Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect. Those statistics may not tell the whole story. For every case of elder abuse and neglect that is reported to authorities, experts estimate that there may be as many as five cases that have not been reported. Recent research suggests that elders who have been abused tend to die earlier than those who are not abused, even in the absence of chronic conditions or life threatening disease.
Source: American Psychological Association
It is difficult to understand why someone would NOT report elder abuse.
The one who publicized the Clara Fernandez case spent three years trying to get the truth out surrounding the horrific case of elder- and elder financial abuse of Clara was subjected to seven complaints to the DCF. There appear to be no limit on the number of false reports that can be filed by the same people who want to punish the “whistle-blower” of that case.
For three long years, the victim and the victim’s family have been treated with skepticism. They are still being subjected to humiliation, oppressive tactics, including a forced guardianship against the victim’s family’s wishes. There is also the failure to recover the assets converted by the perpetrators.
All these, after the victim’s own money has been depleted by the perpetrators’ continuous ploy to mislead and confuse the courts.
One (1) in twenty-five (25) cases of elder abuse is actually reported. This is a sorry state of events that needs to be addressed.
Another way to read the statistics is that 24 in every 25 cases of elder abuse go UNREPORTED!
- What happen to those unreported victims?
- Are they getting the assistance to be removed from their abusive situations?
- Are those victims given counseling on how to survive the post-traumatic syndromes or ill-effects?
- Do we, as a society really, care?
- Do politicians genuinely care?
- Where are support for people who dared to speak up for the vulnerable, ‘voiceless’ seniors?
Cases of elder abuse are routinely labeled "Civilly Matter" condemning the victim’s families to endless Court Hearing, and the total depletion of family assets in the feeding frenzy of a hungry legal system.
Only one thing you can be sure of is that after every hearing there is always a next one.
Thanks to the Internet; cases like that of Clara G. Fernandez, Frank Punito and other elder abuse cases can now get worldwide publicity.
It is our sincere desire to alert people to the dangers of growing old. We also attempt to disseminate all kinds of information to empower people who are growing older so that they WILL NOT go through the pains and sufferings that elder abuse victims had endured.
Governments from around the world must take note of the evolving “Grey Power”. We are now more informed and are united in our call for protection in our twilight years.
We acknowledge that any proposed solution to such a serious issue as child abuse, violence against women and Elder Abuse; requires interdisciplinary approach.
Those who have been directly affected by elder abuse, or who have irrefutable evidence on a case or cases, must be given a chance to contribute to any inquiry or proposed solution.
Andrew and Co-editor Ray
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