BY SHAUNNA GATELY
SUN CHRONICLE
October 22, 2010
DA tells seniors they must be vigilant
Warning that more elderly residents are falling victim to crime, Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter urged an audience of senior citizens and their caregivers to be more vigilant for all forms of abuse, including scams by strangers, unscrupulous insurance companies and the neglect and coercion of some relatives.
"Crimes against elders are rising and they're rising because the elder population is rising," Sutter told the annual elder abuse prevention conference Thursday sponsored by the Attleboro TRIAD.
More than 100 people gathered at the LaSalette Shrine Welcome Center to hear Mary Richardson, the former WCVB-TV Chronicle anchor and current liaison for Caritas Health Care, lead a discussion about the dangers faced by the elderly community.
"Many more seniors today I think are alert and are aware. They know a scam when they see one," Richardson said. "Although it still happens."
Richardson said the elderly have the right not to be pressured, not to be bullied, and the right to make their own decisions about their life and their finances.
"Crimes against elders are rising and they're rising because the elder population is rising," Sutter told the annual elder abuse prevention conference Thursday sponsored by the Attleboro TRIAD.
More than 100 people gathered at the LaSalette Shrine Welcome Center to hear Mary Richardson, the former WCVB-TV Chronicle anchor and current liaison for Caritas Health Care, lead a discussion about the dangers faced by the elderly community.
"Many more seniors today I think are alert and are aware. They know a scam when they see one," Richardson said. "Although it still happens."
Richardson said the elderly have the right not to be pressured, not to be bullied, and the right to make their own decisions about their life and their finances.
Assistant District Attorneys Paul Machado and Silvia Rudman touched on some of the laws protecting the elderly and ways to prevent victimization.
"There's often a combination of neglect and financial benefit," Rudman said. "There are some laws that have been created because we have become acutely aware of how seniors have become taken advantage of."
Those laws include reckless endangerment and assault and battery of an elder person, she said.
"It can be avoided if you reach out to your community. It can be avoided if you make sure that your loved ones have regular care," Rudman said.
Lucilia Prates, a representative from the Senior Medical Patrol addressed health care fraud, and stressed the importance of reading Medicare statements to look for fraudulent charges.
"Health care errors cost billions of dollars - your dollars, your tax dollars," Prates said. "Massachusetts has been designated as one of the top 18 states where fraud is committed in the health care system."
"There's often a combination of neglect and financial benefit," Rudman said. "There are some laws that have been created because we have become acutely aware of how seniors have become taken advantage of."
Those laws include reckless endangerment and assault and battery of an elder person, she said.
"It can be avoided if you reach out to your community. It can be avoided if you make sure that your loved ones have regular care," Rudman said.
Lucilia Prates, a representative from the Senior Medical Patrol addressed health care fraud, and stressed the importance of reading Medicare statements to look for fraudulent charges.
"Health care errors cost billions of dollars - your dollars, your tax dollars," Prates said. "Massachusetts has been designated as one of the top 18 states where fraud is committed in the health care system."
Speakers stressed that preventing crimes against the elderly begins with awareness. Knowing about a scam ahead of time can help seniors avoid becoming victims.
Registrar of Probate Gina DeRossi spoke of important legal issues involving living wills and knowing the limits of granting the power of attorney.
Sutter said a 10 percent cut in his office's budget has reduced his ability to fight abuse.
"For law enforcement, it's trying to do the same job with less resources," he said.
"I learned that there is only so much you can do with less," Sutter said. "The more we can prevent crime the more we can save money on prosecuting crime."
Registrar of Probate Gina DeRossi spoke of important legal issues involving living wills and knowing the limits of granting the power of attorney.
Sutter said a 10 percent cut in his office's budget has reduced his ability to fight abuse.
"For law enforcement, it's trying to do the same job with less resources," he said.
"I learned that there is only so much you can do with less," Sutter said. "The more we can prevent crime the more we can save money on prosecuting crime."
SOURCE: The Sun Chronicle
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