Who Monitors the Abuse of the Elderly? (USA)

Who monitors the abuse of the elderly?

By Gerald Hotopp

According to the National Center on Elderly Abuse (NCEA), abuse of the elderly and disabled is one of the most underreported crimes in the United States. Strangely enough, abuse of the elderly and disabled can come in many forms; physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse and deprivation of one or more of the essentials of life, just to name a few. Abuse can occur anytime one person is under the care of another. There are also numerous issues regarding institutional care, where abuse can occur on a daily basis. Of course there is also Medicare fraud, which is one primary example where the elderly or disabled can be used as a pawn for financial gain. Nonetheless, it is also a crime.

An issue of abuse can also be financial, involving the unlawful or improper use of funds and/or assets. In many instances it is some form of financial motivation that puts the elderly victim and the abuser in contact with each other. It may also be a family member that is responsible for the abuse of an elderly parent or other relative. It may be a caregiver and, sad to say, it may be a medical practitioner who is involved in Medicare fraud, using an elderly or disabled patient as a vehicle for ripping off the Medicare program. The opportunities are many.
But who is responsible for oversight? The answer is: WE ARE. We are the watchdogs. We are the primary protectors of the elderly and disabled. We will all reach a point in life where we will want someone looking out for our interests. So we need to do our part now.
The indicators of elderly and disabled abuse are numerous, but for the most part, this crime goes on behind closed doors. But there are indicators that spark our suspicion and as responsible citizens, we are morally obligated to report our suspicions, even at the risk of being wrong. This does not mean that we make accusations. But what it does mean, is that we share our suspicions with the organizations of government that can clarify the matter. In Atlanta, the following organizations can be contacted, anonymously if you do not care to be identified:
•Adult Protective Services (APS) 404-657-5250
•Office of Regulatory Services (ORS) 404-657-5728
There will be more on this subject in future publications of The Gwinnett Citizen.

Gerald Hotopp is a 30-year veteran of law enforcement and a volunteer with the Atlanta Regional Commission RSVP program. He holds a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management and a BS in Criminal Justice. He retired as a Captain with the Miami-Dade Police Department and later became MARTA’s first Chief of Police. He later became Chief of Police for the MTA in Manhattan. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and now serves as a Police Consultant in private practice. He lives in Grayson.

Copyright © 2009 Gwinnett Citizen

SOURCE: Gwinnett Citizen

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