Fraudster Who Stole $6 Million from Elderly Victims, Jailed (Melb. AUSTRALIA)

Swindler who stole millions from elderly and sick clients jailed

By Norrie Ross

July 31, 2009

A FRAUDSTER who stole $6 million from mainly elderly and sick victims, some of whom regarded him as a trusted friend, has been jailed.

Justice Jack Forrest told Robert Day his crimes had devastated his victims, many of whom regarded him as a friend, as he sentenced him to 11 years with an eight-year minimum term.

Justice Forrest said Day seemed impervious to the lives he destroyed.

"Your actions of deliberate dishonesty over a period of nearly 10 years have caused heartache and misery to many of your friends and clients," the judge said.

"You must have been aware of the potential impact that it would have upon your clients, particularly those who trusted you with their life savings or substantial nest eggs."

Day, 65, had previously pleaded guilty to a total of 182 counts relating to obtaining property by deception, obtaining a financial advantage by deception, theft and making false documents.

From 1996 to 2004, Day systematically fleeced the business trust account and clients' investments, with much of the money used to finance his lifestyle, overseas holidays, property purchases and money for his adult children.

One of his victims, wheelchair-bound Mavis Avery, 75, of Apollo Bay, said outside court she was happy with the outcome.

"As long as he's off the streets, that's the main thing," said Mrs Avery, who had $414,000 stolen by Day.

Mrs Avery has a terminal tumour and both her husband and one of her daughters died of cancer around the time Day was stealing her nest egg.

"I said four years ago I wouldn't die until this man went to jail," she said.

As Day was led from the prisoners' dock there was spontaneous applause from a number of his victims in court.

Abridged

SOURCE: The Herald Sun, Melbourne, Australia

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Las Vegan Held in Elder Fraud (NV. USA)

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT SCHEME: Las Vegan held in elder fraud

Locals lost $600,000, officials say

By MIKE BLASKY

Jul. 30, 2009
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Jamal Eljwaidi, center, is escorted from McCarran International Airport by law enforcement officials Wednesday after being arrested on charges that he defrauded local elderly residents in a real estate investment scheme. The scheme netted him millions of dollars, authorities say.
Photo by Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal

A status hearing is scheduled for Friday at Las Vegas Justice Court.

Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Abridged

SOURCE: Las Vegas Review - Journal

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The Hidden Secret of Elder Abuse and E.A Awareness(USA)

The Hidden Secret of Elder Abuse in Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Many elderly people rely entirely on family or other trusted individuals to help them. Whether it is for physical needs or emotional needs, as people grow older they tend to need more and more help from others. This dependence on caregivers or family members makes an older person more vulnerable for abuse.

For example, an older person relying on her children to provide meals and transportation and help her with financial decisions finds it difficult to complain when one of her children takes advantage of her. If, for instance, the child takes her money, hits her or neglects her care, the parent may be threatened with loss of support from the child if the parent complains. The child may also use threats of violence to keep the parent in line.

It is estimated that 5% to 10% of elderly Americans are suffering abuse. According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse,

"Spiraling rates of elder mistreatment are reported by both practitioners and researchers.

We suspect 9 out of 10 is close to the actual ratio of unreported versus reported cases in Utah.

We also believe that Utah's lack of reporting elder abuse is not unlike other states in the country. We suspect all the states are experiencing close to the same ratios of underreporting as in Utah.

Signs of Abuse:

• Unexplained bruises, welts, fractures, abrasions or lacerations
• Multiple bruises in various stages of healing
• Multiple/repeat injuries
• Low self-esteem or loss of self determination
• Withdrawn, passive
• Fearful
• Depressed, hopeless
• Soiled linen or clothing
• Social Isolation

Signs of Neglect/Self-Neglect:

• Dehydration
• Malnourishment
• Inappropriate or soiled clothing
• Odorous
• Over/under medicated
• Deserted, abandoned or unattended
• Lack of medical necessities or assistive devices
• Unclean environment
• Social Isolation

Signs of Exploitation:

• Missing/"disappearing" property
• Inadequate living environment
• Frequent/recent property title changes or will changes
• Excessive home repair bills
• Forced to sign over control of finances
• No/limited money for food, clothes and other amenities

All states have agencies that receive complaints of abuse. In some states failure to report abuse of the elderly is a crime. To contact an abuse complaint department, call your local area agency on aging. To find an area agency on aging in your area go to http://www.longtermcarelink.net/eldercare/ref_state_aging_services.htm

Visit us at www.cherryhill.rightathome.net if you need any help, or have questions

Abridged

SOURCE: Merchant Circle.Com

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Nursing Home Fined in Choking Death (USA)

BY COURTNEY PERKES

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Tustin Care Center has been fined $50,000 by state health officials in the choking death of a nursing home resident.

The unidentified man died in March after choking on his lunch, according to an inspection report from the California Department of Public Health. The report says staff noticed the man had been growing weaker, but the facility still allowed him to eat regular meals on his own.

On the day of his death, the report says the man was eating soup with rice when he called for his wife, who was also a patient. The man struggled to breathe, and a nurse started the Heimlich maneuver but could not dislodge the food.

The man died later that day in a hospital. An autopsy found food completely blocking his trachea. The state report concludes that the nursing home failed to assess his ability to eat, which was a direct cause of his death.

In a call Tuesday to the nursing home, staff said the administrator was out for the day and no one else could comment.

SOURCE: OC REGISTER

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If You See Signs of Elder Abuse, Call the Hot Line (CA. USA)

If you see signs of elder abuse, call the hot line

THE DESERT SUN EDITORIAL BOARD

JULY 29, 2009

We're all getting older, God and modern medicine willing. But as we age, many of us become vulnerable to abuse, theft and mistreatment — even from people who supposedly know us and care for us.

The California Department of Social Services reports that cases of elder abuse in Riverside County increased 10 percent in the last five years was disturbing to say the least. Statewide, elder abuse is up 18 percent in the same period.

A recent case brought this into focus: A caretaker was convicted on eight counts of felony embezzlement after she took more than $87,000 from a Palm Desert woman by pawning jewelry and forging checks. She had been her caretaker for seven years.

Copyright ©2009 MyDesert.com.

Abridged

SOURCE: The Desert Sun, CA. USA

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Elder Abuse Fraud Totals Over $90K (CA. USA)

Elder abuse fraud totals over $90K

by Kurt Madar, The Triplicate

July 28, 2009

Members of a Crescent City family are suspected of stealing more than $90,000 from a 74-year-old man they were caring for, authorities said.

Kathy Schumack, her husband William Schumack, and son Joshua Brown, allegedly used the victim’s ATM card to withdraw its $500 limit nearly every day since March 2006, said investigator A.C. Fields of the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office.

“In June of 2009 more than $12,000 was taken out,” Fields said.

After investigating, Fields fixed the victim’s normal expenditures at $1,000 per month or less.

“These were official caregivers,” Fields said.

© Copyright 2001 - 2009 Western Communications, Inc.

Abridged

SOURCE: Daily Triplicate, CA. USA

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Police Urge Seniors to Report If They've Been Victims of Crime (ON. CANADA)

Police urge seniors to report if they've been victims of crime
By David Anderson

Like many things, what puts seniors in danger are pre-existing attitudes on them, which are borderline prejudicial stereotypes.

That was one of the points that came out recently as York Regional Police hosted a workshop directed at seniors at the meeting of the Police Services Board.

The presentation was aimed at helping them lead safe, healthy and dignified lives in today's world.

Inspector Andre Crawford, Constable Kim Majlik and Detective Constable Hoyt Miller all led the presentation.

It was identified by Crawford by 2021, there will be as many seniors in Canada as there are children.

"It's a reality people get old," Crawford said.

"Like anyone, when someone is discriminated it can put them in danger," Miller reported. "This can lead to improper treatment for them."

Majlik said seniors, of all age groups, are more likely to be victims of crime.

"Types of crimes against seniors are elder abuse, fraud and identity theft, false charities taking money from them and prize pitch, which is when they have been told they have been selected to win a prize, or have been awarded one of three or two of five prizes. These prizes usually include cash or a vehicle. They are then told they must purchase a product and pay in advance to receive their prize. These products are generally cheap or overpriced, but may sound valuable over the phone."

Police, Miller said, are doing their best to protect seniors. But in order to eliminate as much crime as they can, they need the help of seniors themselves.

"We ask them if they feel like they are being victimized to report the crime to the police," Miller commented.

SOURCE: King Township Sentinel - Beeton,ON,Canada

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Elderly Man Filed Complaint of Abusive Son (SC. USA)

Elderly man says son was drunk, abused him

Advertiser

July 28, 2009

CHARLESTON, W.VA. -- Police arrested a Charleston man after his elderly father called his neighbors for help, saying that his son was drunk and abusing him.

Charleston Patrolman B.A. Lightner went to a Greendale Drive apartment Sunday after a woman called police on behalf of her 74-year-old neighbor, Paul Burdette.

Burdette told her that his son Mark Burdette, 52, was drunk and abusing him, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Magistrate Court. The woman told Lightner that there was no food in their home and that Paul Burdette was hungry.

The neighbor said she'd given the man food earlier Sunday and that she'd often given him food.

When Lightner went to the apartment, Paul Burdette told him that his son came home drunk about 2 a.m. Sunday and started to yell at him, the complaint said. He said his son lives in the apartment with him to take care of him, but is never around, according to the complaint.

Mark Burdette was charged with abuse or neglect of an elder person, a felony. He was taken to South Central Regional Jail.

Abridged

SOURCE: Daily Mail - Charleston

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Who Cares About Elder Abuse in India?

By Womens Feature Service

July 28,2009

Prema's name translates as 'loved one'. But in Prema's case, her name is a misnomer. Far from being loved, at her advanced age she finds herself working endlessly for the young woman her husband brought into their home as his new 'wife'.

Prema, a homemaker who lives near Chandigarh, is in her late-60s. She was around 53 when her husband got inclined towards another younger women. At first, her husband was indifferent towards her and but this has turned to total neglect now.

Her situation is unusual, but it does fall in the category of "elder abuse", a situation in which older people are subjected to abuse and neglect within their families and communities. On June 15, the world observes Elder Abuse Awareness Day, yet people like Prema continue to suffer neglect and abuse.

Yet, there is empirical evidence to suggest that in India incidents of abuse and neglect of older people are increasing by the day, both within families and institutions, and that it prevails across classes, castes and religions. Reports of such abuse have come in from every state in the country and it takes place in both rural and urban settings.

(Dr Shankardass is Chair for India and Asia of the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse.)

Womens Feature Service covers developmental, political, social and economic issues in India and around the globe. To get these articles for your publication, contact WFS at the www.wfsnews.org website.

Abridged

SOURCE: News Blaze

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Con Artists Targeting Obliging Older People

Con Artists Targeting Obliging Older People

By CGALOFARO
Police Beat Reporter - Bristol Herald Courier

July 25, 2009

In April, an old Bristol man died penniless because Tom Cruise called three years ago to tell him he won the Jamaican lottery.

All he had to do was send $500 to clear up some paperwork and he’d get $2.5 million in return.

Then Andre Agassi called: They needed just a little bit more to get the check through customs. The man borrowed money from friends. James Bond was on the phone. He hawked his car. Took out a mortgage. Three months and $30,000 later, Bristol police convinced the man to give up and stop mailing checks.

“That poor old guy, they sold it to him with a silver tongue,” said Bristol Virginia Police Detective Sgt. Steven Crawford. “They seem to always pick on the elderly – talk fast, sound legit and make them feel like they’re obligated. It’s rampant in this area.”

Area senior advocates say Bristol’s aging population makes it an easy – and often profitable – target for con artists. And law enforcement officers are warning residents to be wary because scams are on the rise.

Abridged

SOURCE: TriCities, TN

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Shine a Light on the Darkness of Elder Abuse

By GLEN GRAYMAN, M.D.

SPECIAL TO THE DESERT SUN

JULY 28, 2009

The most recent local data collected, analyzed and published by the Palm Desert-based health research organization HARC (Health Assessment Resource Center), provides an eye-opening look at a vastly underreported crime in our communities: elder abuse.

Abridged

SOURCE: The Desert Sun

One Out Of Six Cases Reported

Human and social services agencies nationwide have long wrestled with the challenges of this hidden nightmare. It is well known that, largely because of shame and embarrassment, only about one in six cases of elder abuse in the U.S. are ever reported to authorities. But HARC took an approach designed to more accurately determine the actual number of incidents in the Coachella Valley, whether reported or not, by anonymously asking the seniors themselves and assuring them of confidentiality.

Perpetrators Usually Known

The National Center on Elder Abuse reports that in almost 90 percent of incidents with a known perpetrator, the abuser is a family member and two-thirds of them are adult children or spouses. As “community sentinels,” we can keep an eye out for our vulnerable loved ones, friends, and neighbors.

Each of us needs to speak up if we have concerns, even if we are not sure.

If one has a sense of immediate danger, calling 911 is always appropriate. If one is less sure, call the Elder Abuse Hotline: (800) 491-7123 and simply state your concerns. Local senior centers, as well as the Riverside County Office on Aging, are also available to answer questions and to give guidance.

Abridged

SOURCE: The Desert Sun

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Report Urges Regulation of Homecare Services to Protect Against Abuse/Mistreatment (IRELAND)

Report urges regulation of homecare services

By CARL O'BRIEN, Social Affairs Correspondent

July 28, 2009

INDEPENDENT INSPECTIONS and care standards for professional home carers should be introduced to help protect against abuse and mistreatment, according to a Law Reform Commission consultation paper.

At present there is no regulation of such services despite the fact that thousands of older people receive professional assistance to allow them to live independently at home.

In contrast, the domiciliary care sector is heavily regulated in the UK and other jurisdictions.

A Law Reform Commission consultation paper on the issue, to be published today, says the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) should be empowered to regulate and monitor professional home carers.

These standards should be tailored for homecare settings, building on existing standards for nursing homes. They should ensure that care is provided in a manner that promotes the wellbeing and independence of clients.

Overall, the report warns that a failure to regulate services can lead to inconsistencies in terms of service quality and delivery and the potential for abuse.

Abridged

SOURCE: The Irish Times

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How to Prevent Identity Theft

July 25, 2009

By LAURA GRIFFITH

The Telegraph

Banking and law enforcement authorities say online financial transactions actually can be safer than in person, as long as people take the right precautions.

Without those precautions, however, a person is liable to falling victim and assuming liability.

"With the popularity of the Internet, it's developed into a new type of identity theft that local law enforcement had never seen before," Wells said.

Determine whether the Web site is reputable before doing business.

Make sure a Web site is secure before entering personal information.

If it is determined that a site can be trusted, one should check for the level of site security.

Keep passwords, usernames and security questions private.

Check your credit reports regularly.

Unlike freecreditreport.com, www.annualcreditreport.com is free, Wells said.

Act quickly when you see suspicious behavior.

"If you are a victim, you have the option to put a security freeze on your name permanently," Wells said.

Abridged

SOURCE: Alton Telegraph - Alton,IL,USA

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Elder Abuse Case: Tougher Penalty Warranted (New Zealand)

Tougher Penalty Warranted, Says Grey Power

27 July 2009

A former rest home worker who taped an elderly resident's mouth shut because she was too noisy should have received a harsher penalty, says Grey Power.

Mafoufoga Misiagi, 61, who worked at Belhaven rest home in Mt Eden, was sentenced in Auckland District Court on Monday to 75 hours' community work for the incident in June 2008.

Judge Alison Sinclair said the victim, a deaf mute, was vulnerable and trusting of her caregivers, and the fact the woman remained quiet when the tape was applied to her mouth did not mean she consented.

Judge Sinclair said this was an abuse of someone who trusted Misiagi to care for her, though she accepted that Misiagi was not motivated by any malice.

However, Grey Power spokesperson Roy Reid says the judge seems to have been too lenient, and that the message to care workers should be to show more patience and a more caring attitude to those in their care.

Age Concern says it hopes the case has taught people to stand up against elder abuse.

Auckland's elder abuse co-ordinator for Age Concern, Emsie Walters, says the case highlights that elder abuse exists and should not be ignored.

Belhaven rest home was closed by the Ministry of Health last year.

(Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand)

SOURCE: Radio New Zealand - Wellington,New Zealand

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Dept. of Aging Urges Citizens to Report Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults (PA. USA)

July 27, 2009

PRNewswire-USNewswire

Pennsylvanians are urged to immediately report the suspected abuse or neglect of an older adult by calling the state's Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-490-8505, Secretary of Aging John Michael Hall said today.

Older individuals who are being abused or neglected are also urged to call the hotline.

"Older adults have the right to live a life free from abuse and neglect, which can take many forms," said Hall. "I urge citizens to check on older relatives and neighbors, be educated about the warning signs of abuse and notify authorities when they suspect that someone is being harmed. Reports can be made confidentially and without fear of reprisal."

Abuse can range from physical actions -- such as hitting or punching -- to verbal and emotional attack, theft or pressure to sign documents, neglect and deprivation of dignity. Some warning signs of potential abuse are bruises or marks on the body, weight loss and the unexplained disappearance of money or personal property. Sexual abuse can be more difficult to determine, but can involve improper touching and rape. Neglect can include isolation and failure to provide proper nutrition and personal hygiene.

Calls to the Elder Abuse Hotline, 1-800-490-8505, are automatically directed to the nearest Area Agency on Aging for prompt response. The 52 agencies are also listed on the department's Web site at www.aging.state.pa.us. Reports can be made anonymously.

In partnership with Temple University at Harrisburg's Institute on Protective Services, the department has been instrumental in recovering or protecting from theft more than $6 million in assets belonging to older adults.

For more information about the Department of Aging, visit www.aging.state.pa.us

SOURCE: PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA

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Simi Valley Man Arrested for Financial Elder Abuse (CA. USA)

Simi Valley man arrested on suspicion of elderly financial abuse

By Zeke Barlow

July 25, 2009

A Simi Valley man was arrested Friday on suspicion of elderly financial abuse after police said he stole more than $100,000 from his mother who suffers from dementia.

Thomas Pinneri, 54, had taken out a reverse mortgage on his mother’s home and cashed her Social Security and pension checks for more than a year, according to Simi Valley Police Department Lt. Greg Riegert.

Pinneri has been living in Dorothea Pinneri’s home since she moved to a long-term care facility about 18 months ago, Riegert said.

Pinneri used his 77-year-old mother’s money to fund an expensive drug habit and gambling trips to Las Vegas, Riegert said.

More than once, Pinneri pushed his mother in her wheelchair from her long-term care facility to a Chase bank across the street where he cashed checks for large sums of money, Riegert said. One was for more than $45,000.

Bank officials became suspicious after a series of large checks were cashed with a full signature of Dorothea Pinneri, even though the woman was unable to fully write her own name, Riegert said.

Police began investigating the case and were called to the bank on Friday when Pinneri had wheeled in his mother again. He was arrested at the bank.

Riegert said the son did not have power of attorney for his mother and noted there might be more charges added as investigators pore over stacks of financial records.

SOURCE: Ventura County Star (CA)

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Elder Abuse on the Rise (HI. USA)

Theft by family members is more common than the violent crimes that tend to make the news, a prosecutor says

By Christine Donnelly

Jul 26, 2009

A Honolulu prosecutor says crimes against the elderly are "starting to snowball" and that the failing economy makes senior citizens even more vulnerable.

Two recent high-profile elder abuse cases -- against a nursing home worker accused of sexually assaulting dementia patients and a son accused of beating his ailing father -- put a spotlight on violent crimes allegedly committed by caregivers, but deputy prosecuting attorney Scott M. Spallina said financial exploitation committed by relatives is more commonly reported.

"The majority of perpetrators are family members. Maybe extended family, nieces, nephews, grandkids," said Spallina, who heads the city prosecutor's elder abuse unit. "There's a lot of property theft, burglary, stolen cars. The majority of seniors still reside in their own homes, so the majority of abuse happens there."

Although Hawaii has no specific elder-abuse law, several statutes make it easier to prosecute crimes against senior citizens, Spallina said.

One mandates prison time for assaults that result in "substantial bodily injury" if the victim is 60 or older. The other, which took effect this month, qualifies "vulnerable" adults for protective services under the state Department of Human Services when abuse occurs. Previously, the law covered "dependent" adults, leaving many elderly unprotected.

Abridged

SOURCE: Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Honolulu,HI,USA

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Addressing Elder Abuse (IL. USA)

Addressing elder abuse

Elder abuse affects thousands of Illinois senior citizens every year. Because of the abuse, these victims experience severe neglect and extreme feelings of fear and loneliness. The City of Chicago, the Illinois Department of Aging and the Seniors’ Advisory Council have helped defined the statutes for the different areas of elder abuse.

• Elder Abuse is defined as any action or inaction by a caretaker that places the health and well-being of an elderly person in jeopardy.
• Physical Abuse is any act of physical violence or rough treatment that causes injury or discomfort.
• Psychological/Emotional Abuse is any act, including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation intimidation, or other treatment that may diminish a sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth.
• Sexual Abuse is any sexual behavior directed towards an individual without his/her full knowledge or consent.
• Neglect is intentional or unintentional withholding of basic necessities or care, including food, medication, clothes, etc.
• Financial Exploitation is the misuse or withholding of an individual’s financial resources.

City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help line:

1-877-TO END DV (1-877-863-6338) 1-877-863-6339 (TTY)
Toll free, confidential, multilingual, 24-hour referral assistance for victims of domestic violence.

SOURCE: The Examiner.Com

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Elder Abuse Allegations Investigated (CT. USA)

Elder abuse allegations investigated

By Hattie Bernstein
Staff Writer

Jul. 23, 2009

MILFORD – The state Department of Health and Human Services is investigating allegations of possible abuse of an elderly man.

The man, before his death July 10, was a patient at a local nursing home.

"We are currently reviewing, gathering information," said John Martin, manager of the DHHS bureau of licensing and certification, Friday.

The 87-year-old man, whose identity has not been released for reasons of privacy, was a patient at The Elms Care and Rehabilitation Center, a nursing home at 71 Elm St., operated by SunBridge Healthcare.

Abridged

SOURCE: Milford, Cabinet.Com

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Investigation Against a Fillipina Caregiver in Connection with the Death of Elderly Ward.

Authorities are now conducting an investigation against a Filipina caregiver in connection with the death of her 90-year-old ward in Discovery Bay, California, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau reported.

ABS-CBN North America News Bureau correspondent Henni Espinosa reported that Laarni Dime was arrested on suspicion of two counts of elder abuse and booked into the Contra Costa Jail. Her bail was set at US100,000 but could not make bail because of an immigration hold.

“She was released Wednesday morning. What we’re doing at this point is releasing her pending further investigation," said Jimmy Lee, Spokesman of the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office.

Abridged

SOURCE: ABS CBN News - Philippines

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Heat Death Charges Show Elder Abuse and Neglect Growing Problem

By Carol Forsloff

George Brim, 90, was found dead and his wife, 85-year-old Shirley Brim, was hospitalized three days ago at Discovery Bay in Contra Costa County in California. Investigators suspect abuse, an example of a growing problem.

According to reports, the authorities in Contra Costa County believe the couple’s caretaker, Laarni Dime, did not turn on air conditioning in the home of the elderly couple, despite the fact temperatures were close to 100 degrees at the time. The couple were reported to have died as a result of heat-related injuries. The caretaker has been arrested on suspicion of neglect.

Last year, Hawaii enacted a strong law against elder abuse. Peter Carlisle, Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu, set up a special unit to investigate crimes against elders. This is a multidisciplinary team because the issue is so complex and involves emotional, financial and physical abuse.

The Hawaii website focuses attention about elder abuse and relates important information about how serious it can be. Authorities include sex abuse and neglect along with other issues, mentioned above, and proceed to review these areas to inform the public about this serious topic.

Abridged

SOURCE: DigitalJournal.com - Toronto,Ontario,Canada

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Volunteers Look Out for the Isolated Elderly (NJ, USA)

Local residents among a thinning group of advocates at nursing homes in N.J.

BY BRIAN DONAHUE, Staff Writer

For Phil Zipser, it's the friendships that have kept him visiting nursing homes for the past 13 years.

The Monroe resident spends several hours every week at a long-term facility in Englishtown, trying to reach as many residents as he can in whatever way he can. He brings them comfort and companionship.

Perhaps more importantly, he brings them empowerment.

As a volunteer advocate, Zipser acts on behalf of the state Public Advocate Department's Elder Ombudsman, whose office investigates allegations of abuse or neglect in the state's 1,155 assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other adult long-term care facilities. The volunteers work to ensure the safety, security and well-being of vulnerable, elderly residents.

Visiting elder residents regularly, the volunteers keep an eye on quality-of-care issues, resolve problems and provide companionship for elderly residents. They refer any complaints of abuse, neglect or exploitation to the ombudsman office for investigation.

Joann Cancel, who coordinates the volunteer advocate program, said the roles are important because they serve a population that is vulnerable and isolated from the community.

She encouraged people to sign up for the program and help support the institutionalized elderly. The volunteers must complete a 32-hour training program to become a certified ombudsman advocate. They then serve at an assigned facility at least four hours a week.

Residents of Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Hunterdon and Somerset counties can contact regional volunteer coordinator Beth Mane at 732-439-9331, or email bethmane@aol.com.

Abridged

SOURCE: Greater Media Newspapers - Freehold,NJ,USA

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