Investigators Combating Elder Abuse
DEC 05, 2009
More than two million older Americans fall victim to elder abuse every year. That's one out of every 20. In Nevada, state investigators believe that number is even higher because the problem is seriously under-reported.
Investigators are trying to better understand elder abuse at a conference on senior protection. "We are trying to stamp out elder abuse in any way we can and we are fighting individual battles, but we have to look more at the overall war itself," said Florida law professor Mark Bauer.
Bauer was the keynote speaker at a daylong conference on senior protection. Local, state, and national officials participated in panel discussions on a variety of elder abuse topics. They included Medicare fraud, financial scams against seniors, and abuse in elder care facilities.
Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy talked about emerging trends, including a 700-percent increase in drug and prescription drug abuse by the elderly in the past decade and a recent jump in elderly suicide.
"Specifically in the last 18 months in our community, we've seen an increase in homicide-suicides among the elderly. Several of these cases were the result of people losing their homes -- having financial issues as well as health issues," said Murphy.
Murphy and other conference participants agree solutions to the problem of senior and elder abuse include better interagency cooperation and a more vigilant approach by family members, friends, and the community to watch out for their elderly neighbors:
Unfortunately, many of these abusers are family members, which is why the Nevada Attorney General's Office is urging anyone who suspects elder abuse to report it to police or the AG's Office.
SOURCE: Las Vegas Now
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