Elder Abuse Rose to All-time Highs (

The Wisconsin State Journal
By Dean Mosiman
December 13, 2008

(McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex)

Reports of elder abuse rose to all-time highs in Dane County and the state last year, a new state report says.
Advocates and officials said the rise is likely due to a growing elder population, increasing public awareness and improvements in the law in 2006.
"I'm heartened by the fact that more cases are being reported," said attorney Betsy Abramson, a leading advocate on elder issues in the state, because a major problem has been that the abuse has been largely unrecognized.

But in tight budget times, government isn't adding services or more resources to address the issue of elder abuse or to deliver followup.
The majority of elder abuse cases go unreported, advocates say.

Later studies have estimated that perhaps one in 14 cases in domestic settings are reported and that one in 25 victims of financial exploitation come forward.

Abridged
SOURCE: AARP Bulletin
-----------------------------------
It is encouraging to note that more elder abuse cases have been reported. However, every studies on elder abuse confirm the fact that elder abuse is still UNDER-REPORTED. Reporters of elder abuse must be assisted; not looked at with suspicion. Many reporters of elder abuse get into all kinds of strife; ranging from been treated with suspicion, to been accused of "having a hidden agenda". Every report of elder abuse should be looked at objectively and investigated thoroughly.

------------------------------------------------

Click for Updates, More Cases and Resources