71% of Senior Citizens in Chennai Face Abuse (INDIA)

By Gokul Vannan

 Express News Service

28 Sep 2010

Chennai holds the dubious distinction of topping the list of country’s metros on ‘elderly abuse’, with 71 per cent of senior citizens interviewed for a survey reporting disrespectful behaviour in various forms.

The recent national-level survey by an NGO working for elderly people showed that Bhopal was exactly on par with Chennai in the table.

The HelpAge India survey said 68.4 per cent of elderly couples in Chennai felt that families neglected them, and 33 per cent were living separately even though their children lived in the same city. “The couples were living alone as their children did not want parental interference in their life,” Indrani Rajadurai, special adviser of Help Age India, said on Monday.

The survey also revealed that 63.3 per cent of the elderly were financially dependent on their families and 26.3 per cent of the elderly were engaged in small economic activities like sewing, making ropes or agarbati and weaving baskets to feed themselves, Rajadurai told Exp ress at the sidelines of an awareness programme on prevention of elde rly abuse, organised at the Chennai Pol ice Commissioner’s Office.

She attributed this trend to changing socioeconomic factors like large-scale migration to urban areas for livelihood, and career-oriented youngsters moving aboard.

To end to this trend, HelpAge India has identified 100 ‘Prev ent Elder Abuse Champions’ in the corporate sector, including IT firms.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Shakeel Akhter, ACP (Law and Order), warned people against abandoning their parents. “We have instructed all police stations that they should, on complaints, warn the children and keep them in observation. Repetition of the offence would lead to their arrest under section 24 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.”

SOURCE:    ExpressBuzz




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California Has Paid Scores of Criminals to Care For Residents (CA. USA)

The rules of the state's home healthcare program, as interpreted by a judge this year, permit such felons to work as aides. Among their crimes are rape, assault and theft.

By Evan Halper, Los Angeles Times

September 24, 2010

Scores of people convicted of crimes such as rape, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon are permitted to care for some of California's most vulnerable residents as part of the government's home health aide program.

Data provided by state officials show that at least 210 workers and applicants flagged by investigators as unsuitable to work in the program are nonetheless scheduled to resume or begin employment.

State and county investigators have not reported many whose backgrounds include violent crimes because the rules of the program, as interpreted by a judge earlier this year, permit felons to work as home care aides. Thousands of current workers have had no background checks.

Abridged
SOURCE:    The LATIMES

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Man Accused of Taking Nearly $500K from Grandfather (USA)

September 23, 2010

By Lori Dougovito 

A Genesee County man us behind bars today, accused of stealing nearly half million dollars from his elderly, ailing grandfather.

Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell calls it another case of elder abuse, and this morning he outlined what investigators believe happened.

Pickell says the grandson gained power of attorney over his grandfather after two other relatives who held that title died.

Investigators believe he used that power to personally spend nearly half million dollars in just one year.

Michael Miller, 42, of Burton was arrested today. A warrant has been issued charging him with one count of embezzlement of $100,000 or more. It's a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Pickell says Miller moved his wife and kids from Arkansas to his grandfather's home in Burton's Beechwood Estates after getting Power of Attorney in 2007. The grandfather, who recently passed away in a nursing home, suffered from dementia and Alzheimer's.

Miller did not have permission to spend his grandfather's money on himself, investigators say. Pickell says in about a year, the grandfather's savings went from $447,000 down to $2.30.

Investigators believe Miller spent the money on homes he was flipping in Indiana and on 10 to 15 cars, including a Jaguar.

Pickell again gave a warning to people, telling them to watch over those who can't care for themselves. "Make sure that the people or person that's caring for a vulnerable adult, looking after their money, is making accounting of it and it's all being done properly."

Miller is being held in the Genesee County Jail pending arraignment.

(Copyright ©2010 WJRT-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

SOURCE:     ABCLOCAL WJRT

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Candidates answer to Maine seniors (USA)

By Glenn Adams

Associated Press

September 22, 2010 

Candidates for Maine governor expressed contrasting views on national health care reforms and the role of government at a forum of about 150 senior citizens Tuesday. But all five pledged to advocate for core senior concerns like home-based care and protection from abuse and neglect.

Seniors represent a key bloc of voters in Maine, which has among the oldest populations among the states. The Census Bureau says the growth of the elderly is expected to accelerate rapidly. Citing Census Bureau figures, AARP says that by 2030, Maine will be second only to Florida as the state with the highest percentage of residents age 65 and older.

ABRIDGED
SOURCE:      SEACOAST ONLINE
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Edmonton Senior Driver Claims Elder Abuse (CANADA)

Local News

By Jerold LeBlanc

An Edmonton senior claims it was case of elder abuse when medical professionals attempted to take his driver's licence away earlier this year.

David Erisman spoke to Alberta seniors and community supports minister Mary Anne Jablonski during a meeting held at the Town of Millet Sept. 8.

Erisman, who was part of a small group representing the Elder Advocates of Alberta, said when he turned 75, he went for a medical to renew his driver's licence.

The senior said the doctor told him at the time that he was in good shape.

"He really didn't say much, marked everything off 100 per cent," said Erisman, who promptly renewed his driver's licence.

A few days later, Erisman said a nurse called asking if he would come into the doctor's office for a chat.

According to Erisman, he was asked to perform a series of tests, which he was told by the nurse that she was "going to check your brain to see if you could drive."

Erisman, who said he's never had a mark on his driver's licence, was asked a series of question and perform timed tasks such as spelling words backward.

Erisman said he was told he had failed this portion of the testing, which he added he was told was to test the front of his brain.

It was at this point, said Eisman, told the nurse he wasn't doing any more testing.

"You should have said that when you first come in that you're not doing this. Now you're on radar, and you're going to lose your driver's licence," Erismen said the nurse had told him at the time.
Erismen added he was also told he would have pay $200 and attend DriveABLE, a company dealing with driver risk management solutions.
"It was a terrible shock to me that this could happen just like that," said Erisman
He told Jablonski that he is a cattle farmer who needs a driver's licence to help look after he livelihood.
Erisman said his doctor also told him that he could pull the senior's driver's licence anytime he felt like doing so.
As a result of the treatment he received, Erisman said: "I've told all the old people, never sign nothing for doctors, and I just pulled my files out and I don't want to see another doctor. It's horrible what's happen to us."
Jablonski said it was the first she had heard that such an incident took place.
"I didn't know that somebody could be called in out of the blue, into an office, and tested. I think that we need to learn more about what happened, and why it happened.
"This has to be an issue with the doctor because that's not how we do thing," said Jablonski.
Ruth Maria Adria with Elder Advocates of Alberta, said the practice of timed tests as discriminatory in her eyes.
"You don't do that to young people when they (apply for their driver's licence)," she told Jablonski.
Adria said she had been told that the doctor wants everyone who is at least 70 to be brought in and tested.
"We find this alarming that this is happening. Seniors rights are being violated, left and right."
Addressing the driver's licence issue, Jablonski said it the first time she's ever heard of this happening.
"There is a time when (we're) testing, but as far as heavy-handed behaviour like that, I am very surprised and it's something that, I think, needs to be looked into."
Erisman did agree there are exceptions to every rule.
"I'm not saying that everybody should drive, but, I mean, I can drive," said Erisman, who recently bought a $300,000 combine.
"If I was incompetent, and I couldn't drive it, I'm sure (I wouldn't have bought it)," he said.
In the end, Erisman never had his driver's licence revoked.
"I can tell you though that if they felt that you needed to have your driver's licence removed because of some serious safety consideration, it would have been done," said Jablonski. "I'm very unclear as to what happened here."
Having not pursued the matter, Jablonski said: "In my opinion, he could have not believed that you're a serious threat to anybody then.
"I think that any doctor acting like that is inappropriate, and I'm not saying it is, but you feel that it is, you would have to go to the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons," said Jablonski.
Erisman said he wrote to the organization this past July, but has never heard anything back.
"I can tell you David, if that happened to me, I would feeling the same way that you are feeling right now."





SOURCE:    WETASKIWIN TIMES

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Proposal Could Set Stricter Guildlines For Nursing Homes

The proposal will be introduced by Representative Tom Burch, chairman of the House Health and Welfare committee. It is also being backed by the Attorney General's Office.

Reporter: Sean Evans

Sep 22, 2010

"I think anything that's enacted to, that's gonna benefit our citizens, to protect our citizens, be it a child or one of our elder citizens. I think its gonna be a good thing," said Bill Bisceglia, President of the Kentucky Coroners Association.

Under current law, nursing home facilities are not required to report a death if it appears to be of natural causes.

"If a coroner is not called and an autopsy is not performed, the evidence is not protected," said Allison Martin, spokesperson for Attorney General Jack Conway.

The Attorney General's Office wants to be on top of every case that might involve neglect and abuse in nursing homes.

"Many times by the time our investigators get the information, we are several days, or perhaps several weeks out from when the death actually occurred," said Martin.

Coroners around the state will receive training to recognize signs of elder abuse.

"In the Department of Criminal Justice training is actually giving us training in elder death abuse cases, signs to look for, and that's part of our regular training now," said Bisceglia.

The Attorney General's Office is also calling for stricter punishments and the development of new teams of investigators.

SOURCE:    WKYT
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Legal fights to keep home care for ALZHEIMER’S Woman (UK)

21 September 2010

A Cornwall woman's family is challenging a ruling by the NHS to send her to a nursing home or get agency carers because she has Alzheimer's.

Social services currently pay Hilary Cooper's daughter and grand-daughter to care for her.

But her condition has deteriorated and the cost must now be transferred to the NHS, which cannot make direct payments.

The NHS says that after October Mrs Cooper must move into a home, or get agency carers.

Hilary Cooper, 75, of Whitstone, near Holsworthy, is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease and needs help with all personal care.

To move her into a home would more than likely shorten her life span”

Sharon Lamerton Lawyer for family

Daughter Lynn Keen said: "She's happy where she is, she's doing OK, so why rock the boat?

"My dad doesn't want her to go into care.

"The reason he gets up in the morning is because he's got her."

Mrs Keen said she had explored the possibility of being taken on by a care agency, but said no agency would allow her to care only for her mother.

Devon Primary Care Trust said the trust sympathised with the family but the law prevented making direct payments to them.

Now the family has been granted legal aid for a judicial review in the High Court.

Their lawyer, Sharon Lamerton, said: "It's ludicrous. This lady is doing well at home. To move her into a home would more than likely shorten her life span.

"Alternatively, to have agencies coming in, you have not got the continuity of care.

"You have a vast change around of staff and that's going to affect her quality of life."

 SOURCE:  BBC NEWS

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Seniors For Sale - The Elderly At Risk

September 20, 2010

This post is to bring awareness of how important it is for all of us to protect our senior citizens. The Seattle Times has investigated and published their findings on elder abuse in Washington. It is a four-part series and I have put the links through out my post.

The Elderly At Risk

Seniors citizens who now include the “Boomer” generation, are the men and women who have spent a life time as mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and neighbors and friends. Their lives are rich in history, experience and knowledge. They remember horse-drawn-buggies, the first television set (in black & white), the first man on the moon, and how fast typewriters became computers. They fought in world wars and foreign conflicts that defined the countries we now see on every map. Many remember the Great Depression and can still stretch a dollar today as well as they did back then. Many are proud to state they were born into the territories of Alaska and Hawaii before statehood. All of these men and women accepted the label as senior citizen when they retired from companies after decades of employment. They worked hard to prepare for a future of self-sufficiency with a hope that when the time came, when they could no longer properly care for themselves, family and friends would be there as they were for them.

However, times have changed. We are living longer, and most families are now spread out from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Our grandparents and parents no longer have easy access to immediate family and most households require two-income earners to care and manage a home. Living longer than planned for, and without the ability to have immediate access to family, most seniors have joined the ranks of the “Elderly at Risk”. These men and women once self-sufficient, have trouble with basic home and health tasks not to mention paying bills to cover the growing medical needs. They get lost easily and struggle to understand the world around them. Families struggle to keep up with their care and eventually seek out help. Some connect with local community groups and state agencies. Others locate and make arrangements for adult daily caregivers, either at home or away.

Due to monetary constraints, many families opt for more intimate care in a residential house set up to care for four to six elderly residents. These Adult Care Homes are usually someone’s personal residence that is transformed into a business designed to meet the needs of families in search of intimate care and attention for their loved ones. Many of these elder care businesses are run by people who have the patience and skill sets to feed, bathe and properly monitor the emotional and medical needs of our elderly loved ones. Unfortunately, there are also homes and caregivers that only see the elderly as a source for income.

Abridged
SOURCE:    The Fraud Journal Blog
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Elder Abuse Case Caught On Camera (USA)

Elder Abuse Case Caught On Camera

15 Sep 2010

A shocking case of elder abuse in Jersey City is caught on camera.  The woman in the video is 91 years old.  It's a case that has even seasoned cops shaking their heads.  Mike Gilliam reports.

(PLEASE GO TO SOURCE FOR THE VIDEO)

SOURCE:     MY9TV
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Tender Loving Greed: The Patient As Prey (CANADA)

As well as better care and treatment, Canadians with dementia badly need protection from people who are out to get their money. Does ‘buyer beware’ really apply?

By Grant Robertson and Tara Perkins

Sep. 20, 2010

Even at 86, she isn’t afraid to take a risk – you don’t lose almost a half-million dollars by playing it safe. But where, her family wants to know, was her financial adviser as she pumped her life’s savings into volatile mining shares? And how can someone that old, having suffered a stroke and been diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia, be allowed to sign a form stating that she has an “excellent understanding” of the stock market?

By the time the complaint, which is still outstanding, reached Douglas Melville, Canada’s banking ombudsman, the woman’s portfolio was down an alarming $470,000.

For another elderly woman, family was part of the problem. After being diagnosed with cognitive impairment, she wisely turned over her financial affairs to her daughter. But she retained joint control of her account, which was all an unscrupulous relative needed to have her co-sign for a pair of hefty bank loans.

With dementia on the rise as the population ages, Canada’s financial and legal systems are beginning to realize how ill-equipped they are to deal with the growing number of people unable to administer their own affairs. Some are being taken advantage of, defrauded in a variety of ways, while others are being given bad advice, even by lawyers, financial advisers and family members with good intentions.

How serious is the problem? Nobody knows for sure – because nobody is keeping track.

Dementia: Confronting the Crisis

See more stories, portraits and multimedia from The Globe's series

View

(Please go to source for a great article on the subject)

Abridged

SOURCE:    The Globe and Mail

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Elder Abuse Continues in Staggering Numbers

Although, there are laws in place, elder abuse continues in staggering numbers.

09/20/2010

Elder abuse is a major problem, be it physical, mental or financial. Be aware that elder abuse or neglect can occur at any time, in any community, at any economic level, among all races and nationalities. Federal and state laws now affirm everyone's right to be safe; no one has to tolerate abusive situations.  Federal and state laws also protect older adults who lack the capacity to protect themselves and are at immediate risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment. Although, there are laws in place, elder abuse continues in staggering numbers.

A Seattle Times investigation has found, cover-ups by adult family homes are not unusual. The Times found that over the past five years, at least 357 of the adult family homes in Washington State have concealed cases of abuse or neglect of their residents. Many of those cases involved serious injury or death.

Untrained or unlicensed caregivers mishandled residents' medications, sometimes giving them fatal overdoses. In other cases, residents became ill after being denied basic care and hygiene. A Seattle man died from infection after his catheter was not changed or sterilized for four months.

In many cases, these caregivers tried to conceal abuse or neglect by forging medical records, lying to state investigators or threatening residents with eviction if they provided witness statements.

Worse yet, The Times found, even when DSHS was notified of an incident of abuse or neglect, as required by state law, the agency many times failed to adequately investigate.

Signs of Abuse or Neglect

Abuse can be any one or more of the following:

·         infliction of injury;

·         unreasonable confinement;

·         intimidation;

·         any punishment that results in physical harm;

·         causing mental anguish;

·         depriving food, necessary medication or medical services;

·         sexual harassment;

·         rape;

·         any physically or emotionally controlling behavior that restricts independence or activity.

Elder abuse and neglect is not always easy to identify; signs to consider include:

·         bruises and broken bones blamed on fall; the real cause may be pinching or beating.

·         weight loss might be a result of starvation or neglect; not just illness or lack of  appetite;

·         dementia is not always a part of aging; malnutrition or the misuse of medications can also be causes.

The Maryland Medicaid Fraud Control Division of the Office of the Attorney General prosecutes dozens of cases of patient abuse in nursing home facilities each year, ranging from sexual assaults to cases of neglect resulting in injury and even death. The Office also provides education and training to help family members and providers spot abuse when it is occurring.

SOURCE:    Senior Life Care Planning
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The Many Forms of Abuse on Elderly (NEW ZEALAND)

The many forms of abuse on elderly

By MELISSA KINEALY - Manukau Courier

21/09/2010

Elder abuse has many forms and faces and it's on the rise in Counties Manukau.

Age Concern Counties Manukau has seen an increase in referrals of complex cases of elder abuse, including financial abuse – from 20 to 60 cases in the last financial year.

Executive officer Wendy Bremner says she's not sure if the increase in financial abuse is connected to the recession or if people are more aware of Age Concern's service and are reporting cases more often.

"Everybody needs to speak up and keep an eye out for neglect," she says.

The organisation's Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Service has clients who need the help of multiple services such as Work and Income, a lawyer, a budgeting service and the police just to get to the bottom of the problem.

A family member might use the elderly person's eftpos card to buy items for themselves or they might not give back change when using cash that was given to them, she says.

Social workers Brenda Strathern and Niuki Hendrikse give advice and support to clients about the problem and point them in the right direction. They are available to discuss problems relating to abuse and can work with the abused and the abusers.

Sibling rivalry and disagreements about who's making the decisions in a family are all factors in elder abuse, Ms Strathern says.

In her role as a social worker she's keen to support the elderly person to retain their independence.

Part of the pair's role is to clarify issues surrounding elder abuse, Ms Hendrikse says.

And there can be twists in a case such as the children who are now doing the abusing were the ones originally abused by the parent, she says.

Abuse also occurs in a wide range of ethnic groups and many elderly people fear being put in a resthome or losing access to their grandchildren if they report it.

But people worried about being abandoned need to remember to put their safety first, Ms Bremner says.

People are also encouraged to learn about the different forms of power of attorney and can call Age Concern for more information.

People can also call 279-4331 if they are suffering from a form of abuse or if they suspect that someone else is.

OPEN DAY - People who work for the rights and wellbeing of the elderly are spreading the word about their services. Age Concern Counties Manukau is holding an open house drop-in day during its annual awareness week next week. It's an opportunity to visit the team, have a cup of tea and a chat and check out the resources available. The open day runs from 10am to 2pm on September 28 at Cambria Park Homestead, 250 Puhinui Rd, Papatoetoe. 

Call Age Concern on 279-4331 ext 800 and feel free to mention if you have a special interest in a particular service. The awareness week runs from September 25 until October 3.

SOURCE:     THE STUFF.CO.NZ
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Lawrenceburg Mans Faces Elder Abuse Charges (TN. USA)

A Lawrenceburg man has been arrested on charges of abusing his elderly mother. Fifty-six year old Steven Owens was arrested by Lawrenceburg Police last week after an ongoing investigation into alleged mistreatment and neglect of his 87 year old mother Vernon Owens.

Steven Owens was taken to jail after being booked on the charges and is being held under a $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on October 7th.

SOURCE:     WKSR
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Need for an Elder Abuse Shelter (USA)

SAN ANTONIO –

Community leaders are buzzing about creating a shelter for victims of elder abuse. It's an issue District Attorney Susan Reed is passionate about.
"Quite frankly, we are a greying community," explains Reed. "We have really got to concentrate, in a specialized way, on the unique challenges that are faced by the elderly in relation to domestic situations."
This year alone, domestic violence calls to San Antonio Police have shot up 36%. Experts say the abuser is often a family member. 
"Even in families there is financial abuse against grandparents," says Reed.
City, county, and non-profit groups behind the idea of a shelter are still ironing out whether the center would be free standing, or part of an existing shelter. It would offer a full range of healthcare and support services, like transitional living, to financial literacy. The next step right now is finding funding for the project. Reed says that could come in the form of grants.

SOURCE:    WOAI.COM
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Gov. Orders Kentucky Nursing Home Reforms (KY. USA)

BY STEPHENIE STEITZER

SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

Gov. Steve Beshear directed his administration Friday to immediately implement nearly two-dozen reforms aimed at combating nursing home abuse and neglect.

The recommendations are the result of a review of the state's handling of reports of abuse and neglect in nursing homes.

Beshear ordered the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to conduct the review after the Lexington Herald-Leader examined 107 citations issued by the agency over a three-year period in instances where a resident's life or safety has been endangered.

The newspaper found that only seven of the 107 cases of nursing home deaths or abuse were prosecuted as crimes and that police and coroners are rarely notified of nursing home deaths or serious injuries.

“This review will be an essential document to guide the many groups that have an interest in maintaining safe nursing homes, and to ensure that proper procedures and accountability are maintained when investigations are required for suspected cases of neglect or abuse,” Beshear said in a statement.

The citations reviewed included 18 deaths, 30 hospitalizations, five broken bones and two amputations that resulted from violations of state regulations, the newspaper reported. Thirteen residents were injured because of lapses by staff members, according to the citations.

Beshear asked cabinet Secretary Janie Miller to review state agencies' coordination with local prosecutors and law enforcement to handle the reports, the newspaper reported.

Representatives from the industry, law enforcement and victim advocates were involved in the review.

Miller said the review found, for example, that law enforcement officials sometimes weren't certain who to contact at the cabinet regarding abuse and neglect cases.

Abridged
SOURCE:     The Courier Journal

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Police Sergeant Accused of Stealing from Mother (USA)

Salinas police sergeant accused of stealing from mother in court today

BY KIMBER SOLANA

SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

An investigator testified today that Salinas police Sgt. Jay Malispina paid for Sharks tickets and a cruise and covered moving and home improvement expenses with money stolen from his mother.

Salinas police detective Gerry Davis took the stand this afternoon in Malispina’s preliminary hearing on charges of grand theft and financial elder abuse. 

Malispina pleaded not guilty to the charges in January.

Davis said that Malispina wrote himself checks from 70-year-old Karolyn Malispina’s account. Malispina then deposited the checks, ranging from $300 to $5,000, into his own account and spent the money.

Malispina’s defense attorney raised questions about the people Davis interviewed for this investigation -- the sergeant's ex-wife, mother and brother -- questioning their credibility.

Prosecutors charge that Malispina illegally took his mother’s money for four years, with the alleged crimes stretching between 2004 and 2008.

Malispina, a 19-year veteran in the Salinas Police Department, went on paid administrative leave June 23, 2009, after the allegations surfaced.

The hearing determines whether prosecutors have enough evidence to proceed with their criminal case. It will continue Monday.

SOURCE:    The Californian
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Iowa Legislators Will Review State Laws on Elder Care 9 (IOWA USA)

By JENNIFER JACOBS

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

Jennifer Berg was no longer allowed to push her 76-year-old mother's wheelchair into the sunshine outside the nursing home, take photographs of her, or be alone behind a closed door.
Those were among the changes that occurred after the state took authority over the elderly woman's care.
Berg told two state lawmakers Thursday how her life and her mother's life had changed for the worse after officials of Iowa's Department of Human Services decided the elderly woman was not being supervised well enough at home. The department obtained a court order that prevents relatives from making any decisions regarding her housing, health care or finances.

"There was no allegation of abuse against me, and yet I was not allowed to do anything," Berg said during a meeting at the Iowa Capitol. "We were treated as if we were abusers."

After getting complaints from 13 families about how their elderly loved ones' care had spiraled out of their control once the DHS stepped in, two lawmakers said Thursday that they would press for changes in Iowa law.

Abridged
SOURCE:     The Desmoines Register
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Assisted Living Regulations Inadequate for Alaska's Aging Population (ALASKA)

Assisted Living Regulations Inadequate for Alaska's Aging Population

The administrators in charge of running good assisted living homes say the regulations alone aren't enough to deter elder abuse.

By Andrea Gusty

09/14/2010

There are more than 2,000 pages of regulations guiding the more than 600 assisted living homes in Alaska.

"It looks very good on paper," said Theresa Brisky, executive administrator at Marlow Manor, and also a registered nurse. "And I understand that, that the state needs to make sure their plan looks good. The problem is, sometimes it's not realistic it doesn't transfer realistically in the care world. It is actually taking away versus giving to the residents," said Brisky.

The administrators in charge of running those homes say the regulations alone aren't enough to deter elder abuse.

"A lot of the criteria is based on the height of the window, whether you have a fire extinguisher, [whether] you have the right paper work on the wall; it really doesn't address care as an industry. We have gone around and around lets have some standards in our industry there's no real standards," said Greg Cress, owner of Sue's Sourdough Assisted Living

Without industry standards, finding a good assisted living home can be a crapshoot.

"Most people have good intentions. Some people get caught up in the money and don't care for their clients-that's when you see the abuse," said Leslee Orebaugh, administrator at Parkside & Rosewood Assisted Living.

And without change things could get worse.

Alaska has one of the fastest growing elderly populations in the nation. We're living longer, and in most cases, are having more severe health problems toward the end of life.

"The state and hospitals and a lot of other people are trying to force them into assisted living homes when they don't have many choices. The good homes are full. There's other homes, there's beds here you've got to get them, they can't live on their own, so they end up in a home like that," said Cress.

These administrators say there is more than enough blame to go around for elder abuse, but it could be prevented if there were tougher care regulations in the beginning.

"I think if the state could be more stringent and not just allow anyone the opportunity to open a home because to me it seems like they are doing the weeding out afterwards," Brisky said.

"Maybe they should look a little bit more on whether or not someone knows whether their window is the right height and perhaps come down to whether or not they know how to really care for someone," said Sherry Mettler, administrator at Northern Lighthouse Assisted Living.

Stronger regulations for care could mean all assisted living homes would be a safe and caring place for Alaskans to live out the end of their lives.

"That's how you know a good assisted living home-it's not what someone drives [or] where someone lives. It's about the residents and their families calling the place that you provide home," said Mary Jo Mettler of Northern Lighthouse & Parkside Assisted Living.

State agencies do recognize there is a problem and are looking at changing the rules that regulate Alaska's assisted living homes.

SOURCE:     KTVA
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Scam Hitman Email Warning (VIC. AUSTRALIA)

Sep 14 2010

Victorian police are advising people to be wary of a scam email which threatens the recipients with violence or death if they don't pay an amount of cash.

Investigators at the E-Crime Squad have received several inquiries in the past fortnight from people who have received the emails.

The messages claim to be from hitmen who have been hired to kill the receiver unless they send a quantity of cash.

They are often sent to randomly generated email addresses or addresses extracted from computer address books through malware (malicious software).

In those cases, the scammers don't know the email has reached a live email address until the recipient responds.

Detective Inspector John Manley at the E-Crime Squad advised against replying to the emails, as it signalled to the senders they had reached a live account and could lead to an escalation of the intimidation.

"If the email seems targeted to the receiver, they should not be overly worried as scammers can sometimes incorporate their intended victims' personal details in these emails," he said.

Anyone who may have received the scam email is asked to contact their local police station and report it to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's SCAMwatch.

SOURCE:   NineMsn

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