Abuse of the elderly can all too easily go unspotted
Many seniors stay out of sight; many others hesitant to accept help
By JANINE ZEITLIN
September 28, 2008
Elder neglect can be hidden, hard to prove and even, some worry, underreported in state statistics.
The Department of Children and Families investigates cases involving vulnerable adults as well as reports about children.
The department becomes involved with the most vulnerable adults, those who can't take care of their daily needs.
What's more, seniors isolated in homes or facilities aren't as visible as a school-going child seen daily by people who could spot telltale signs of abuse or neglect. An elder may rarely set foot outside.
Adult-abuse reports have risen in the past three years, swelling about 13 percent. Still, proving neglect played a role in an elder's death is difficult. Since 1998, only two adult death investigations have been verified as neglect in the five Southwest Florida counties the local DCF office handles.
Abridged
SOURCE: The News-Press, Fort Myers
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