Stand Against Elder Abuse (CA. USA)

Stand against elder abuse

The Bakersfield Californian

May 09 2010

May is Older Americans Month. In 1963 only 17 million Americans had reached their 65th birthday. Today, older Americans are living longer than ever before. With the aging of the baby boomer generation, the largest in our nation's history, America's senior population is expected to be 71.5 million by 2030.

One of the most prevalent issues affecting older adults is the crime of elder abuse. The number of incidents has grown in recent years and will continue to grow substantially with the anticipated increase in the number of individuals over 65 years old. The cases that were reported within Kern County have increased by 38 percent within the last nine years.

The elderly are often preyed upon due to their vulnerability and resources. The cycle often starts with a relationship that is initiated for the purpose of gaining control for financial gain. Typically, it is a subtle approach to win over their favor or trust to the point that the victims allow the perpetrator to have knowledge of their finances and assets. Unfortunately, the perpetrator will create a situation of undue influence in their decision process. The goal is to manipulate both psychologically and socially on a personal level to take advantage of another. Usually, the victim is not aware that he is being exploited for personal gain.

For example, an older adult with medical issues may perceive that he is limited in life activities, requiring help from others. The helper maximizes the dependency to gain control, particularly in finances or assets. The perpetrator is skilled in knowing how to box a person in to his advantage, resulting in isolation, dependency, emotional ties and acquiescence, maximizing a loss. In most cases, the new relationship takes precedence over all other past connections with family and friends.

Consider the story involving Mrs. Jones. After the death of Mrs. Jones' husband of 60 years, she is not as active and tends to stay in her house alone. 

She has a medical problem that has worsened since her husband has passed away and has difficulty completing tasks. She hires a person, Ms. White, to come into her home to clean house for her twice a week. A relationship develops within a short amount of time and Ms. White moves into the house on the basis that it would be safer to have someone living in the home. Mrs. Jones allows Ms. White to manage her personal finances to help reduce the stress of bill paying. With time, Ms. White asks for large sums of money and jewelry with the threat that she would move out, leaving Mrs. Jones alone.

The children of Mrs. Jones live out of state and are unaware of her predicament. When they ask about the new roommate, she is rather evasive. After awhile, there is less contact with the family. They're not able to reach their mother by telephone and eventually when they do, she asks them not to call because she does not want to upset Ms. White.

The daughter later learns that her mother has deeded her house to Ms. White and has changed her will, out of fear that Ms. White will leave. Mrs. Jones is so dependent upon Ms. White that she forsakes her friends and family, and lives with the abuse. After all, how would she make it without her?

If you are aware of a possible case of elder abuse, please call 868-1006 to report your suspicions. Elder abuse includes financial exploitation, physical abuse, abandonment, isolation and neglect. Your call may be the only chance that the older adult has to escape the situation.

Elder Abuse Awareness Week will be proclaimed by the Kern County Board of Supervisors to be the week of May 17. The Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department will be hosting the 13th annual Elder Abuse Prevention Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 20 at Hodel's Country Dining. The topic is "Undue Influence: Tactics of Abuse."

The community is invited to attend. Please call the department at 868-1013 for reservations.

Kris Grasty of Bakersfield is the director of the Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department.

SOURCE:    Bakersfield.Com

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