By David Ramsay
March 11, 2010
ELIOT, Maine
The York County Elder Abuse Task Force invites seniors and the general public to attend its open forum on elder abuse Monday, March 15, at the Eliot Police Department.
"Our biggest goal is education, so we try to focus on different ways we can educate the elders in our community and the general public about elder abuse," said officer Candice Noble of the Eliot Police Department.
AT A GLANCE
York County Elder Abuse Task Force forum
When: 2-3 p.m. Monday, March 15
Where: Eliot Police Department
Information: www.yceatf.webs.com
Noble said she and officer John Lizanecz restarted the task force two years ago with the York Police Department. It meets at 1 p.m. on the third Monday of every month at the Eliot Police Department.
"We represent all of York County," she said. "We have law enforcement professionals, legal services for the elderly, reverse mortgage specialists, representatives from Adult Protective Services (Maine DHHS), Home Instead Senior Care, Kittery Estates, and business people such as the manager of Kittery Savings Bank."
Regarding the forum on Monday, Noble said: "We did get some responses from elders who think they may be victims, so it gives them an opportunity to come in and speak to us about things that are going on in their life.
"We can point them in the right direction and give them the appropriate resources," she said.
Elder abuse is under-reported, she said, and the goal is to educate elders and the public to change that.
According to information from the National Center on Elder Abuse, published on the task force's web site, each year in Maine, approximately 12,000 seniors are abused (based on 5 percent of the population 60 years of age and older). It is projected that in five years, the number will double. This does not include financial abuse or neglect.
"We're taking care of those whose once took care of us. They're so vulnerable," she said.
AT A GLANCE
York County Elder Abuse Task Force forum
When: 2-3 p.m. Monday, March 15
Where: Eliot Police Department
Information: www.yceatf.webs.com
SOURCE: SeaCoastOnline
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