Elderly Rape Victim Dies in Hospital (QLD. AUSTRALIA)

Elderly rape victim dies in hospital

February 3, 2010

AAP

An elderly Queensland woman brutally raped and bashed as she hung out her washing on Australia Day has died in hospital.

Police say the 82-year-old died in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital early on Wednesday, eight days after she was attacked in the yard of her Rockhampton home.

District crime coordinator Inspector Jon Wacker said he'd spoken to the woman's distressed family.

"They are very emotionally upset - it is a very sad occasion that this elderly person has passed away under these circumstances," he told the ABC.

He said police would await the results of a post-mortem examination before deciding whether to upgrade charges against an 18-year-old man who remains in custody over the attack.

The man currently faces charges of attempted murder, rape, grievous bodily harm, stealing and property offences.

He now faces the prospect of a murder charge.

Police allege the man bashed the woman in the face with a blunt object then sexually assaulted her on January 26.

© 2010 AAP

SOURCE:    The Age

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Government Urged to Pump Money Into Aged Care (AUSTRALIA)

Govt urged to pump money into aged care

February 3, 2010

AAP

The number of Australians aged 85 and older who will need access to nurses is expected to reach 400,000 by 2050, a lobby group says.

This is five times the number of people currently in this age group, according to the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF), which is making an early budget plea to increase funding to the aged care sector.

Some nursing homes have only one nurse for every 30 residents - and ANF federal secretary Ged Kearney said the ratio would only get worse.

"The government's projection that there will be 1.8 million people aged 85+ by 2050 will mean residents in this age group will increase from just over 87,000 today to more than 400,000 by 2050," she said in a statement on Wednesday.

Ms Kearney said high need residents will suffer if there is only one nurse for every 30, 60, 90 or 120 residents.

She warned that without the right number of aged care workers and nurses, high need residents will flood hospital emergency departments and place extra stress on the health system.

"Budget 2010 provides a real opportunity for the federal government to stop the long-term slide in the number of carers and nurses working in aged care," MS Kearney said.

Nurses were leaving the aged care sector because they are being paid, on average, $300 a week less than nurses in the public hospital sector, she said.

© 2010 AAP

SOURCE:     SMH.COM
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Aged Care Home Transfers to Emergency Departments Avoidable (AUSTRALIA)

by Jared Reed

3 February 2010

Nursing home residents are being sent to emergency departments for end-of life treatment that would be better provided by GPs or residential care teams, an Australian study has found.

Research from the University of Western Australia paints a grim picture of widespread inadequacy within aged care homes hampered by bureaucracy, insufficient end-of-life planning and staff training resulting in avoidable transfers for emergency care.

Focus group interviews with aged care and hospital emergency staff and aged care residents found broad support to reduce ED transfers, but staff say they are often ‘bullied’ by families who have unrealistic expectations of what can be achieved for their loved ones.

GPs were put off from working in residential aged care facilities because of the paperwork involved when a patient becomes severely unwell, the study in the Australasian Journal on Ageing (online Jan 25) showed. Homes were constrained by impractical accreditation requirements which diverted from care giving, the researchers say.

The AMA has this week said it wants access to ongoing medical care to be a specific accreditation standard for aged care providers.

It proposes that GPs should be allowed to use general practice nurses to assist in medical care in aged care facilities, and allowing providers to enter into service agreements with medical practitioners.

SOURCE:    6MINUTES.COM
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Feng Shui Master Loses Battle For Fortune of Asia's Richest Woman (HONG KONG)

By DPA, IANS

February 2nd, 2010

A Hong Kong judge Tuesday dismissed a claim on the $13 billion estate of Asia’s richest woman by a feng shui master who claimed to have been hersecret lover.
The judge, Johnson Lam Man-hon, threw out theclaim by feng shuimaster Tony Chan, 50, for the entire fortune of Nina Wang, head of the Chinachem propertyempire who died in April 2007 aged 69.
Instead, he awarded the estate to a charitable foundation run by Wang’s family, saying that a will produced by Chan to claim Wang’s fortune was not genuine.
The ruling followed a 40-day hearing last year which pitted 50-year-old Chan against the tycoon’s family who claimed he was nothing more than a “toy boy” to the lonely widow.
In his 300-page ruling released Tuesday, the judge said Chan was not a suitable candidate to inherit Wang’s business empire and that the tycoon’s relationship with him and gifts of money to him did not prove his claim.
Chan was virtually unknown in Hong Kong before he emerged claiming to be Wang’s long-term lover after the head of the Chinachem property empire died of ovarian cancer.
He claimed to have been Wang’s secret lover for 14 years, having midnight meetings after she first consulted him to try to trace her missing husband Teddy.


Chan claimed that Wang referred to him as her “husband” and had wanted to have a child with him when she was in her 50s before discovering she could not conceive.


Lawyers representing Wang’s family, however, claimed the will allegedly leaving everything to Chan was a forgery, possibly signed by Wang as part of a feng shui ritual.


Abridged
SOURCE:     TARAGANA.COM
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Abuse of Elderly Up, Said Often Unintended (JAPAN)

By SAWAKO OBARA

Kyodo News

January 10, 2010

Abuse of elderly people has been increasing physically, psychologically, economically and in neglect of required nursing care.

Some families also do not understand what dementia is and become victimizers.

On one incident in which a neighbor reported apparent abuse to a local government, an official who responded to the tip visited the home of a woman in her 80s living with one of her sons, finding her dazed and apparently unwashed and incontinent on her bed. A bottle of juice and a sweet bun were left next to her pillow.

The woman had dementia. Her son, in his 50s, had left her unattended as he was overwhelmed with how to take care of her, including changing her clothing and adult diapers.

The official said such neglect is not an extreme case, but it is often difficult for outsiders to know about it. Some families also think they are properly taking care of the aged but in fact are not.

According to a welfare ministry survey in fiscal 2008, consultations and reports about abuse of elderly people by their families numbered 21,692, with 14,889 cases judged as abuse, up 12 percent from fiscal 2007. Physical abuse accounted for 64 percent of the total in a multiple-choice questionnaire, followed by psychological abuse at 38 percent, neglect of care at 27 percent and economic abuse at 26 percent.

There were 3,976 consultation centers nationwide in fiscal 2008. Center employees visit the homes of possible abuse victims and if abuse is confirmed, the victims are sent to hospitals. If necessary, victims and their families are separated, and the victims are taken to facilities.

The Elder Abuse Prevention Law that took effect in fiscal 2006 allows municipal officials to do thorough audits in case of life-threatening abuse, and seek police intervention.

Using pension benefits, savings and other assets of elderly people by their relatives without their consent is believed to constitute another form of abuse, although in many cases, those who use the money feel it is only natural to do so because they are caring for the aged.

Kenichi Nagano, head of the Elder Abuse Prevention Center in Kita Ward, Tokyo, cited a rise in cases of offspring using their parents' money because of financial difficulties in recent years.

Abridged
SOURCE:    JAPAN TIMES

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Elder Abuse Task Force Offering Program on Financial Fraud (PA. USA)

Misericordia, Elder Abuse Task Force offering program on financial fraud

February 2, 2010

Two free programs on ‘Protecting Yourself from Elder Financial Fraud: Don’t Become a Victim!’ will take place from 10 a.m.-noon and 6-8 p.m. March 8 in Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall at Misericordia University, Dallas. The snow date is March 10.

The programs are being sponsored by the Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Elder Abuse Task Force of Pennsylvania and co-chaired by the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne-Wyoming Counties and the Ethics Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania at Misericordia University. The identical sessions will feature guest speakers attorney Ronald Costen, Ph.D., the director of the Pennsylvania Institute on Protective Services at Temple University; attorney Brenda Colbert of Marshall, Parker & Associates, which specializes in elder law and estate planning, and representatives from the Pennsylvania State Police and Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. To register, call 822-1 158 by March 1.

Lunch will be served following the noon workshop and light refreshments will be available at the evening session. For more information visit http://www.elderabusetaskforce.org.

SOURCE:      TIMES LEADER.COM
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Elder Abuse in Canada

Elder Abuse In Canada

This is a very prevalent problem. Between 4 (58,000 to 145,000) of Ontario's seniors experience some type of abuse. That's a lot of abuse! And against some of societies most vulnerable people. The abuse of older adults is usually a hidden problem becuase most victims are reluctant to report being abused. There's many reasons for this but the two biggest are:

* feelings of shame and family loyalty * fears about retaliation, abandonment, and institutionalization

Because of this ... Elder Abuse has been called the "one abuse no one sees". But it's happening ... and there are signs to watch for.

Warning Signs of Potential Abuse - In an aging population, Elder abuse is a growing problem. Some of the signs that may indicate an older adult is being abused include:

* Depression, fear, anxiety, passivity * Unexplained physical injuries * Dehydration, malnutrition or lack of food * Poor hygiene, rashes, pressure sores * Over-sedation

Kinds of Abuse - The following types of Elder Abuse was taken from "Abuse of Older Adults: A fact sheet from the Department of Justice Canada". For a complete discussion on the types of Elder abuse found below Click Here and go to the Justice Canada website dealing with this issue:

* Psychological abuse - includes attempts to dehumanize or intimidate ... verbal or non-verbal act that reduces their sense of self-worth or dignity * Financial abuse - encompasses financial manipulation or exploitation including theft, fraud, forgery, or extortion * Physical abuse - includes any act of violence – whether or not it results in physical injury * Sexual abuse - behaving in a sexual way toward older adults without their full knowledge and consent * Spiritual abuse - using their religious or spiritual beliefs to exploit, manipulate, dominate or control them

Abuse of Older Adults in Institutions - This a very serious problem. Imagine going to all of the trouble of getting your loved one a spot in an Insttution where you believe they will be well cared for and then you learn they are being abused there! There can be many reasons why Elders who live in institutions can be vulnerable to abuse. That is why the Public Health Agency of Canada has put out a special report. When you click here you will learn, amoung others things:

* What Makes Older Adults Particularly Vulnerable to Abuse in Institutions? * How Widespread Is the Problem? * How to Prevent Abuse of Older Adults in Institutions * How to Report Abuse of Older Adults in Institutions * Tips for Older Adults in Preventing Abuse

Cathy is a health care professional in Kingston, Ontario

SOURCE:    INFO ABUSE.COM
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How The Aged And Frail Are Exploited in Washington's Adult Family Homes (USA)

How the aged and frail are exploited in Washington's adult family homes

Adult family homes in the state are seen as a national model, and in King County alone, they've become more plentiful than Starbucks stores. But the explosive growth, fueled by profiteers and a lack of careful state regulation, is leaving thousands of people vulnerable to harm.

By Michael J. Berens

Seattle Times staff reporter

January 30, 2010

The location of the home was secret. Only potential buyers with a $500,000 line of credit could learn its Seattle address. The seller insisted on discretion because the price included three frail seniors who lived inside.

A Bothell real-estate listing last year touted five seniors for $120,000, "sold separately" from the home. Bids for five vulnerable adults in Arlington opened at $90,000 — "cash only."

These deals aren't illegal. Washington officials not only know about it, they allow it.

Twenty years ago, the state Department of Social and Health Services began licensing homeowners to provide spare bedrooms and care for the old or frail who might otherwise have to live in nursing homes.

These private residences — called adult family homes — were marketed as opportunities for seniors to live in cozy settings and familiar neighborhoods, close to family and friends, with more freedom and superior care.

The owners were given freedom, as well. To encourage this new industry, the state imposed few regulations — no requirements for a minimum level of employees or even, for many years, liability insurance.

Today, Washington is lauded nationally as a leader in community care options for seniors.

But inside the state's 2,843 adult homes, thousands of vulnerable adults have been exploited by profiteers or harmed by amateur caregivers, an investigation by The Seattle Times has found.

(Worth going to SOURCE for the rest of the article)

Abridged
SOURCE:     The Seattle Times
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Alleged Paving Scammer Pleads Guilty In Two Other Counties (USA)

Alleged Butte County paving scammer pleads guilty in two other counties

Staff Reports

02/01/2010

A man accused of operating a paving scam in Butte County pleaded guilty to similar counts in two other California counties last week, and is facing restitution orders and jail or prison time, according to the Contractors State License Board.

George Joseph Stanley, 30, of Moosup, Conn., pleaded guilty Friday in Yuba County Superior Court to one felony count of grand theft by false pretenses and one misdemeanor count of contracting without a license.

Thursday in San Joaquin County Superior Court, he pleaded to one felony count of elder abuse, one felony count of grand theft by false pretenses, and a misdemeanor count of contracting without a license.

In that case he was ordered to pay approximately $102,000 in restitution before his July 15 sentencing hearing.

Restitution in the Yuba County case will be determined at a hearing March 15.

Abridged
SOURCE:    CHICOER.COM
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Financial Elder Abuse Research (VIC.AUSTRALIA)

Financial Elder Abuse Research: a clearer picture for Victoria

Every year, State Trustees discovers instances where older people have been taken advantage of financially by those they trust most, but sadly, we are often asked to step in as a last resort, after much of the damage has already been done.

Financial elder abuse can range from misusing an ATM or credit card, to taking money or property, forcing or forging an older person's signature or persuading them to change their Will, contracts or power of attorney through deception or undue influence.

Financial elder abuse is complex and we have engaged Monash University to undertake research to shed light on this important social issue. Entitled Protecting Elders Assets Study: Ethical Management of Older Persons’ Financial Assets, the project has delivered its first report and findings will be delivered over the next three years.

The first report, Financial Abuse of Elders: A Review of the Evidence, provides a summary of existing Australian and international research and the next stages of the study aim to build on this existing knowledge. A copy of this report is available by clicking here.

Even at this early stage, the research is proving a useful contribution to the Victorian Government’s elder abuse prevention strategy and we hope that it will lay the foundation for future initiatives, including policy and legislative reform, and improvement to services.

State Trustees is pleased to commit our resources to this research project, something we see as essential if we are to understand the best ways to reduce, prevent and remedy the growing problem of financial elder abuse.

From here, the study aims to:

• Investigate existing data to identify the types, incidence and prevalence of financial abuse of older people in Victoria; trials of interventions that have been completed to date; and how the financial assets of Victorians are currently protected;
• Conduct community studies of older Victorians, including from diverse ethnic and rural groups, to explore their awareness of financial elder abuse and the services available to help reduce its occurrence;
• Interview professional service providers in the financial, health and community care sectors to determine their views and experience of best and worst practices in the management of older people’s financial assets; and
• Develop and pilot educational interventions for community groups and professional service providers.

SOURCE:     STATE TRUSTEES.COM.AU
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