Elder Abuse: Woman, 73, Neglected to Death By Son (Detroit, USA)

BY CECIL ANGEL

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

JANUARY 24, 2009

A Flint Township man who lived with his mother was charged Friday with murder for allowing her to die from malnutrition, dehydration and bed sores so severe that the skin was gone and bone was exposed, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said.

All the while, Christopher Mukdsi, 50, freely spent her pension checks, the prosecutor said.

On the day 73-year-old Katherine Mukdsi died, she weighed only 63 pounds.

Her son carried her body outside, washed it down with a garden hose and put her in a clean nightgown. Mukdsi then wrapped his mother in a blanket and propped her up in a chair on the front porch of their home before calling 911.

"It's awful, horrific -- the worst I've ever seen," Leyton said of the case.

Mukdsi was arraigned Friday in 67th District Court on one count of felony murder, which carries a penalty of life in prison without parole, and one second-degree felony count of vulnerable adult abuse, which carries a 4-year prison sentence. He was denied a bond, said John Potbury, spokesman for the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office.

"This office has never charged someone with murder based on a vulnerable adult abuse case," Potbury said. "Probably rather unique in the state."

Katherine Mukdsi died on June 3 from "lack of care," according to the Genesee County Medical Examiner's Office, and she was determined to be a homicide victim because her son failed in his duty to her.

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SOURCE:   Detroit Free Press

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I-Team Out to Stop Elder Abuse (WI. USA)

January 24, 2009

By Sara Siekierski

For an elderly person whose caregiver is abusing or neglecting him or her, especially if that caregiver is their own child, it can be very hard to come forth and admit the abuse.

“If I tell on my child, then who's going to take care of me?” Anne Walli of the Sexual Assault Recovery Program used as a hypothetical example. “I'm embarrassed to say that my son or my daughter hurts me. What will everyone think of me as a parent?”

Elderly people are at a higher risk of abuse because they may be weaker, have health problems or have issues getting around, Walli said. They may be afraid to report abuse for fear they'll have nobody to take care of them.

“They often have to rely on other people for a lot of care and a lot of what they need,” she added.

Rock County's Elder Abuse and Adults at Risk Interdisciplinary Team, or I-Team for short, is a team made up of several agencies around the county that work to stop elder abuse and provide resources for the abused. The involved agencies range from the Sexual Assault Recovery Center to the Rock County Sheriff's Department to the Rock County Council on Aging. In all, there are 20 agencies on the I-Team.

Every year, tens of thousands of elderly Americans are abused in their own homes, in relatives' homes, and even in facilities responsible for their care, according to helpguide.org. There are several types of elder abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, neglect or abandonment by caregivers, financial exploitation and health care fraud and abuse.

The I-Team is a required part of a grant that the Rock County Council on Aging submits requests for, said Tom Hermans of Rock County Long Term Planning. As part of the commitment to receive funds, the council agrees to organize and maintain the interdisciplinary team of various agencies that combine to address the issues of elder abuse and neglect. Most counties in Wisconsin have similar teams.

If you are an elder who is being abused, neglected, or exploited, tell at least one person. Tell your doctor, a friend, or a family member whom you trust. You can also call Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. The person who answers the phone will refer you to a local agency that can help.

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SOURCE:   Beloit Daily News WI. USA

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What a great idea.  We often need the experties of various agencies, professions to help prevent elder abuse, help the victims to carry on after the abuses have been stopped.  This is a great idea that should be adopted by others around the globe.

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New Abuse Helpline Launched (UK)

24 January 2009

A HELPLINE has been launched for those concerned about abuse and neglect in care homes.

The system can be used by residents or relatives anonymously and every case will at least be investigated.

Care homes across the Lothians will be encouraged to display posters advertising the free helpline on 0808 801 0310, which will be staffed by the charity Action on Elder Abuse. Gary Fitzgerald, Action on Elder Abuse's chief executive, said: "We hope this initiative provides an influence for the whole sector to seriously tackle issues of abuse and demonstrates the commitments of the majority of care home owners, managers and staff to treat residents and their families with real dignity and respect."

SOURCE:   Edinburgh Evening News

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Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention: Charity Plans for Hard-hitting Campaign (UK)

Age Concern Wirral plans surprise as part of it’s hard-hitting PEACE campaign

Jan 21 2009 by Sue McCann

Birkenhead News

 

AGE Concern Wirral has a surprise in store as part of its current hard-hitting PEACE campaign.

Raising awareness of the campaign - Preventing Elder Abuse and Changing Experiences which has been sponsored by Comic Relief - will achieve celebrity status during the next stage of the project.

Shirley Tyler, of Age Concern Wirral said: “The campaign has been a huge success and now we are planning a fantastic event next week.

“Details are a surprise - watch the Wirral News for details.”

Already four posters have been launched across Wirral to bringing elder abuse issues out into the open so that older people can recognise and report abuse which, in turn, will lead to many victims getting the help and support they desperately need.

For more information about the PEACE project, contact Shirley Tyler on 666 2220.

SOURCE:    Wirral News UK

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Elder Abuse: People With Dementia and Family Carers

By Andrew Chadwick

January 24, 2009

Since the release of the The BBC reports on a study published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal), the findings of the report were echoed around the globe.

For many people, the findings were not a surprise.  For years, elder advocates and family carers have reported that the thankless task of caring for a family member often drained the carer of finances, health/well-being.  These carers are often stressed to the limit.

The dementia sufferer’s  behavior can be extremely challenging or confrontational.  This, plus the resultant stresses can easily turn the family carers to abuse the charge. Most of these carers deserve our understanding and suport in various forms.

Support, in the form of respite time for the carer;  and/or financial support can go a long way to ease the situation for both the carer and their charge.

Many of us are horrified by the report, but are we disturbed enough to act, in an attempt to ease the lot of family carers?

In times of global economic downturn, it is a up-hill battle to try to get more funding to ease the situation outlined.

Perhaps, concerned citizens can organized various local fund-raising projects to raise funds for this cause.  Just a thought.

But, we must continue to highlight the plight of family carers and ensure that it is not left out off the social welfare agenda of the country.

Good Luck to all.

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Elder Abuse: Fighting to Keep the Elderly Safe (New Zealand)

Fighting to keep the elderly safe

By HANNAH NORTON - Manukau Courier

22 January 2009

Despite years of social work Jackie Tidbury was in shock for her first two weeks of dealing with elder abuse and neglect.

The Weymouth woman started work for Age Concern Counties Manukau last September.

She’s appalled elder abuse isn’t specifically recognised by the law despite its prevalence.

"There is no legislation which specifically supports the vulnerable elderly or the social work involvement and obligations.

"We do not have a legal act to stand on."

Elder abuse workers have no equivalent to the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act which sets out what’s required for child safety and protection, she says.

And there’s also no legal definition for elder abuse.

"The term elder abuse and neglect is so stark it’s a shock," says Mrs Tidbury.

"Families don’t even realise what they’re doing is abuse."

Summer is the season of increased abuse with significantly more referrals expected in January, says Age Concern Counties Manukau executive officer Wendy Bremner.

That’s because financial and psychological abuse can rise when carers become more stressed in the lead-up to Christmas.

Mrs Tidbury began working alongside elder abuse and neglect field worker Dianne Leach in September and the pair are committed to raising 
awareness.

There’s still no legal framework for combating elder abuse despite Health Ministry guidelines released in 2007 and a Families Commission research report in January last year.

"Where there are situations in which children are abused the perpetrators often face charges in the court system," Mrs Tidbury says.

"To my knowledge there have not been charges against the perpetrators of elder abuse."

To contact Age Concern phone 279-4331.

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SOURCE:     Stuff Co. NZ

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Nursing Home Abuse: No Plea for Teens Charged in Albert Lea (MN. USA)

Brianna Broitzman, Ashton Larson to post bail, avoid jail time

20 Jan 2009

ALBERT LEA, Minn. (FOX 9) -- Two teenage girls charged with abusing seniors at an Albert Lea nursing home made their first court appearance Wednesday in Freeborn County. Both of the girls were released on $2,000 bail, with restrictions. Brianna Broitzman, and Ashton Larson, both 19, refrained from entering pleas and were ordered to report to the county jail by 5 p.m. Wednesday to be booked, fingerprinted and photographed.  Video: Alleged Abusers in Court Broitzman's attorney, Lawrence Maus, said in court: "Obviously she wants to challenge this complaint." Broitzman posted bail by early afternoon, and Larson posted bail shortly afterward. Broitzman and Larson were working at Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society nursing home when the alleged abuse occurred over several months in early 2008.  They are accused of taunting residents, physically assaulting them and touching them in sexual ways.  Four younger aides were also charged earlier, with one pleading guilty and the others facing trials in Juvenile Court. "I think that they are very serious charges," Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson said after the hearing. "We're dealing with people who are vulnerable adults. People who are clearly ... in need of our care and our concern and our monitoring. They depend on us for everything."  The Minnesota Department of Health released a report in August showing 15 residents with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia disorders were abused at the nursing home. Allegations in MDH report The girls were still in high school, working as part-time nursing assistants at the Good Samaritan home in Albert Lea. According to the report, they allegedly spit in residents' mouths, poked their breasts and touched their genitals. The residents were also subject to teasing in the girls' care.  Court records also show that Broitzman and Larson would joke about spanking a particular resident. One of them apparently stuck their bare bottom in another resident's face. The complaint says the girls figured they wouldn't get caught because the "residents did not have their minds." The charges Broitzman and Larson were both charged with assault of a caregiver to a vulnerable adult and criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult. Between them, they face a total of 21 counts of elder abuse. Their next hearing is scheduled for March 23. They face more than 9 years in prison.  The county attorney says it will be very difficult to prosecute. Two of the victims have since died. There are four other juveniles involved in the investigation. They are charged with failing to report the incident.  Watchdog calls for video cameras The founder of a nationally known nursing home watchdog group returned to Albert Leato host another town hall meeting to discuss the alleged abuse. Wes Bledsoe told FOX 9 he believes one way to combat abuse is to require video cameras. "We must protect those who can no longer protect themselves. One of the surest ways to do that is to put video cameras in every long term care facility in this nation,” says Bledsoe. “Video monitoring must be mandatory in the common areas, in lobbies, in the hallways, that way we can see who's going from what room and when." Bledsoe says caregivers target elderly victims who often can not speak for themselves. He also supports families requesting video cameras right in their loved ones' rooms.

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SOURCE:    My F0x Twin Cities

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Elder Abuse: Research Finds Family Carers Admitting to Abuse (UK)

People caring for relatives with dementia admit abusing them, research finds

Half of people caring for relatives or spouses with dementia have reported abusing them, researchers warned.

 by Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor 

22 Jan 2009

Abuse mostly consisted of occasionally shouting or swearing at elderly relatives with the condition, a third admitted significant abuse.

Only 1.4 per cent reported violent abuse, although this may be an under-estimate as carers are less likely to admit to serious abuse, the authors said.

The researchers from University College London said the findings are not surprising because carers receive little support.

 

Three psychiatrists questioned 220 carers who had family members living at home with them who were being treated by psychiatric services for dementia.

 

Dr Claudia Cooper, UCL Department of Mental Health Sciences and lead author of the study, said: “Many people think about elder abuse in terms of “lashing out” and other similar acts, but abuse as defined by government guidelines* can be as simple as shouting or swearing at the person being cared for.”

Dementia affects 700,000 people in the UK, most of whom have Alzheimer's. It is predicted that this figure will rise to more than a million by 2025.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, showed 115 (52.3 per cent) of the carers reported some abusive behaviour, such as very occasionally screaming or yelling, and 74 (33.6 per cent) reported significant levels of abuse, such as more frequent insulting or swearing.

Co-author Professor Gill Livingston said: “The vast majority of family carers do a fantastic job under very difficult circumstances and although levels of minor abuse seem high according to the scale used, there may need to be a redefinition.

“Healthcare professionals can be reluctant to ask about abuse by family carers, but this attitude can be very unhelpful to carers who are worried about their own actions and want to talk about them and get help. Considering elder abuse as a spectrum of behaviours rather than an “all or nothing” phenomenon could help professionals to ask about it and therefore offer assistance.”

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SOURCE:  The Telegraph (UK)

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Concerns Over Possible Other Cases of Elder Abuse (MN. USA)

Town hall meeting brings out concerns over possible other cases of elder abuse

By Sarah Stultz | Albert Lea Tribune

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Oklahoman founder of a national watchdog group for nursing homes and three Minnesotan advocates for the elderly told Albert Lea area residents Wednesday night that if they come together and make their voices heard, they can have the ability to affect major change for long-term care in this country.

During what was the second town hall meeting at the Albert Lea Inn regarding allegations of abuse from January to May last year at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea, at least 50 area residents came out to seek expertise from Jean Patzner Mueller, with the Minnesota Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care; Jim Carey, the lawyer who is involved with the civil side of the alleged abuse at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea; Mark Wandersee, executive director of nonprofit ElderCare Rights Alliance; and Wes Bledsoe, of A Perfect Cause, a citizens’ advocacy organization in Oklahoma committed to long-term care reform.

The town hall meeting was just a few hours following the arraignment of two Albert Lea High School graduates on charges of abuse of residents at the nursing home.

The two young women charged, Brianna Broitzman and Ashton Larson, both 19, did not enter pleas during the arraignment, but the judge did set bail and conditions of release.

They had until 5 p.m. to post bail. Both did so.

They will next appear before the court March 23.

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SOURCE:   Albert Lea Tribune

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Elder Abuse Network Aims for Prevention and Education (Ontario, Canada)

By JOYCE CASSIN

23 January, 2009

According to the World Health Organization, 5% of seniors experience some sort of abuse, says Raeann Rideout, regional elder abuse consultant with the Ontario Elder Abuse Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

She told Northumberland County council recently that as much as 86% of elder abuse is never reported, mainly due to the fact that more than 80% of it is committed by family members or others in a position of trust.

In Ontario between 58,000 and 150,000 older adults are facing elder abuse, she said, and between 900 and 2,300 in Northumberland County.

The Northumberland Elder Abuse Response Network (NEARN) formed in March, 2006 to facilitate the planning and co-ordination of services related to elder abuse prevention in Northumberland, Sherry Gibson of Community Care Northumberland told council.

NEARN is committed to working toward creating a community for older adults that is safe and where seniors are treated with respect and dignity -- the kind of community that people want to grow up in -- and to grow old in, she said.

"NEARN membership is from a wide variety of organizations across the county, including health, social services, justice, seniors, housing, faith, education sectors, First Nations and individuals concerned about the issue of elder abuse," Ms. Gibson said.

One of their goals is to educate the public, with a focus on youth, she said.

She said kids learn about bullying at school and bullying grandma is the same thing.

Over the past two years they have created several programs to educate the public, in public forums, workshops, schools and even Girl Guides thanks to a grant from Ontario's Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Ms. Rideout noted elder abuse is not just a local problem but a global one -- one that sees police forces appointing dedicated officers to elder abuse.

"It's becoming such a problem that June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day," Ms. Rideout said.

For more information on NEARN, visit www.northumberlandcounty.cath 

Then click on Community and Social Services and then Elder Abuse -NEARN.

SOURCE:    Northumberland Today

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