Efforts to include police training, cooperation among agencies.
By Brian Callaway Of The Morning Call
June 12, 2008
Spurred in part by grisly crimes against senior citizens, Lehigh County officials have formed a task force to raise awareness of elder abuse and combat it.
The task force, which includes prosecutors, police, social workers and others, will be introduced today during a press conference at the county government center in Allentown.
Thousands of Pennsylvania's seniors fall victim to abuse, neglect or financial exploitation each year, but task force members said there's relatively low awareness of such offenses.
Thousands of Pennsylvania's seniors fall victim to abuse, neglect or financial exploitation each year, but task force members said there's relatively low awareness of such offenses.
''Child abuse people are very familiar with,'' said Donna Zimmerman, executive director of the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services. ''But this is something that is relatively new in the public's eye.''
In 2006, for instance, 76-year-old Marie Dettra of Allentown died of starvation and dehydration barely an hour after police and paramedics found her sitting in a chair with three-quarters of an inch of feces on the floor and sores that had eaten through her flesh. She weighed 70 pounds.
Her son, David J. Dettra III, pleaded guilty last year to involuntary manslaughter for failing to care for her. He was sentenced to two and five years in state prison.
Judith Lieberman, chairwoman of a senior-oriented volunteer group called Lehigh County TRIAD, said she hopes the task force not only raises awareness amongst the public, but also encourages more seniors who are victims to come forward.
''They're ashamed to talk about it,'' she said. ''They're afraid people will think they're stupid.''
Abridged
SOURCE: MCallNews
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