How to protect elderly loved ones from exploitation
By CORI GALEANO
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 7, 2008
The situation Grace Jeremia's father went through is like the perfect storm of elderly exploitation, where seemingly everything that could have gone wrong, did.
The 80-year-old Tamarac resident, whom Jeremia would like to refer to as C.T. to protect him from further exploitation, has lived within his means his entire life. He was able to pay off the original mortgage on the home in which he raised a family on a mechanic's salary.But C.T.'s situation seems to exemplify the classic case of corporations, banks, salespeople, medical personnel and shady home helpers taking advantage of an elderly man's natural tendency to believe that others have his best interests in mind.
C.T., who wears a hearing aid, was sold a bluetooth device for use with a smartphone he couldn't operate, Jeremia said. He was tricked into accepting a credit line at a 30 percent rate of interest, was sued for personal liability for allegedly hitting a woman as he shopped in a grocery store while riding in one of the store's electric carts, has had $50,000 stolen from his bank account by a woman who convinced him to add her as a co-signer, and is in failing health as a result of his age and the low quality of medical care he has received. And those are just a few of the issues Jeremia is trying to resolve for her father.
Jeremia reported the suspected criminal activity to local authorities. Typically, the Broward Sheriff's Office divisions that contractually provide law enforcement to cities like Tamarac, must refer cases of elder abuse or exploitation to a central office.
"We take the initial report and notify the sergeant of the Elderly Exploitation Unit, and they send a detective out to investigate the case," said Marc Duguay, chief of the Tamarac Division of the BSO.Sgt. Adam Hofstein, who works in BSO's Abuse and Neglect Unit, said "vigilance" is the watchword when it comes to protecting elderly loved ones from exploitation.
"Being cognizant, being aware, just like you are with your kids," Hofstein said. "If you are vigilant, you can catch these things early on."He added that these are under-reported crimes."It's very under-reported because most people are embarrassed or unable to report it," he said.
For information and tips, visit Florida's Adult Protective Services at www.dcf.state.fl.us/AS. To report elderly abuse or exploitation, call 800-96ABUSE (800-962-2873).
Abridged
SOURCE: Sun-Sentinel.com FL,USA
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