Elder Financial Protection Networks Study

Group Discussion Guide for Network Members
INTRODUCTIONS (use informed consent form as guides for step 1 through 3)
1. Describe objectives of the research; remind participants that there are no right or wrong answers;
encourage them to provide their opinion even if different from the others.
2. Explain note-taking and recording of the session.
3. Provide copies of informed consent and non-disclosure forms (if appropriate) for signature.
4. As an introduction, ask participants to state their name, network, organization, role, and length of
time involved in the network’s activities.
5. Walk through ground rules: one person speaking at a time; be respectful of opinions of others; may
need to cut a particular line of discussion short in order to get to all questions; may call on individuals
from time to time in order to hear from everyone in group.

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In this conversation, we will be using the word “network” to refer to the collaborative
organization of which you are a member.
1. We would like to hear about the benefits of your collaborative effort and your
assessment of the effectiveness of your network.
What is your role in the network, and for how long have you participated in the network?
What are the network’s benefits?
How does collaboration help to reduce, address, or prevent financial exploitation?
How do financially exploited elders benefit from your collaboration?
How do key agencies benefit?
How would you assess progress toward meeting the network’s goals?
What would make the network more effective in meeting its goals?
2. We would like to learn about the critical ingredients required for the formation, ongoing
operation, and effectiveness of your network.
What were the critical ingredients for the start-up of the network?
Could you discuss and indicate the importance for the start-up of your network of leadership,
funding, and/or other factors?

What have been the critical ingredients for sustaining the network’s operations?
Could you discuss and indicate the importance for the continuation of your network of leadership,
resources (staff time, volunteers, budget, equipment, and office space), key partners,
organization/administration, expertise, funding, and/or other factors?
What are the critical ingredients for your network’s effectiveness (or for the effectiveness of any
network)?
Is your network missing any critical ingredients?
What do you see as your network’s biggest challenge going forward?
3. We are interested to learn in what ways the network has had an impact on clients,
agencies, the community, and the field of elder financial exploitation.
Please discuss the major impact that you believe the network has had on clients, agencies, the
community, and/or the field of elder financial exploitation.
CLOSING CONVERSATION
In closing, we would like to ask whether there is anything about your network that we have not
asked but that you would like to share with us.
Out of everything we have discussed today, is there any characteristic or aspect of your network
that you would like to highlight or re-emphasize?
Great. Well, that is the last of our questions for you. Do you have any questions for us?
Now for a few administrative matters:
As mentioned previously, the audio recordings of our conversation will be transcribed, and you
will have the opportunity to review the transcript. If interested, you will have about 5 business
days to review the transcript, delete any information that makes you uncomfortable, and send the
transcript back to us. You may also take that opportunity to add clarifications or additional
information.
As a reminder, while we will not use your name in the report or publish the audio recordings, we
plan to generically attribute ideas to a particular professional or organization within the network,
for example APS in Johnson County, Colorado . Therefore, people may be able to attribute ideas
or directly to you by name or inference. Would you like us to send you the transcript for review
once we receive it? (Re-visit consent and obtain/confirm contact information.)
Also, may we contact you by email and/or phone for clarifications as we review our notes?
Thank everyone for their time. End the interview.