Elder Abuse Up in State (Mass. USA)

Funding falls short for service agencies
By Jennifer Fenn Lefferts
Globe Correspondent / April 6, 2008

The number of elderly residents being abused or neglected is on the rise in Massachusetts, and advocates for the elderly say the state is not properly funding a program that was designed to protect vulnerable seniors.

Elder service agencies northwest of Boston say they do not have enough money to run the state-sanctioned protective services program, so they are forced to pull funds from other important programs. As state officials work on next year's budget, advocates for seniors are putting on a full-court press to draw attention to the problem.

One of the funding problems stems from the fact that the Legislature has broadened the scope of the program but has not increased its funding, said Rosanne DiStefano, director of Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley.

The program was created to investigate abuse. Later self-neglect was added, and most recently financial exploitation, DiStefano said.

Given the scope of the program, the agencies said it is not unusual to receive 90 to 100 new reports each month.

"The growth in reports has been tremendous, and we take every report very seriously," DiStefano said.
DiStefano cited a case involving a 73-year-old widow who was living alone. Her landlord had noticed that several of her children stayed with her periodically, usually when her Social Security check was due to arrive. After the check arrived, they would borrow money and disappear for several weeks.

As a result, she fell behind in her rent and utilities and she was not able to afford her medications and groceries. Without her medications, she would get disoriented and wander around her apartment building.

DiStefano said the agency worked with the woman and her family, and made it possible for her to stay in her home.

"The stories with protective services are heart-wrenching and horrible," DiStefano said. "It's often a topic people won't want to admit exists."

Abridged
SOURCE: bostonGlobe
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