Jun 28, 2012
Reporter: David Tate
The Federal government is teaming up with law enforcement and nonprofits to combat the growing problem of elderly fraud in the Roanoke Valley.
Details of the task force were announced Wednesday at a press conference in Roanoke.
While people preying on the elderly is nothing new, here in the Roanoke Valley, in a number of key criminal statistics crime against the elderly is up more than 30 % this year.
That has forced the US Attorney's office to team up with all levels of local law enforcement, and groups like the Better Business Bureau and the Local Office on Aging, to help educate area seniors about what to look for.
More than 800 fliers are set to go out on the next Meals on Wheels run with other creative ways of educating seniors coming in the near future.
"If they know, before they wire money or before they provide that personal information, to pick up the phone and call us we can keep them from losing their thousands of dollars. So all this outreach is a huge help," said Julie Wheeler, with BBB of Western Virginia.
This task force came about some three months ago but only made it to the public eye Wednesday as all these groups have realized this criminal spike happening here in the Roanoke Valley.
Seniors are encouraged to get in touch with the Better Business Bureau or your local police if you have concerns or questions. The Better Business Bureau number is 1-800-533-5501.
SOURCE: WSET
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June 29, 2012
Elder Abuse: YouTube Bullies Shock the World (CANADA)
YouTube bullies shock the world
Jun 28, 2012
By Marla Shook
EMC Editorial - The world was shocked last week when a video depicting the bullying of a 69 year-old bus monitor went viral on YouTube. (the Video)
According to mass media reports, the widow of 17 years and grandmother of eight had worked as a bus driver in Greece, New York and for the past three years has been a bus monitor. Karen Klein, throughout the 10 minute video, was "verbally berated" by four children.
Since then public support has been overflowing, after a campaign was started to raise funds so she could go on her dream vacation. Reports say now, more than $600,000 has been raised.
While it might be a bit of a diversion in topic, when I heard about this I recalled information given out during a recent provincial Crime Stoppers convention in Peterborough, on elder abuse.
The 30-page pamphlet describes a crime it calls, "hidden", can come in many forms including abuse in the physical sense, sexual, financial, mental and neglect. According to the material, compiled by the Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), "elder abuse is violent or abusive harm done to an older person. Elder abuse is often a crime." Frequently it's caused by a family member, friend, someone the senior might rely on for basic needs, or staff in group residential setting.
"Victims of elder abuse often know and trust their abuser," it reads.
"Some victims of elder abuse depend on the people who hurt them, sometimes for food, shelter, personal care, companionship or transportation."
Sometimes abuse presents itself through several symptoms including depression, unexplained injuries, dehydration, poor hygiene or even over-sedation. "Seldom reported" because victims are usually afraid of what their abuser will do to them if they report the crime, they are under control of the abuser and depend on them for various things, they are afraid they will be put into a care home, or institution and of course there are many other reasons.
Victims need safety, shelter and access to financial resources as well as emotional support and information about the law. There are many community resources available for victims, including the police, women's shelters and transition homes, emergency beds in long term care homes, Community Care Access Centres and more. As well, there are many agencies, which can aid in finding help and information, including the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, (416)-916-6728 and www.onpea.org.
SOURCE: EMC ALMONTE/CARLETON PLACE
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Jun 28, 2012
By Marla Shook
EMC Editorial - The world was shocked last week when a video depicting the bullying of a 69 year-old bus monitor went viral on YouTube. (the Video)
According to mass media reports, the widow of 17 years and grandmother of eight had worked as a bus driver in Greece, New York and for the past three years has been a bus monitor. Karen Klein, throughout the 10 minute video, was "verbally berated" by four children.
Since then public support has been overflowing, after a campaign was started to raise funds so she could go on her dream vacation. Reports say now, more than $600,000 has been raised.
While it might be a bit of a diversion in topic, when I heard about this I recalled information given out during a recent provincial Crime Stoppers convention in Peterborough, on elder abuse.
The 30-page pamphlet describes a crime it calls, "hidden", can come in many forms including abuse in the physical sense, sexual, financial, mental and neglect. According to the material, compiled by the Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), "elder abuse is violent or abusive harm done to an older person. Elder abuse is often a crime." Frequently it's caused by a family member, friend, someone the senior might rely on for basic needs, or staff in group residential setting.
"Victims of elder abuse often know and trust their abuser," it reads.
"Some victims of elder abuse depend on the people who hurt them, sometimes for food, shelter, personal care, companionship or transportation."
Sometimes abuse presents itself through several symptoms including depression, unexplained injuries, dehydration, poor hygiene or even over-sedation. "Seldom reported" because victims are usually afraid of what their abuser will do to them if they report the crime, they are under control of the abuser and depend on them for various things, they are afraid they will be put into a care home, or institution and of course there are many other reasons.
Victims need safety, shelter and access to financial resources as well as emotional support and information about the law. There are many community resources available for victims, including the police, women's shelters and transition homes, emergency beds in long term care homes, Community Care Access Centres and more. As well, there are many agencies, which can aid in finding help and information, including the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, (416)-916-6728 and www.onpea.org.
SOURCE: EMC ALMONTE/CARLETON PLACE
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Elder Abuse: Woman Robbed of All But 37 Cents (USA)
Elder abuse: woman robbed of all but 37 cents
Christopher Cousins, Bangor Daily News
Maine
June 28, 2012
PEMAQUID — He left her with 37 cents.
Gwendolyn Swank worked her entire life and when her savings account reached a certain amount, she invested in IRAs, mutual funds and the stock market. By the time she reached her 70s, she had more than $300,000 in assets plus a monthly Social Security check to cover living expenses.
She thought she was set for life. Then in 2004, Rodney Chapman came into her life.
Chapman was a longtime neighbor who for the next six years became Swank’s best friend and worst enemy at the same time. By the time Chapman was arrested at her modest mobile home in Pemaquid in 2011 and charged with theft, Swank’s retirement nest egg was gone — all except for 37 cents.
“I had a pretty good portfolio that I thought would take care of me in my old age. It’s gone,” said Swank, who is now 85 years old. “I never, ever thought he’d take me for the ride he did.”
On June 12, Swank was awarded a $1.3 million civil judgment against Chapman in Lincoln County Superior Court. Chapman is serving a five-year sentence for his crimes against Swank, and according to Denis Culley, an attorney for Maine Legal Services for the Elderly who represented Swank in the civil lawsuit, he has little or no ability to pay.
Swank, who spent most of her life working as a financial bookkeeper, is in financial ruins. She is behind on payments to credit card companies for expenses accrued on behalf of Chapman, and owes her landlord and Central Maine Power Co. thousands of dollars. She owes $60,000 in state and federal taxes for money she withdrew from stocks and IRAs and gave to Chapman. At an age when most of her peers are relaxing in retirement, Swank worked for the first part of this year as a bookkeeper for a local business in hopes of paying down some of her debts.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Sun Journal
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June 27, 2012
Elder Abuse: 2 More Former KVHD Employees Take Plea Deals (USA)
2 More Former KVHD Employees Take Plea Deals In Elder Abuse Case
Former Medical Director, Hospital Administrator Take Plea Deals
By Kimberly Foley- 23ABC Mountain Reporter
June 25, 2012
Over three years ago, 23 ABC told the story of four Kern Valley Healthcare District employees who were charged with allegedly administering psychiatric drugs to patients by force resulting in several deaths.
In the past few weeks, two of those accused have made plea deals.
The investigation began in January 2007 when the state department of public health said 22 patients at KVHD were given psychiatric medications to keep them under control. Three patients allegedly died as a result.
Former medical director, Dr. Hoshang Pormir, faced charges of elder abuse and accused of administering those medications to Alzheimer's and dementia patients.
Pormir reached a plea deal on June 1. He pleaded no contest to a conspiracy charge.
"I don't feel any relief because I haven't heard the sentencing yet," said Connie Cryts, a former patient of Pormir's.
Hospital administrator Pamela Ott was charged with eight felony counts of elder abuse for allegedly knowing about the situation and allowing staff to proceed.
Ott took the same plea deal as Pormir. She pleaded no contest to a conspiracy charge. In exchange, all elder abuse charges were dropped against the two.
Cryts talked to 23 ABC about the several complaints she had filed against Pormir over the years.
"He should get what's coming to him," said Cryts. "I think he should spend life in prison because of people that are without their relatives that he murdered."
A third defendant, Debbi Hayes, a former pharmacist at the hospital, took a plea deal in September 2009.
She pleaded no contest to a conspiracy charge and served three days in jail.
The fourth person charged in this case is former director of nursing Gwen Hughes. She faces eight charges of elder abuse and two charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Hughes' trial begins in October.
Pormir will be sentenced in July. Ott will be sentenced in August.
SOURCE: TurnTo23
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Former Medical Director, Hospital Administrator Take Plea Deals
By Kimberly Foley- 23ABC Mountain Reporter
June 25, 2012
Over three years ago, 23 ABC told the story of four Kern Valley Healthcare District employees who were charged with allegedly administering psychiatric drugs to patients by force resulting in several deaths.
In the past few weeks, two of those accused have made plea deals.
The investigation began in January 2007 when the state department of public health said 22 patients at KVHD were given psychiatric medications to keep them under control. Three patients allegedly died as a result.
Former medical director, Dr. Hoshang Pormir, faced charges of elder abuse and accused of administering those medications to Alzheimer's and dementia patients.
Pormir reached a plea deal on June 1. He pleaded no contest to a conspiracy charge.
"I don't feel any relief because I haven't heard the sentencing yet," said Connie Cryts, a former patient of Pormir's.
Hospital administrator Pamela Ott was charged with eight felony counts of elder abuse for allegedly knowing about the situation and allowing staff to proceed.
Ott took the same plea deal as Pormir. She pleaded no contest to a conspiracy charge. In exchange, all elder abuse charges were dropped against the two.
Cryts talked to 23 ABC about the several complaints she had filed against Pormir over the years.
"He should get what's coming to him," said Cryts. "I think he should spend life in prison because of people that are without their relatives that he murdered."
A third defendant, Debbi Hayes, a former pharmacist at the hospital, took a plea deal in September 2009.
She pleaded no contest to a conspiracy charge and served three days in jail.
The fourth person charged in this case is former director of nursing Gwen Hughes. She faces eight charges of elder abuse and two charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Hughes' trial begins in October.
Pormir will be sentenced in July. Ott will be sentenced in August.
SOURCE: TurnTo23
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The Scams that Target the Elderly (UK)
By lovemoney.com
Jun 26, 2012
The Insolvency Service warn the older generation to be careful after finding 78 rogue companies that prey on older people with scams worth £28 million.
The Insolvency Service has uncovered 78 companies that were guilty of scamming older people out of their hard-earned money.
The service, which investigates and shuts down dodgy companies, found that one in ten of the firms they looked into between April 2009 and March 2012 had conned over 2,000 elderly people out of approximately £28 million.
The Insolvency Service is now working with Age UK, the Alzheimer's Society and Action on Elder Abuse to highlight how vulnerable sections of society are being exploited.So what sort of scams should the elderly and their carers be aware of?
More scams to watch out for
• Telephone bank card scam on the rise
• How to get your money back after a scam
• This fairytale is nothing but a scam
Landbanking companies
Of the 78 companies investigated by the Insolvency Service, 49 were involved in so-called landbanking scams These involved 'hard sell' techniques where a salesman offers plots of land with the promise that the investor will be able to develop there at some point in the near future and make a substantial return.
This is not illegal but the land is usually sold to the investor without the necessary planning permission and in some instances is in fact green belt land which is protected from development by law and so is in reality worthless.
Robert Burns, Head of Investigation and Enforcement for the Insolvency Service, confirmed that not a single landbanking company that the Insolvency Service investigated produced a profit for an investor.
Case study: Century Property Group Ltd
Century Property Group Ltd, formerly Century Land Group Limited, was forced into liquidation by the High Court in April 2012 following an investigation by the Insolvency Service. It was found that the company exaggerated the investment potential of land, claiming that the plots they were selling had considerable development potential when there was no evidence to support this.
The investigation found that 228 plots of land had been mis-sold to the public, making the company £10 million. The company managed to trick one family into investing £600,000.
For more information on Landbanking please see here.
Mobility product retail scams
Mobility retail scams typically target the elderly and involve home visits or phone calls where aggressive tactics are employed to make a sale.
Case study: Reo Marketing Ltd
Reo Marketing Ltd sold orthopedic products to elderly people. It used telesales staff to cold call people and convince them to let a salesperson make a home visit under the guise that they would be participating in a survey.
In reality the company used the opportunity to send agents in who used high pressure tactics and lies to make a sale. For example, sales representatives would make false claims about the medical benefits of a product and sometimes pretended to represent social services.
The average age of this company's customers was 79 years. Home visits were reported to have lasted hours and some customers told how they had been followed around the house. The only way to get rid of the salesperson, in most cases, was to agree to the purchase.
The company had a turnover of £1.3 million in less than 10 months attained by high pressure sales, a confusing pricing structure and non-existent discounts. The company marked-up the price of the products, in one instance by 1,326%. They also were guilty of breaching data protection and VAT laws.
The Insolvency Service wound up this business in the public interest in March 2012.
Abridged (Worthwhile to go to SOURCE for the whole article)
SOURCE: MONEY.AOL UK
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Jun 26, 2012
The Insolvency Service warn the older generation to be careful after finding 78 rogue companies that prey on older people with scams worth £28 million.
The Insolvency Service has uncovered 78 companies that were guilty of scamming older people out of their hard-earned money.
The service, which investigates and shuts down dodgy companies, found that one in ten of the firms they looked into between April 2009 and March 2012 had conned over 2,000 elderly people out of approximately £28 million.
The Insolvency Service is now working with Age UK, the Alzheimer's Society and Action on Elder Abuse to highlight how vulnerable sections of society are being exploited.So what sort of scams should the elderly and their carers be aware of?
More scams to watch out for
• Telephone bank card scam on the rise
• How to get your money back after a scam
• This fairytale is nothing but a scam
Landbanking companies
Of the 78 companies investigated by the Insolvency Service, 49 were involved in so-called landbanking scams These involved 'hard sell' techniques where a salesman offers plots of land with the promise that the investor will be able to develop there at some point in the near future and make a substantial return.
This is not illegal but the land is usually sold to the investor without the necessary planning permission and in some instances is in fact green belt land which is protected from development by law and so is in reality worthless.
Robert Burns, Head of Investigation and Enforcement for the Insolvency Service, confirmed that not a single landbanking company that the Insolvency Service investigated produced a profit for an investor.
Case study: Century Property Group Ltd
Century Property Group Ltd, formerly Century Land Group Limited, was forced into liquidation by the High Court in April 2012 following an investigation by the Insolvency Service. It was found that the company exaggerated the investment potential of land, claiming that the plots they were selling had considerable development potential when there was no evidence to support this.
The investigation found that 228 plots of land had been mis-sold to the public, making the company £10 million. The company managed to trick one family into investing £600,000.
For more information on Landbanking please see here.
Mobility product retail scams
Mobility retail scams typically target the elderly and involve home visits or phone calls where aggressive tactics are employed to make a sale.
Case study: Reo Marketing Ltd
Reo Marketing Ltd sold orthopedic products to elderly people. It used telesales staff to cold call people and convince them to let a salesperson make a home visit under the guise that they would be participating in a survey.
In reality the company used the opportunity to send agents in who used high pressure tactics and lies to make a sale. For example, sales representatives would make false claims about the medical benefits of a product and sometimes pretended to represent social services.
The average age of this company's customers was 79 years. Home visits were reported to have lasted hours and some customers told how they had been followed around the house. The only way to get rid of the salesperson, in most cases, was to agree to the purchase.
The company had a turnover of £1.3 million in less than 10 months attained by high pressure sales, a confusing pricing structure and non-existent discounts. The company marked-up the price of the products, in one instance by 1,326%. They also were guilty of breaching data protection and VAT laws.
The Insolvency Service wound up this business in the public interest in March 2012.
Abridged (Worthwhile to go to SOURCE for the whole article)
SOURCE: MONEY.AOL UK
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Elder Abuse on the Rise
ELDER ABUSE ON THE RISE
By LISA ERMAK
The Holland Sentinel
Jun 26, 2012
Holland —
Elder abuse is an unrecognized, unreported social problem and one Lynne McCollum, elder abuse prevention specialist with the state of Michigan, predicts will only get worse as the population of people 60 years old and over steadily increases.
Elder abuse in Michigan has increased 30 percent over the past five years, according to numbers from Adult Protective Services.
The mistreatment results in loss or harm to an elderly person, including neglect, sexual abuse, domestic violence, financial abuse and psychological abuse.
Every year, more than 2 million elderly Americans are victims of abuse and exploitation, while about 73,000 are victims in Michigan, according to the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging.
McCollum said elder abuse remains under the radar, since victims are often unable to come forward and self report or are afraid to.
“Isolation is a primary tactic utilized by abusers, preventing the vulnerable adult from contact with individuals who could report abuse,” she said. “Further, given that a majority of vulnerable adults are victimized by someone close to them, many feel shame in reporting someone they know and love is harming them.”
Dolores Trese works as managing attorney of the Holland office of Legal Aid of Western Michigan and is a member of the Tri-County Senior Protection Team, a task force that tries to address the issues of elder abuse in Ottawa, Muskegon, and Oceana counties.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Holland-Sentinel
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By LISA ERMAK
The Holland Sentinel
Jun 26, 2012
Holland —
Elder abuse is an unrecognized, unreported social problem and one Lynne McCollum, elder abuse prevention specialist with the state of Michigan, predicts will only get worse as the population of people 60 years old and over steadily increases.
Elder abuse in Michigan has increased 30 percent over the past five years, according to numbers from Adult Protective Services.
The mistreatment results in loss or harm to an elderly person, including neglect, sexual abuse, domestic violence, financial abuse and psychological abuse.
Every year, more than 2 million elderly Americans are victims of abuse and exploitation, while about 73,000 are victims in Michigan, according to the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging.
McCollum said elder abuse remains under the radar, since victims are often unable to come forward and self report or are afraid to.
“Isolation is a primary tactic utilized by abusers, preventing the vulnerable adult from contact with individuals who could report abuse,” she said. “Further, given that a majority of vulnerable adults are victimized by someone close to them, many feel shame in reporting someone they know and love is harming them.”
Dolores Trese works as managing attorney of the Holland office of Legal Aid of Western Michigan and is a member of the Tri-County Senior Protection Team, a task force that tries to address the issues of elder abuse in Ottawa, Muskegon, and Oceana counties.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Holland-Sentinel
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Carer Carried Out Sex Attacks on 3 Elderly Patients (UK)
STV
25 June 2012
A carer raped a 65-year-old dementia patient at the nursing home where he worked.
Stephen Murray also confessed to sexually abusing two other Alzheimer's sufferers, aged 84 and 74, at the South Lanarkshire facility.
The 44-year-old was caught by a colleague with his trousers at his ankles and a resident naked from the waist down at the Ashgill home.
On Monday the High Court in Glasgow heard that Murray stabbed himself with a pair of scissors while waiting for police to arrest him when fellow workers caught him abusing the pensioner.
Advocate depute Alison Di Rollo said: "She looked in at two or three of the residents' rooms to see if he was there. When she got to the 65-year-old woman's room the light was off, but the en-suite bathroom light was on and the door was ajar.
"She saw the accused standing at the bottom of the bed. His trousers and pants were at his ankles. The woman was lying on the bed naked from the waist down."
The court heard that when Murray was confronted by his shocked colleague he appeared agitated and embarrassed and said: "My trousers have fell down, my zip's burst."
The care home worker then phoned her manager and the police were contacted.
When he was interviewed at Hamilton Police Station, Murray admitted raping the woman added: "It was stupid. It was stupid, disgusting, because I know it's wrong. I just lost the plot. It was wrong, it was stupid, I hurt her."
Murray, from Larkhall, also admitted sexually abusing two other residents over a 16-month period between December 2010 and April 2012.
Judge Lord Turnbull placed the carer on the sex offenders register and deferred sentence on him until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh.
After the court hearing, Detective Inspector David Tassie said: "Stephen Murray has today pled guilty to a sickening catalogue of crimes which affected one of the most vulnerable sections of our community - the elderly and infirm.
"As soon as the first incident was brought to the attention of police an investigation was launched and a major incident room and specialist inquiry team established. This team of detectives led by myself included specially trained sexual offences liaison officers. The investigation soon established that the initial incident was not an isolated case within the home.
"We are grateful for the co-operation of the families in what was a very harrowing time for them and hope that this admission of guilt will assist them in coming to terms with the effects of these despicable crimes. I would like to reassure the public that we are satisfied that we have captured and acted on all the available evidence and would like to also reassure that Strathclyde Police remain committed to keeping the public safe, no matter where they are in our community."
Procurator fiscal for the West of Scotland, John Dunn, added: "Stephen Murray has admitted to a course of conduct involving the rape of an elderly victim whom he had previously sexually assaulted and attempted to rape. He also admitted sexually assaulting two other elderly women.
"All three of his victims had dementia and were residents at a care home where Murray worked. They were unable to speak or communicate verbally. It is difficult to imagine a more despicable or serious breach of trust."
SOURCE: STV
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25 June 2012
A carer raped a 65-year-old dementia patient at the nursing home where he worked.
Stephen Murray also confessed to sexually abusing two other Alzheimer's sufferers, aged 84 and 74, at the South Lanarkshire facility.
The 44-year-old was caught by a colleague with his trousers at his ankles and a resident naked from the waist down at the Ashgill home.
On Monday the High Court in Glasgow heard that Murray stabbed himself with a pair of scissors while waiting for police to arrest him when fellow workers caught him abusing the pensioner.
Advocate depute Alison Di Rollo said: "She looked in at two or three of the residents' rooms to see if he was there. When she got to the 65-year-old woman's room the light was off, but the en-suite bathroom light was on and the door was ajar.
"She saw the accused standing at the bottom of the bed. His trousers and pants were at his ankles. The woman was lying on the bed naked from the waist down."
The court heard that when Murray was confronted by his shocked colleague he appeared agitated and embarrassed and said: "My trousers have fell down, my zip's burst."
The care home worker then phoned her manager and the police were contacted.
When he was interviewed at Hamilton Police Station, Murray admitted raping the woman added: "It was stupid. It was stupid, disgusting, because I know it's wrong. I just lost the plot. It was wrong, it was stupid, I hurt her."
Murray, from Larkhall, also admitted sexually abusing two other residents over a 16-month period between December 2010 and April 2012.
Judge Lord Turnbull placed the carer on the sex offenders register and deferred sentence on him until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh.
After the court hearing, Detective Inspector David Tassie said: "Stephen Murray has today pled guilty to a sickening catalogue of crimes which affected one of the most vulnerable sections of our community - the elderly and infirm.
"As soon as the first incident was brought to the attention of police an investigation was launched and a major incident room and specialist inquiry team established. This team of detectives led by myself included specially trained sexual offences liaison officers. The investigation soon established that the initial incident was not an isolated case within the home.
"We are grateful for the co-operation of the families in what was a very harrowing time for them and hope that this admission of guilt will assist them in coming to terms with the effects of these despicable crimes. I would like to reassure the public that we are satisfied that we have captured and acted on all the available evidence and would like to also reassure that Strathclyde Police remain committed to keeping the public safe, no matter where they are in our community."
Procurator fiscal for the West of Scotland, John Dunn, added: "Stephen Murray has admitted to a course of conduct involving the rape of an elderly victim whom he had previously sexually assaulted and attempted to rape. He also admitted sexually assaulting two other elderly women.
"All three of his victims had dementia and were residents at a care home where Murray worked. They were unable to speak or communicate verbally. It is difficult to imagine a more despicable or serious breach of trust."
SOURCE: STV
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June 25, 2012
Facility Director in Jail for Elder Abuse (CA. USA)
Facility director Nancy Totanes in jail for elder abuse
By Linda Kincaid
Senior Issues Examiner
June 23, 2012
Nancy Totanes, director of two Escondido, California residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE), was arrested on May 16, 2012, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. A victim’s family reports that Totanes was originally charged with seven felonies.
• PC 484-487: Theft/fraudulently appropriating property (2 counts)
• PC 236-368: Elder false imprisonment with violence (2 counts)
• PC 368(E): Financial elder abuse
• PC 484G(A): Credit card fraud
• PC 476(A): Make fictitious check
Consumer Advocates for RCFE Reform (CARR) reviewed documents filed with the Court. In a plea agreement, Totanes pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and one count of making a fictitious check.
Totanes’ RCFE license was revoked in 1990, according to CARR. Community Care Licensing issued a lifetime ban against Totanes owning or operating a RCFE.
The RCFEs operated by Totanes were not licensed. On January 14, 2011, CCL issued a Notice of Operation in Violation of the Law. Totanes responded by physically assaulting the investigator, according to a victim’s family.
That Notice began a nightmare chain of events for the family of resident Francesca Mangiocina. Totanes moved “Franny” to a facility in another city. The move was without the knowledge or consent of Franny’s family. For days, Franny’s children were unable to locate their mother.
Totanes ultimately returned Franny to the Escondido facility, where Franny died a few hours later. Franny’s books, music collection, and clothing are gone. All Totanes returned to the family was a single T-shirt and a small mirror.
Totanes eventually gave Franny’s children a check for Franny’s missing possessions. That check was returned unpaid four times.
Franny’s children told their story on Justice Quest, beginning with a 5/26/2012 posting by “Simplicity.”
I still feel the sting and loss of my mother and the circumstances surrounding her death.
A statement to Special Agent Kris Lyle of the Department of Justice included:
I can't emphasize enough how distraught my sister and I have been regarding our mother's death. We were not only uncertain as to where she was, but if she was being properly cared for, fed, and given medication. And to make matters worse we cannot trust Nancy Totanes to provide us with truthful answers.
Totanes currently enjoys the hospitality of the Las Colinas Detention Facility. She will be sentenced at 1:30PM on June 27. Victims will testify at the hearing. Vista Courthouse is located at 325 South Melrose Drive in Vista, CA 92081.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Examiner.com
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By Linda Kincaid
Senior Issues Examiner
June 23, 2012
Nancy Totanes, director of two Escondido, California residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE), was arrested on May 16, 2012, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. A victim’s family reports that Totanes was originally charged with seven felonies.
• PC 484-487: Theft/fraudulently appropriating property (2 counts)
• PC 236-368: Elder false imprisonment with violence (2 counts)
• PC 368(E): Financial elder abuse
• PC 484G(A): Credit card fraud
• PC 476(A): Make fictitious check
Consumer Advocates for RCFE Reform (CARR) reviewed documents filed with the Court. In a plea agreement, Totanes pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and one count of making a fictitious check.
Totanes’ RCFE license was revoked in 1990, according to CARR. Community Care Licensing issued a lifetime ban against Totanes owning or operating a RCFE.
The RCFEs operated by Totanes were not licensed. On January 14, 2011, CCL issued a Notice of Operation in Violation of the Law. Totanes responded by physically assaulting the investigator, according to a victim’s family.
That Notice began a nightmare chain of events for the family of resident Francesca Mangiocina. Totanes moved “Franny” to a facility in another city. The move was without the knowledge or consent of Franny’s family. For days, Franny’s children were unable to locate their mother.
Totanes ultimately returned Franny to the Escondido facility, where Franny died a few hours later. Franny’s books, music collection, and clothing are gone. All Totanes returned to the family was a single T-shirt and a small mirror.
Totanes eventually gave Franny’s children a check for Franny’s missing possessions. That check was returned unpaid four times.
Franny’s children told their story on Justice Quest, beginning with a 5/26/2012 posting by “Simplicity.”
I still feel the sting and loss of my mother and the circumstances surrounding her death.
A statement to Special Agent Kris Lyle of the Department of Justice included:
I can't emphasize enough how distraught my sister and I have been regarding our mother's death. We were not only uncertain as to where she was, but if she was being properly cared for, fed, and given medication. And to make matters worse we cannot trust Nancy Totanes to provide us with truthful answers.
Totanes currently enjoys the hospitality of the Las Colinas Detention Facility. She will be sentenced at 1:30PM on June 27. Victims will testify at the hearing. Vista Courthouse is located at 325 South Melrose Drive in Vista, CA 92081.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Examiner.com
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Namibia: Elderly Abuse Prevalent in the Country
Namibia: Elderly Abuse Prevalent in the Country
By Hilma Hashange
22 June 2012
Last week Friday was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) with the main purpose of raising awareness of elderly abuse through out the world.
According to the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), one in ten people who apply for protection orders in Namibia are over the age of fifty. This data illustrates the fact that domestic violence affects people of all ages, and crimes commited to elderly people in the country is prevalent considering the media reports of parents killed or beaten up by their own children.
In its forthcoming report, which will be released in a few months, titled Seeking Safety, the LAC stated that violence between a parent and child or grandparent and grandchild is the second largest cause of complaints falling in the domestic violence category. Only violence between husbands and wives or between couples living in a close domestic relationship, ranks higher.
Remarkably, within the child parent group there are more cases of violence by children or grandchildren against their parents or grandparents, than the other way around. Elderly people are particularly exposed to attacks from younger people.
The study also showed that elderly people who applied for protection orders requested provisions such as no communication, custody of grandchildren, limitations of access by the abuser to grandchildren and temporary maintenance.
The Combating of Domestic Violence Act states that if a person is over the age of 21 but for some reason is unable to make an application for a protection order in person, this can be done on behalf of the victim by a third party provided written consent has been given.
The LAC says this might be useful for elderly people who finds it difficult to travel to the court to make applications. The person who helps can be anyone with an interest in the well-being of the person being abused, such as a friend, family member, pastor or social worker.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was celebrated last week at Onkugo Ye Pongo Community Centre in Katutura.
SOURCE: The AllAfrica
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By Hilma Hashange
22 June 2012
Last week Friday was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) with the main purpose of raising awareness of elderly abuse through out the world.
According to the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), one in ten people who apply for protection orders in Namibia are over the age of fifty. This data illustrates the fact that domestic violence affects people of all ages, and crimes commited to elderly people in the country is prevalent considering the media reports of parents killed or beaten up by their own children.
In its forthcoming report, which will be released in a few months, titled Seeking Safety, the LAC stated that violence between a parent and child or grandparent and grandchild is the second largest cause of complaints falling in the domestic violence category. Only violence between husbands and wives or between couples living in a close domestic relationship, ranks higher.
Remarkably, within the child parent group there are more cases of violence by children or grandchildren against their parents or grandparents, than the other way around. Elderly people are particularly exposed to attacks from younger people.
The study also showed that elderly people who applied for protection orders requested provisions such as no communication, custody of grandchildren, limitations of access by the abuser to grandchildren and temporary maintenance.
The Combating of Domestic Violence Act states that if a person is over the age of 21 but for some reason is unable to make an application for a protection order in person, this can be done on behalf of the victim by a third party provided written consent has been given.
The LAC says this might be useful for elderly people who finds it difficult to travel to the court to make applications. The person who helps can be anyone with an interest in the well-being of the person being abused, such as a friend, family member, pastor or social worker.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was celebrated last week at Onkugo Ye Pongo Community Centre in Katutura.
SOURCE: The AllAfrica
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June 19, 2012
EUROPE: AGE Calls for an EU Quality Framwork for Long-Term Care
PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 14 June 2012
International Day against Elder Abuse
Stop elder abuse:
AGE calls for an EU quality framework for long-term care to support the wellbeing and dignity of older people
“With the ageing of the population and the major social and economic reforms this demographic change will entail, finding ways of preventing elder abuse and ensuring a dignified life in old age will be a major challenge across the EU and needs be at the core of the current EU active and healthy ageing policies”, highlights Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Secretary-General, on the eve of the International Day against Elder Abuse on 15 June.
In the last few years, the issue of abuse and negligence against vulnerable older people has gained importance at European and national levels. Public authorities, policy makers, care providers and end users’ organisations are now aware that elder abuse and neglect is a serious infringement to human rights that can no longer be tolerated, and measures must be put in place to ensure that older persons are adequately protected and can enjoy a dignified old age even when they become dependent on others for care and assistance.
We all know cases of older people abused and neglected, and these poor practices can be found in all EU countries and in all care settings, at home, in the community or in institutions. Some of these cases are examples of intentional abuse and neglect but the vast majority of them reflect just unintentional ‘bad care’ which affect the wellbeing and dignity of older vulnerable persons. However, many positive experiences and (real) success stories exist as well across Europe. Most of the time, carers - both formal and informal - are very devoted and go out of their way to provide the best care they can to the older person in need of assistance.
In our view the best way to prevent ‘bad care’ and elder abuse is by improving the quality of care and support we provide to older people in need of care and assistance. As part of the EU funded WeDO project, AGE and a group of partners from 12 countries, are developing a European Quality Framework for Long-Term Care which includes quality principles and recommendations for the implementation of these principles which are based on the European Charter of Rights and Responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance, developed in 2010. The European Quality Framework for Long-term care will be presented at the European Parliament in Brussels on 14 November 2012.
END
SOURCE: AGE Platform EU
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Brussels, 14 June 2012
International Day against Elder Abuse
Stop elder abuse:
AGE calls for an EU quality framework for long-term care to support the wellbeing and dignity of older people
“With the ageing of the population and the major social and economic reforms this demographic change will entail, finding ways of preventing elder abuse and ensuring a dignified life in old age will be a major challenge across the EU and needs be at the core of the current EU active and healthy ageing policies”, highlights Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Secretary-General, on the eve of the International Day against Elder Abuse on 15 June.
In the last few years, the issue of abuse and negligence against vulnerable older people has gained importance at European and national levels. Public authorities, policy makers, care providers and end users’ organisations are now aware that elder abuse and neglect is a serious infringement to human rights that can no longer be tolerated, and measures must be put in place to ensure that older persons are adequately protected and can enjoy a dignified old age even when they become dependent on others for care and assistance.
We all know cases of older people abused and neglected, and these poor practices can be found in all EU countries and in all care settings, at home, in the community or in institutions. Some of these cases are examples of intentional abuse and neglect but the vast majority of them reflect just unintentional ‘bad care’ which affect the wellbeing and dignity of older vulnerable persons. However, many positive experiences and (real) success stories exist as well across Europe. Most of the time, carers - both formal and informal - are very devoted and go out of their way to provide the best care they can to the older person in need of assistance.
In our view the best way to prevent ‘bad care’ and elder abuse is by improving the quality of care and support we provide to older people in need of care and assistance. As part of the EU funded WeDO project, AGE and a group of partners from 12 countries, are developing a European Quality Framework for Long-Term Care which includes quality principles and recommendations for the implementation of these principles which are based on the European Charter of Rights and Responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance, developed in 2010. The European Quality Framework for Long-term care will be presented at the European Parliament in Brussels on 14 November 2012.
END
SOURCE: AGE Platform EU
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