share two powerful stories—one of an 84-year-old and another of a 46-year-old—and walk you through the unconscious age biases that shape how we react to fraud victims. We’ll also talk about the common scams, the emotional fallout, and most importantly—what you can do to support healing and prevent re-traumatization.
This episode is especially close to my heart. I was invited by the Vermont Financial Elder Abuse Specialist Team to lead a workshop on this very topic, and I’ve been wanting to share it with you ever since.
If you care about protecting and uplifting older adults—this is a must-listen.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Why older adults aren’t the only ones falling for scams—and why we judge them more harshly
- How ageism quietly shows up in our reactions to fraud
- The top financial scams impacting people 60+ and how scammers manipulate trust
- The emotional timeline of recovery: from shock and shame to anger and exhaustion
- 4 major mental health effects of financial exploitation you need to watch for
- How to talk with older adults about fraud in ways that heal—not harm
- What trauma-informed support really looks like after financial betrayal
- Where to find peer support groups, prevention tools, and trusted therapists
Click here to get all the resources mentioned in this episode
A Guide for Mental Health and Aging Services Professionals to Supporting Older Adults Recovering from Financial Exploitation. Click here to download the guide
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