I-Team Out to Stop Elder Abuse (WI. USA)

January 24, 2009

By Sara Siekierski

For an elderly person whose caregiver is abusing or neglecting him or her, especially if that caregiver is their own child, it can be very hard to come forth and admit the abuse.

“If I tell on my child, then who's going to take care of me?” Anne Walli of the Sexual Assault Recovery Program used as a hypothetical example. “I'm embarrassed to say that my son or my daughter hurts me. What will everyone think of me as a parent?”

Elderly people are at a higher risk of abuse because they may be weaker, have health problems or have issues getting around, Walli said. They may be afraid to report abuse for fear they'll have nobody to take care of them.

“They often have to rely on other people for a lot of care and a lot of what they need,” she added.

Rock County's Elder Abuse and Adults at Risk Interdisciplinary Team, or I-Team for short, is a team made up of several agencies around the county that work to stop elder abuse and provide resources for the abused. The involved agencies range from the Sexual Assault Recovery Center to the Rock County Sheriff's Department to the Rock County Council on Aging. In all, there are 20 agencies on the I-Team.

Every year, tens of thousands of elderly Americans are abused in their own homes, in relatives' homes, and even in facilities responsible for their care, according to helpguide.org. There are several types of elder abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, neglect or abandonment by caregivers, financial exploitation and health care fraud and abuse.

The I-Team is a required part of a grant that the Rock County Council on Aging submits requests for, said Tom Hermans of Rock County Long Term Planning. As part of the commitment to receive funds, the council agrees to organize and maintain the interdisciplinary team of various agencies that combine to address the issues of elder abuse and neglect. Most counties in Wisconsin have similar teams.

If you are an elder who is being abused, neglected, or exploited, tell at least one person. Tell your doctor, a friend, or a family member whom you trust. You can also call Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. The person who answers the phone will refer you to a local agency that can help.

Abridged

SOURCE:   Beloit Daily News WI. USA

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What a great idea.  We often need the experties of various agencies, professions to help prevent elder abuse, help the victims to carry on after the abuses have been stopped.  This is a great idea that should be adopted by others around the globe.

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