Advocate Seeks Better Reporting on Elder Abuse (CANADA)

Cindy E. Harnett / Times Colonist 

July 29, 2015

B.C.’s seniors advocate has launched a fact-finding mission to get a better picture of elder abuse and neglect in the province.

Seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie said her office has given Vancouver Coastal Health and other agencies until the end of August to examine the different methods used to track elder abuse in B.C., with recommendations on how to create a singular standardized reporting system.

“I hope we can get an accurate understanding of the depth and breadth of elder abuse and prepare to put in place mechanisms to reduce it,” Mackenzie said.

It is estimated that between four and 10 per cent of seniors in the province experience abuse.

Since 2000, designated agencies have tracked and categorized reports of abuse and neglect, and recorded outcomes, but have not developed a uniform system of maintaining records or reporting on the abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults.

“It’s all over the map,” Mackenzie said. When elder abuse is documented and reported to the seniors’ advocate in a systemic way, using standard definitions and coding, Mackenzie said she will be better able to identify patterns and report on progress or the lack of it, year over year. She expects to release a monitoring report on elder abuse using the new reporting mechanisms in 2016.

SOURCE:    Times Colonist

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How to Report and Protect in Situations of Elder Abuse

By Victoria Dalton 

July 26, 2015

When fighting the war on elder abuse, no one will consider you a hero. Instead, you will be met with doubt, disbelief and greed. Let the elder live his or her life as they choose to do so. The line I hear frequently is "even elders have the right to make bad decisions."

The most difficult situations are where the elder has limited capacity as opposed to no capacity.  Capacity is the ability to comprehend both the nature and consequences of one's acts.

When an elder lacks capacity, an application for Guardianship may be made to the Probate Courts. Details on how to do this can be found on njcourts.com under forms and of course through an elder law attorney.

So what tools do we have in our arsenal to protect and defend an elder victim with limited capacity? As mentioned, this is not an easy battle and no one will thank you, including the victim. They fail to believe or are too embarrassed to disclose they are being duped.

However, even during the bleakest times, we cannot give up. Consider the following in your quest for justice and try to include as many organizations, family members and witnesses on your side as possible. Remember it is not an easy fight. Here is the RAP Sheet (Report and Protect).

Journal

Keep a log as to each encounter you may have with either the victim or the abuser. Include date, time, location and a short summary of interaction. If you have documentation that supports the meeting include that as well.  For example, include a picture of you with the victim and their abusers.  

Communication

An elderly person who is isolated is especially vulnerable to abuse. In these situations, distance does not make the heart grow fonder.  If you do not communicate on a regular basis, you will miss important clues and changes in behavior.  Further, your failure to communicate and provide them with attention will risk alienating them permanently.

EverSafe

Each year YLC offers the opportunity to receive a complimentary inventory of assets packet by email to help elders know specifically what they own and where important paper work/documents are located.

Going a step further in the fight against elder financial exploitation is a company called EverSafe.  They provide protection from fraud, identity theft, unscrupulous telemarketers and possibly anyone who would want to steal by monitoring an elder's financial accounts and credit reports, alerting you to suspicious activity.

Elizabeth Loewy, General Counsel for EverSafe, spoke recently at the White House Conference on Aging, and has stated "these crimes wreck the best-laid financial plans and put tremendous strains on families, from the seniors dealing with the burdens of victimization to the relatives wracked with guilt for not having acted more sooner."

Aging and disability resource center

To examine your options and receive information and assistance call toll free 1-877-222-3737.  If you are not a Gloucester County resident, the correct number will be provided to you.

Attorney

Consult with an elder law attorney to discuss your case. Attorneys may be able to freeze assets, provide guardianship representation, or take other legal action that may be appropriate to your situation.

Reporting Elder Abuse

Each state has rules for investigating and providing protective services. Reporting may be done anonymously.  Most states, including New Jersey, have mandatory reporting of elder abuse if your job requires you to have regular contact with an elderly person such as a social worker or nurse.  Importantly, the reporter is granted civil and criminal immunity as long as he or she has not reported in bad faith.

Citizens can report elder abuse through their county Adult Protective Services office located within their Board of Social Services.  In Gloucester County, call (856) 582-9200 or after hours (800) 648-0132 to report elder abuse.

Remember, should a victim be deemed to have capacity, they can refuse services offered.

Admittedly, there are no easy answers in combatting elder exploitation. Still, we can earnestly Report And Protect to help our elderly.  Till next time, God bless, keep smiling, when Your Legal Corner, will consider: " Exploitation Protections in your Legal documents." Victoria M. Dalton is an attorney with the law offices of Hoffman DiMuzio.

SOURCE:   NJ.com

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How to Stop Elder Abuse: Report Red Flags (Minnesota, USA)

Echo Press Editorial: How to stop elder abuse: Report red flags

July 22, 2015

It happens too often: An elderly person is financially preyed upon by a con artist, a relative or close friend.

But all the headlines that tell about such crimes should not make people numb to it. Instead, it should spark outrage and spur action and awareness. It starts with reporting any suspected financial abuse and exploitation of the elderly.

Rothman said that seniors have become a prime target for crooks because they control an estimated 70 percent of the nation’s wealth. Age-related factors such as illnesses and cognitive impairment can make many older adults especially vulnerable to financial crimes and scams.

The commerce department has stepped up its efforts to protect Minnesota seniors from financial fraud and abuse. But it can’t address this pressing problem on its own. It needs the public’s help in bringing cases of suspected elder abuse to light.

“While one of the best lines of defense is prevention through education, a continuing challenge is that elder financial abuse is a crime that often goes unreported,” said Rothman. “Greater public awareness is needed to identify these crimes early on and help victims before they lose their hard-earned life savings.”

Rothman highlighted some possible warning signs of financial abuse of older adults:

• Unusual financial transactions that are inconsistent with past behavior.

• Uncharacteristic attempts to wire large sums of money.

• Unusual inability to pay for routine services like utilities or insurance.

• Closing of CDs or financial accounts without regard to penalties or fees.

• Large or frequent financial withdrawals, including maximum cash withdrawals from ATMs.

• A sudden change in the management of the older adult’s finances.

Rothman said that when these red flags show up, it may be a sign that someone is being victimized and it should be reported.

Douglas County area residents can report suspected elder financial fraud to the Commerce Department at 1-800-657-3602.

Minnesotans can also report suspected elder abuse, such as physical maltreatment or neglect, to their county’s designated Common Entry Point. To find a county’s Common Entry Point, people can call the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433.

SOURCE:     The Echo Press
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Take A Stand in Mississippi: Stop Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Persons

 June 13, 2013
Jackson

Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. And that's only part of the picture: Experts believe that for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported, as many as 14 cases go unreported. On June 15, Mississippi's Adult Protective Services (APS) program will join with national and international partners in celebration of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.  Mississippi's statute is a ‘vulnerable persons' law, and does not include all elders, however,  the majority of cases involve the elderly.  Vulnerable persons are those who are impaired mentally or physically to care for or protect themselves from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Although the frequency of abuse among vulnerable adult populations is unknown, it happens, and across the country, reported incidents are on the rise. During State Fiscal Year 2012, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, Adult Protective Services (APS) received more than 4,000 calls of suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults.  Types of abuse include physical, mental, sexual, self-neglect, caregiver neglect and financial exploitation.
Specifically, Mississippi APS investigates reports of vulnerable persons 18 and older who reside in private home settings and who may be abused, neglected or exploited by family or caregivers or are victims of self-neglect. Other APS investigations include abuse in smaller unlicensed personal care homes where three or fewer persons reside; financial exploitation of care facility residents when perpetrated by a family member; or abuse by a caretaker or family member that occurred prior to a vulnerable person's admission to a care facility.
With the rise of aging baby boomers and longer life expectancies, maltreatment incidences toward elders and younger vulnerable adults will grow nationally and worldwide. The time is now to take a stand against abuse of vulnerable persons. How can you help take a stand in Mississippi?

8 Things You Can Do
1. Learn the signs of vulnerable persons abuse, neglect and exploitation.
2. Call or visit vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbors.
3. Offer assistance to a caregiver by filling in for a few hours or more.
4. Get involved by raising awareness.
5. Share information on vulnerable persons abuse with churches and community groups. 
6. Support strengthening laws and services for the protection of vulnerable persons against abuse. 
7. Speak up for vulnerable persons who may be unable to speak up for themselves.  
8. Volunteer with nursing homes, local agencies and long-term care facilities.

It's everyone's duty to report.

To make a report, call the MDHS Centralized Intake Abuse Hotline at 1-800-222-8000.  If an emergency exists, call 911 or local law enforcement.
To report abuse or neglect of residents in care facilities (i.e., nursing homes, personal care homes), call the Mississippi State Department of Health, Division of Health Facilities, Licensure and Certification at 1-800-227-7308 or 601-364-1110, or the Office of the Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at 1-800-852-8341 or 601-359-4220.
Take a stand against abuse of vulnerable persons.  

SOURCE:      WJTV
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Gadsden County Community Leaders Fight Elder Abuse

June 12, 2013
By: Jade Bulecza
HAVANA, Fla.
(WTXL)

It's a problem state leaders say is impacting thousands of seniors in our area.
State leaders say elder abuse is on the rise and it's one of the most under reported crimes.
Breaking the silence is the message at Havana Learning Center. Community leaders say to stop elder abuse it must be reported.
Children beating up the elderly and taking advantage of them are stories Lillian Johnson, the director of the Havana Learning Center, says she hears on a regular basis.
"It's not strangers doing this, it's family and friends that are doing this to our seniors," said Johnson.
She says many elderly people who are abused live in fear but by hosting events like this one recognizing "Word Elder Abuse Awareness Day," Johnson says she's working to let seniors know if they're being abused, there is help.
Abuse, Johnson says comes in many forms.
"It doesn't have to be physical," said Johnson."It can be mental, financial abuse," said Johnson. "How do we stop it? If you see it
going on you have to report it, if you don't report it how are we going to know."

The Florida Department of Children and Families investigated 64,000 allegations of abuse last year. More than 2,100 cases were in Franklin, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties. DCF says it's a slight increase from 2011.
Call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 to report abuse or go to www.FloridaAbuseHotline.com.

SOURCE:        WTXL
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York County Elder Abuse Reports Have Increase, Officials Say (PA. USA)

Types of abuse include physical, emotional, verbal, sexual and financial, as well as neglect.
By ED MAHON 
Daily Record/Sunday News
06/12/2013
York, PA

Elder abuse reports have increased in Pennsylvania and York County, officials said at Wednesday's county commissioners' meeting.
In a proclamation, County Commissioner Doug Hoke said elder abuse reports in Pennsylvania increased by 35 percent from 2007 through 2011.
Stephanie Frey, director of social services with the York County Area Agency on Aging, said York County has seen an increase, as well.
"We're averaging about 55 reports of need each month," Frey said during the meeting. "And we've really seen a lot of financial exploitation cases."
Frey said afterward that people can report cases of suspected abuse to the local agency.
"We will take that report, and we fully investigate all types of abuse that ... are out there," Frey said.
Types of abuse can include physical, emotional, verbal, financial and sexual, as well as neglect, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.
Wednesday's proclamation named Saturday as a day dedicated to elder abuse prevention in York County. Hoke said there are about 86,000 county residents age 60 or older.
A Department of Aging news release from earlier this month said Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd is chairwoman of the newly established Elder Law Task Force, which was formed to study issues relating to guardianship, abuse and neglect, and access to justice for older Pennsylvanians.
The task force will make recommendations for court rules, legislation, education and best practices, according to the release. Amy Kelchner, spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, said the task force expects to deliver recommendations mid-2014.
By the numbers
Here is a look at the number of reports of need for protective services for York County in recent fiscal years:
2008-09: 499 reports
2009-10: 593 reports
2010-11: 630 reports
Statewide, there were 18,129 such reports, and 4,344 of the cases were substantiated as needing protective services.
Source: Older Adults Protective Services Annual Report for fiscal year 2010-11 from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging
How to report supposed abuse
For the York County Area Agency on Aging, call 717-771-9610 or 1-800-632-9073.
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging says people can also contact a 24-hour statewide elder abuse hotline at 1-800-490-8505.
For more information, visit www.aging.state.pas.

SOURCE:      York Daily Record
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Seniors Urged to Report Abuse

May 10, 2013
By JoAnn Merrigan

Quite a few people in the audience were using walkers or relying on canes. Now in their "golden years" they're spending a day learning about crimes that victimize senior citizens.
Shalena Cook Jones is the elder abuse prosecutor at the Chatham County District Attorney's Office. She told seniors that 90 percent of violent crimes against persons 65 or older, are committed by someone the senior knows. She urged seniors to stay in touch with friends and neighbors, to have a circle of friends who will help. And she urged those friends to speak up and report the crime if the senior being hurt is too afraid. "But our system is only as good as the people who actually report these crimes, who see it on a daily basis," said Cook Jones. "And sometimes it's just too easy to turn your back to it so we must empower people."
Vernita Wilson took home that important piece of advice. "I learned to keep watching out for my neighbors and they can keep watching out for me," she told us.
Diedie Bonaparte and her friend Roberta Williams know physical crimes against people their age are increasing. "But what's startling is the acceptance of it," said Bonaparte. "And the idea from a senior that it has only happened once but may not happen again."
Bonaparte said it's not always about your safety, but your money. "I had a case where a family member tried to get me to put my house in their name," she said. "They told me it would be best for me. I doubt that."
Seniors who feel alone are assured they're not. The district attorney's office has an eye on crimes against the elderly. Shalena Cook Jones telling us that physical abuse can leave scars and must be reported by a medical professional for example. However, she says stealing a senior's money or scamming them can often be harder to detect. "Financial abuse, you could never know about until months and years have passed" she says. "I think the statistics say that something like $9 billion dollars a year of elder abuse money is being stolen from them every year. That's a huge industry of crimes we're not touch because we're not educated."
Cook Jones says seniors who are being hurt physically or who suspect someone of stealing their money should contact the police. She says to contact the Elder Abuse Division of the Chatham County District Attorney's Office, call  912-652-7308.

SOURCE:        WSAV
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North Dakota Measure Mandates Reporting Abuse, Neglect of Seniors, Vulnerable Adults

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 
April 06, 2013

North Dakota's House has endorsed legislation that would require the reporting of abuse or neglect of senior citizens and other vulnerable adults.
Representatives voted 86-4 in favor of the bill on Friday. North Dakota's Senate approved the measure earlier.
Backers of the measure say North Dakota and Colorado are the only two states that don't require the reporting of abuse to elders or other vulnerable adults. They say the measure is intended to protect seniors from physical, mental, sexual and financial abuse.
Failure to report the abuse would be an infraction under state law, for which a maximum fine of $500 could be imposed.

SOURCE:      The Republic
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Elder Abuse Reporting Should Be Mandatory, Group Says

Between 4 and 8 per cent of senior citizens are abused
CBC News 
Apr 1, 2013

An association representing retired Quebecers is calling on the provincial government to do more to prevent elder abuse.
According to the Quebec Association of Retired and Semi-Retired People (AQRP), between four and eight per cent of the province’s senior citizens are abused, representing approximately 100,000 Quebecers.
The Quebec government launched its action plan to counter elder abuse back in 2010, which included an awareness campaign and the establishment of a toll-free number to report abuse and additional human resources.
But AQRP spokesman Mathieu Santerre is asking for additional help.
"We ask for mandatory reporting of elder abuse from, for example, physicians, nurses and all the people ... who give services to elderly people," he said.
He said senior citizens are often afraid to report cases of abuse, which can range from neglect to physical violence to financial exploitation, because they’re often related in some way to their abusers.
“We love each other [in family situations], so it’s very difficult to report,” he said.
He said abuse can lead to stress, malnutrition, depression and even suicide.
Santerre urged people to report cases of elder abuse to   1-866-497-1548.

SOURCE:      CBC CANADA
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Preventing and Reporting Elder Abuse

By Sunita Kapahi
January 29, 2013

Georgia's population aged 60 and older has increased significantly in recent years, and the number of elderly individuals in the state is expected to keep growing. Georgia has taken many steps to meet the needs of these individuals, including elder abuse prevention and reporting.

Every day, older adults and adults with disabilities suffer from abuse, neglect and exploitation. While abuse either directly harms or places an older adult at risk, neglect finds a caregiver intentionally or unknowingly withholding basic necessities. Less understood than either abuse or neglect but just as widespread, exploitation or financial abuse occurs when caregivers improperly or illegally use resources for their own benefit. Caregivers, for example, may steal from older adults, misspend their government checks or trick them into rewriting their wills.
All of these abuses can occur in an older adult's own home or in a community living arrangement, and often, abusers are people these individuals trust the most. Though abuse can have devastating and life-threatening consequences, it continues to be one of the most undetected, under-recognized and underreported social problems in the United States.
If you're concerned an older adult might be suffering abuse, knowing signs and symptoms can help. Changes in a person's behavior or emotional state, including expressions of agitation, withdrawal, apathy, fear or anxiety, may suggest a problem. The refusal of a caregiver to allow you to visit the older person alone may also signal abuse. To learn more about forms of elder abuse, neglect and other safety concerns, visit the National Adult Protective Services Association.

In Georgia, the Department of Human Services' Division of Aging Services also assists older individuals, at-risk adults and persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers. In 2011, Adult Protective Services averaged more than 3,000 cases per month.

To report elder abuse, call Adult Protective Services at 404-657-5250 or 1-866-55AGING (1-866-552-4462; press "2") between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also report abuse on the web. If you perceive an immediate and serious risk, do not hesitate to call 911 for help.

SOURCE:      Georgia Gov
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Elderly Protective Services Safety Net for the Abused, Incompetent (USA)

by Elaine Clément
Dennis Broussard, a former St. Martin Parish teacher, is based out of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.
New Iberia – If you were an elderly person, how would you like to be treated?

According to Dennis Broussard, director of Lafayette region Elderly Protective Services (EPS), this should be the primary question people ask themselves when they make a report or visit his offices.

Elderly Protective Services was created by the Louisiana legislature in 2008 as part of the Governor’s Office on Elderly Affairs. It has just been moved to the Office of Aging and Adult Services under the Department of Health and Hospitals. Its purpose is to investigate reports of abuse, advocate for a possible solution and work with law enforcement, medical personnel and various agencies to find a solution.

Broussard is clear that the purpose of his agency is to determine what is in the best interest of the client, the elderly person. What they are actually doing is advocating for the elderly as opposed to protecting, and the term “protective services” often causes confusion.

So what exactly is EPS? It is a social agency that investigates reports of neglect, abuse or exploitation and advocates for the elder person. There are seven offices in the state. The Lafayette regional office based in New Iberia covers 10 parishes, including Acadia, Assumption, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne and Vermilion.

 He explained that the job of the EPS is to investigate reports of abuse and neglect and to advocate for the elderly. At this point, each case is different, but they try and find a way for the elderly person to live independently at home. They also determine the capacity of the person to live alone.

Sometimes it’s a question of putting them in touch with other agencies, such as the Council on Aging, to deliver meals if they are homebound or to give directions to where they could go have a meal.
The EPS is now run out of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

For more information on the EPS or to make a report, visit their web site at goea.louisiana.gov or contact the New Iberia office at (337) 365-9855 or toll free at (800) 866-5044. To make a report on the state-wide level, call (800) 259-4990 toll free in state or (22) 342-9722 if out of the state.

 SOURCE:      TheTecheToday
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Elder Abuse and Neglect

Elder abuse is an under recognized problem with devastating and even life threatening consequences.
Every day, seniors across this country are being abused, neglected, and exploited; often by people they trust the most. Abusers may be spouses, family members, personal acquaintances, professionals in positions of trust; or opportunistic strangers who prey on the vulnerable.  And this abuse tends to take place where the senior lives: in their own homes, in relatives’ homes, and even in facilities responsible for their care.
Over a half a million cases of abuse against senior Americans are reported to authorities each year and officials estimate that millions more go unreported.  No one is immune:  It can happen to any older individual – your neighbor, your loved one - it can even happen to you.
According to Missouri law, elder abuse is the infliction of physical, sexual, or emotional injury or harm including financial exploitation by any person, firm or corporation upon any person sixty years of age or older, or any adult with a disability between the ages of eighteen and fifty-nine, who is unable to protect his or her own interests or adequately perform or obtain services which are necessary to meet his or her essential human needs.  (Section 660.053, 660.250 RSMo)

What Should I Look For?
Abuse of elders can manifest itself in many different ways.  At first, one may be reluctant to take seriously the abuse of a senior by accepting any indicators as signs of dementia or frailty.  While it is true that mental deterioration often accompanies aging, if you suspect abuse, even on the smallest scale, trust your instincts and watch for the signs below.
General signs of abuse
In general, elder abuse may produce:
•    Frequent arguments or tension between the caregiver and the elderly person
•    Changes in personality or behavior in the elder
Or specifically:
Physical abuse
Physical elder abuse is intentional use of force against an elderly person that results in physical pain, injury, or impairment.
•    slap marks
•    unexplained bruises
•    most pressure marks
•    signs of being restrained
•    certain types of burns or blisters, such as cigarette burns
Emotional abuse
Persons who are causing emotional strain on seniors may speak or treat elderly persons in ways that cause significant distress by using intimidation through yelling or threats, humiliation through ridicule, or habitual blaming or scapegoating.  Non-verbal psychological stress could result from ignoring the elderly person, isolating the senior from friends or activities, or terrorizing the elderly person.
If you suspect a senior is being emotionally abused, watch for the following signs:
•    withdrawal from normal activities
•    unexplained changes in alertness
•    signs that mimic dementia like rocking, sucking or mumbling to oneself
•    other unusual behavioral changes
Sexual abuse
In regards to elders, sexual abuse is any form of sexual contact with a senior without the senior’s consent.  The contact is not limited to physical sexual acts, but may include activities such as showing an elderly person pornographic material, forcing the senior to watch overt sexual acts, or making the elder undress for the purpose of viewing.
If the senior is a resident of a skilled nursing facility, consent of the victim is not a defense to a prosecution.  (Section 565.200 RSMo)
Warning signs of sexual abuse may include:
•    bruising around the breasts
•    bruising or bleeding around the genital areas
•    unexplained sexually transmitted diseases
•    torn, stained or bloody undergarments

 In Missouri, contact:
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
Phone: 573-751-4842
Elder Abuse and Neglect Hotline 800-392-0210
TDD 800-669-8819 or through Relay Missouri 800-676-3777
Email: info@health.mo.gov

(Please visit SOURCE for the full article)

Abridged
SOURCE:    CopeOfLebanon
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Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15

Jun. 6, 2012

COSHOCTON -- Elder Abuse is becoming a growing problem in the U.S. with only one out of five incidences of elder abuse being reported. In 2011, Ohio received a total of 14,976 reports of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Some of the areas of abuse to be aware of are physical, sexual and emotional abuse, exploitation and neglect. Warning signs include unexplained worsening of medical condition, unexplained injuries, malnutrition, lack of proper hygiene, extreme withdrawal, paranoia, depression or confusion.

If you know an individual age 59 or older who is being abused or neglected, call the Coshocton County Job and Family Services at (740) 622-1020. JFS is responsible for investigating reported cases of elder abuse and neglect, as well as providing victims and their families with protective services.

SOURCE:      The Coshocton Tribune
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Report All Elder Abuse Suspicions

 Report all elder abuse suspicions
By Editor Saturday
June 2nd, 2012

THE HSE received 2,302 referrals of elder abuse last year, which represented an increase of 9% on 2010, and this greater number of such reports – while illustrating a welcome extra awareness of this serious blight on our society – would seem to indicate that there is a lot more abuse going on than people realise. What makes the situation even sadder is that, in the majority of cases, the abuse was being perpetrated by close relatives, and in 48 per cent of all cases, the alleged abuser and victim were living together.

Psychological abuse was the most common type reported last year, accounting for just over a third of allegations. Almost a quarter involved financial abuse, while neglect (19%) and physical abuse (12%) were the other types reported and there were also incidences of self-neglect and a small, but totally unacceptable number of cases of abuse of people residing in private nursing homes.

Our excellent public health nursing service was to the fore in identifying suspected abuse cases, as they have regular contact with elderly people in their homes – where some 81% of alleged abuse occurs – and can act as their advocates where necessary. However, they can only pass on their suspicions to social services who may ultimately involve the Gardaí, if warranted, and in all cases the wishes of the older person need to be respected; only 15% of alleged cases last year were referred to the Gardai.

A study by the National Centre for the Protection of Older People in 2010, found anecdotal evidence of under-reporting of elder abuse and reasons given to them for people’s reluctance to report it included not recognising the behaviour as abusive, a reluctance to inform on perpetrators, lack of knowledge on how to report abuse, feelings of guilt or shame as well as a lack of confidence in the professionals to detect or respond to elder abuse.

To give them their due, HSE personnel do their best to resolve most suspected cases of elder abuse by working with families to resolve issues, with monitoring, home support, counselling and mediation being used as appropriate, but this can only happen where co-operation is forthcoming.

Families tend to be tight-knit, so detecting abuse in the first place can be difficult, especially when sons or daughters were the alleged perpetrators in 44% of cases reported last year, a partner, husband or wife in 18% of cases and other relatives in 18% of cases. Also, many older people may be too proud to admit that they are being abused by one of their own, so a large amount of cases may go unreported or undetected.

Most of the alleged victims of elder abuse in 2011 were female and there was a higher referral rate among the over-80 years age group, compared to 64 to 79-year-olds. The over-80s tend to be more dependent on others to look after their affairs and often feel that they are not in a position to complain, especially where psychological abuse is being perpetrated against them, so anyone who suspects that such people’s vulnerability is being exploited should report their suspicions in confidence to the appropriate authorities.

With most cases of elder abuse occurring in the community, the older people’s charity Age Action is encouraging the public to make themselves aware of the possible warning signs of abuse. There are a lot more older people often living lonely lives in rural areas who may also be vulnerable to abuse.

Overall, since 2008, the number of referrals of elder abuse has risen by 22% and this has been attributed to an increasing public awareness of the issue and a greater appreciation of how to report abuse. Anyone who is being abused, or is concerned about abuse, should talk to someone they can trust, a health professional such as a GP, public health nurse or social worker, or contact the HSE information line on 1850 24 1850 – open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.

SOURCE:    The Southern Star, ie
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'Silent Crime' - Defrauding Elders Grows in Ethnic Communities (USA)

 'Silent Crime' -- Defrauding Elders Grows in Ethnic Communities
Paul Kleyman
May 18, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO

The sentencing of Edwin Parada in San Francisco this past April for 24 counts of mortgage fraud against Spanish-speaking homeowners spotlighted the growing incidence of “affinity” crimes — those perpetrated by crooks against their own communities.

Parada — who promoted himself as a pastor — got 15 years for his mortgage schemes, which preyed on Latinos in San Francisco, including numerous elders, often with limited English proficiency.

Nationally, fraud against seniors is on the rise, according to the 2011 “MetLife Study of Financial Elder Abuse." In only three years such crimes grew by 12 percent, becoming a $2.9 billion problem.

While in half of the cases the perpetrators were strangers, one-third involved family members or friends. The MetLife study showed that most victims were women in their 80s and living alone.
San Francisco Resources In “Blueprint For Action”
San Francisco has been a major innovator in combating elder abuse since the early 1980s, said Erika P. Falk, director of Geriatric Assessment Services at San Francisco’s Institute on Aging.
For instance, one program has trained more than 500 frontline police officers to intervene in abuse cases in partnership with the nonprofit Casa de las Madres, which helps domestic-abuse victims.
In part officers learn to look for financial wrongdoing when investigating cases of elder physical or mental abuse, and they learn to spot signs of battering or poor care when looking into fraud.
San Francisco is also one of four California cities with a nationally emulated Forensic Center on Financial Elder Abuse. Because so many financial abuse cases fall through the cracks between law enforcement and social services, these centers coordinate efforts among local police, legal services attorneys, social workers, district attorneys, as well as health and mental health professionals able to assess a seniors vulnerability to scams.
Despite San Francisco’s laudable history of creating multidisciplinary units, such as today’s Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST), said Falk, “both the city and state are still failing to deal with financial abuse seriously.”
For example, she cited a 2011 survey by the Legal Aid Association of California showing that only half of victims in reported cases were offered nominal advice about financial elder abuse and a third received none at all. Of the Bay Area’s more than 50,000 lawyers, only 29 law firms list financial elder abuse as a specialty.
Falk teamed up with Sarah Hooper of the University of California’s Hasting Law School as part of the San Francisco Financial Elder Abuse Collaboration to produce a two-page “Blueprint for Action” outlining the need to increase the system’s capacity to respond to financial elder abuse cases.
The guide also includes an extensive list of San Francisco resources to deal with financial elder abuse and contacts for both professionals and members of the public.
Ethnic Elders More Vulnerable to Fraud

A 2011 report by the California Elder Justice Coalition (CEJC) found that African American seniors “may be up to five times more susceptible to being cheated financially” than non-blacks. The same study found, “Black and Latino seniors were more than 70 percent more likely to lose their homes to foreclosure between 2007 and 2009.”

For lead author and CEJC coordinator Lisa Nerenberg, the findings point to one troubling fact. “Elders of color,” she said, “have been especially hard hit by predatory lenders.”

Those in San Francisco concerned about financial abuse should call the consumer fraud program in the S.F. District Attorney’s Office, at 415-551-9595. For other resources, see the sidebar to this article.

 Abridged
SOURCE:           The New America Media
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Spotlight on Reporting of Elder Abuse (AUSTRALIA)

22 May 2012
Nurses and carers are being called on to share their experiences of reporting suspected cases of elder abuse for an Australian first research project, writes Linda Belardi.
An Australian first study is investigating the under-researched field of elder abuse, which researchers say lags 30 years behind research and policy development in child abuse and domestic violence.
Linda Starr, a PhD student from the school of nursing and midwifery at Flinders University, said most of the evidence collected in this area had come from the US.
The study will form the basis of recommendations to improve the reporting of elder abuse for staff and the effectiveness of the system for the elderly.
Registered nurses, enrolled nurses and personal carers working in aged care facilities are being asked to share their experiences of identifying and reporting elder abuse as compelled under the Aged Care Act.
The research aims to identify the facilitators and barriers for nurses to identify abuse and make a report. To date, researchers are yet to explore the factors that contribute to the successful prosecution of elder abuse cases in residential aged care, said Starr.
Starr said memory loss, illness or disability were significant issues which meant that a victim would be unable to testify.
Starr is keen to explore whether inadequate documentation practices within aged care facilities could be hampering the prosecution of a case
“A lack of knowledge of what evidence is and how this should be collected, preserved and documented has led to prosecutors not being able to trial cases leaving perpetrators of abuse unaccountable for their actions,” she said.
Starr will also explore the experience of investigating officers and police to better understand the hidden phenomenon of elder abuse in Australia. This part of her research will help identify the strengths or weaknesses of the reports and the impact on the capacity of police to investigate and prosecute these cases.
“The aim of the research is to identify what were the ‘bridges’ or good aspects of the experience that facilitated [a nurse or carer] recognising abuse and making the report and what were the ‘barriers - the aspects that impeded or made it difficult for someone to identify abuse and make the report,” she said.
In 2007, the Commonwealth government introduced reporting laws for actual or suspected cases of elder abuse.
In the first year of mandatory reporting there were 925 reports made; 725 for alleged unreasonable force and 200 alleged unlawful sexual assault. In the following year, the number of reports rose to 1,411 alleged assaults. However it is unknown how many of these reports were substantiated cases of elder abuse.
Starr said few charges have ever been laid and even fewer convictions made.
For more information or to participate in the study which has received ethics approval; contact Linda Starr at linda.starr@flinders.edu.au or on (08) 8201 3340 or 0427234203.

 SOURCE:     The Nursing Review, Australia   
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Where to Report Elder Abuse (USA)

•    Nursing Home Abuse Hotlines
This is NCEA's directory of state hotlines for reporting abuse in nursing homes, assisted living, or board and care homes.
•    Locate an Ombudsman, State Agencies and Citizen Advocacy Groups
This is a directory of all state and regional ombudsmen, state offices on aging, state licensure and certification agencies, state adult protection agencies, nursing home quality review boards, Medicaid agencies and Medicare Fraud Control Units nationwide.

There are excellent information on Elder Abuse and where to get help. Please go to  SOURCE. 

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Elder Abuse and Crime (STH. AUSTRALIA)

This section comprises some general considerations, followed by some specific information about relevant criminal offences. Note that the information contained here is not intended to be definitive, nor is it intended to substitute for obtaining specific advice for a particular situation.
General considerations about elder abuse and crimes
Some situations of elder abuse may well have a criminal element to them. Crimes take two broad forms:- offences against the person, and offences against property.
If you think that an older person in the facility has been subject to a crime, the best course of action you can take is to get some advice. Go and report your concerns to your supervisor who can check Compulsory Reporting requirements or the resources section for details of where free legal advice or Police are available in your state/territory.
With Compulsory Reporting and service providers responsibilities, section 63-1AA of the aged Care Act (1997) states; “if the approved provider receives an allegation of, or starts to suspect on reasonable grounds; a reportable assault, the approved provider is responsible for reporting the allegation or suspicion as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours to:” the Police and the Department of Health and Ageing Complaints Investigation Scheme (CIS)
For other alleged abuse issues (financial, psychological, social and or neglect)  before you take any action in a situation where you believe a crime has been committed, ensure that you have considered the following points:
•    Check with the older person about their own wishes about the crime.
•    Remember that the only circumstances where action can be taken without the consent of the older person is where they are unable to make decisions on their own behalf i.e. they do not have capacity. Go to the freedom of choice, confidentiality and role of protective services section for more information about these issues.
•    Ensure that you have consulted with your supervisor, before you take any action in responding to a crime.
Offences against the person
There are a number of elements of physical abuse, sexual abuseand psychological abuse that could be criminal.
The most common form of offence against the person is assault. Assault is committed if there is ever any intentional, unwanted physical contact or battery, or threat of this. Battery is the actual application of unlawful force. (1)
It is important to note that assault on a person involves more than hitting. It can involve:-
•    any medical procedure without the older person's permission
•     placing the older person in reasonable fear of harm
With sexual abuse this can involve:-
•    unlawful sexual contact
•    unwarranted, intrusive and or painful procedures in caring for a persons genital areas
Note that the perception of reasonable force or painful procedures is the older person's.
There are a number of ways that assault can be prevented. It is vitally important that you get advice about the options before proceeding. Options include:-
•    Taking out violence apprehension orders or restraining orders
•    Compulsory Reporting the matter to the police and Department via the Complaints Investigation Scheme for investigation or a report with no investigation
•    The supervisor taking steps to stop or  monitor visits to the older person from the alleged abuser (if it is a family member)
•    The older person can take civil action against situations of assault

 SOURCE:    Aged Rights Advocacy Service Inc.

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Senator Proos Pleased With Creation of Abuse Hotline

 Proos Pleased With Creation of Abuse Hotline
March 06, 2012

ST. JOSEPH (WKZO)

State Senator John Proos of St. Joseph is among many in Lansing pleased by the creation of a new hotline to report child and elder abuse.  The toll-free line from the Michigan Department of Human Services went live this week, allowing people to call 24-hours a day, seven-days a week including holidays if they suspect abuse.
Proos calls the number an "excellent example of government embracing a new solution."  The number is 1-855-444-3911.

SOURCE:    WTVBAM
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Care Home Staff Told to be on Alert (CANADA)

Care home staff told to be on alert

 By Betty Ann Adam

The StarPhoenix

 December 9, 2011

Employees in long-term care homes who know or suspect someone is abusing an elderly person need to know it's not OK to look the other way.

"We want to make sure everybody's aware of that so that if you see it, you're responsible to report it because you're now part of it. You know about it," said Linda Hutchinson, a registered psychiatric nurse who trained staff at a Saskatoon care home about elder abuse awareness.

"I think people hear the word abuse and they want to turn their back or walk away. They don't want to get involved. The awareness now is, 'I have to report this. This is not acceptable.' "

The training at Saskatoon's Porteous Lodge was part of a federally funded pilot project being tested across the country.

The Promoting Awareness of Elder Abuse in Long-Term Care Homes project was launched this year by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario and the Canadian Nurses Association to increase understanding among staff of the problem and to enhance their ability to respond to situations of abuse.

Widespread understanding and policies to refer to can help create a safe workplace atmosphere where staff know they will be supported if they bring forward concerns about things they've seen on the front lines, Hutchinson said.

"Staff are afraid of retaliation if they see one of their co-workers hit somebody or even steal or something like that. It puts everybody on awareness that we're all out there watching," she said.

"If it's nothing, that's fine, but at least they've brought it to attention because maybe there needs to be an investigation," she said.

Elders can be victimized in many different ways, including by workers' own unintended neglect, Hutchinson said.

"It's action or lack of action for someone placed in your trust. Sexual, emotional, physical, financial - many are intertwined," she said.

Abuse and neglect can be perpetrated by family members, staff or other residents of long-term care facilities.

Neglect of a person's needs can be as seemingly minor as providing juice to someone who asked for milk, Hutchinson said.

Abuse could be a male resident who sexually touches a woman with dementia or a visitor who steals money from a resident's room.

There are well-documented cases of serious financial abuse, such as a recent Saskatoon court case in which a man pleaded guilty to stealing $65,000 from his uncle with dementia after obtaining power of attorney, Hutchinson said.

"Its very prevalent. Everyday across the country there's something in the paper about it," she said.

"Very often in long-term care it takes a while to figure it out, but when the bills stop getting paid, when the family is no longer going to purchase clothing or provide haircuts or activity money and they're saying, 'No, no, no. There's no money,' it sets up a red flag that something may be going on.

"We involve the public trustee and the guardianship in Regina who would then step in and do some investigation.

Alert front-line workers are most likely to observe such abuse, she said.

Ten facilities across Canada were chosen to test the program, which is expected to be available to any long-term care home in the country that wants it.

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

SOURCE:    The Star Phoenix
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