Elders Warned of Rising Crime

Elders Warned of Rising Crime

BY SHAUNNA GATELY
SUN CHRONICLE
October 22, 2010
DA tells seniors they must be vigilant
Warning that more elderly residents are falling victim to crime, Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter urged an audience of senior citizens and their caregivers to be more vigilant for all forms of abuse, including scams by strangers, unscrupulous insurance companies and the neglect and coercion of some relatives.

“Crimes against elders are rising and they’re rising because the elder population is rising,” Sutter told the annual elder abuse prevention conference Thursday sponsored by the Attleboro TRIAD.

More than 100 people gathered at the LaSalette Shrine Welcome Center to hear Mary Richardson, the former WCVB-TV Chronicle anchor and current liaison for Caritas Health Care, lead a discussion about the dangers faced by the elderly community.

“Many more seniors today I think are alert and are aware. They know a scam when they see one,” Richardson said. “Although it still happens.”

Richardson said the elderly have the right not to be pressured, not to be bullied, and the right to make their own decisions about their life and their finances. 

Assistant District Attorneys Paul Machado and Silvia Rudman touched on some of the laws protecting the elderly and ways to prevent victimization.

“There’s often a combination of neglect and financial benefit,” Rudman said. “There are some laws that have been created because we have become acutely aware of how seniors have become taken advantage of.”

Those laws include reckless endangerment and assault and battery of an elder person, she said.

“It can be avoided if you reach out to your community. It can be avoided if you make sure that your loved ones have regular care,” Rudman said.

Lucilia Prates, a representative from the Senior Medical Patrol addressed health care fraud, and stressed the importance of reading Medicare statements to look for fraudulent charges.

“Health care errors cost billions of dollars – your dollars, your tax dollars,” Prates said. “Massachusetts has been designated as one of the top 18 states where fraud is committed in the health care system.” 

Speakers stressed that preventing crimes against the elderly begins with awareness. Knowing about a scam ahead of time can help seniors avoid becoming victims.

Registrar of Probate Gina DeRossi spoke of important legal issues involving living wills and knowing the limits of granting the power of attorney.

Sutter said a 10 percent cut in his office’s budget has reduced his ability to fight abuse.

“For law enforcement, it’s trying to do the same job with less resources,” he said.

“I learned that there is only so much you can do with less,” Sutter said. “The more we can prevent crime the more we can save money on prosecuting crime.”

SOURCE:    The Sun Chronicle
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Only $50,000 left in estate for Tennessee Children’s Home

Executor accused of raiding funds
BY JILL CECIL WIERSMA
THE TENNESSEAN
OCTOBER 14, 2010

Only about $50,000 remains of a nearly $800,000 estate left in a will to the Tennessee Children’s Home.

The former executor wrote $100,000 in checks to himself, invested in Iraqi dinar, and lost $340,000
after investing in Hanover Corp., an investment company later revealed as a Ponzi scheme, said Bill Alsup, 
development director at the home for abused, neglected or delinquent boys.
Now, Alsup and others with the home fear they won’t be able to find Daryl Bornstein to hold him
 accountable for the estate left by retired Metro firefighter Raymond Simmons, who died in 2006.
“That money would have been helpful, especially considering what we’re doing,” 
Children’s Home President Brian King said, explaining that the home’s antiquated facilities need to be 
rebuilt. King said the board would look at its options.



Abridged
SOURCE:   The Tennessean

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Carers Jailed For Attachk on Patient in Residential Home (Scotland, UK)

22 October 2010

A carer at an Edinburgh residential home who hit a 79-year-old dementia patient on the head has been jailed for four months.
The city’s sheriff court heard that Valerie Stone, 49, also lost control on a separate occasion and shouted aggressively at the patient, Roy Brown.
Sheriff Deidre MacNeill QC said: “I cannot get away from how serious this is.”
But she added the sentence had been reduced to reflect Stone’s guilty plea.
At an earlier hearing, fiscal depute Aidan Higgins told the court Stone, who is morbidly obese and has mobility problems, had “particular difficulties” with Mr Brown as well as struggling generally in her job at Bupa-run Braid Hills Nursing Centre.
Struck out
Mr Higgins said Stone had hit Mr Brown as she and a colleague helped him to get out of bed one morning.
He said: “As they were trying to get him to his feet he seemed to fall forwards and seemed to lose control of himself and lose his balance.
“It would appear that the accused thought that he was lunging at her and it appears she thought she would get in first and she struck out and hit him forcefully on the head.
The one saving grace is she is no longer employed and will never be employed again in that position ”
Ross GardnerDefence solicitor
“The colleague who was with her shouted in shock and said ‘what on earth are you doing?’ and ‘that is completely out of order’.
The accused replied ‘he was going to hit me first’.”
The fiscal depute added that carers were expected to be able to cope with dementia patients, who could be unpredictable.
Mr Higgins also described how on another occasion Stone had been helping Mr Brown in his room when she became very angry.
“This was observed by a colleague and she seemed to lose control and started screaming and shouting at him,” Mr Higgins said.
He added that management were not told about the offending behaviour until January this year.
He said that as soon as managers were informed Stone was suspended and police informed.
Stone admitted ill-treating or neglecting Mr Brown under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2003.
The offence happened on two occasions between 1 July and 30 November 2009, at the Liberton Drive home.
‘Real stain’
Defence solicitor, Ross Gardner said: “She knows this has been seen as a serious matter.
“Although she was not defenceless, the patient was.
“The one saving grace is she is no longer employed and will never be employed again in that position.
“She is unlikely to work again given her health difficulties.”
Mr Gardner added that the offence was a real “stain” on Stone’s character and that community service was not an option due to her health.
A letter from Stone’s doctor was previously read out in court which highlighted the high levels of stress she had suffered.
The letter said she had been given anti-depressants which had not helped and had also suffered from morbid obesity.



SOURCE:    BBC.CO.UK


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Widow with a Living Husband

Widow with a Living Husband
Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq., a NJ Elder Law Attorney I recently read of a moving story from a widow who had served as her husband’s primary caregiver for sixteen years.  She spoke with both passion and pain, describing her caregiving as “the loneliest time of my life.”  For this reason, she wanted to speak out and […]
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Will They or Won’t They? An Update on Federal Estate Tax Law
By Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq., a Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and Mercer County NJ Estate Planning and Administration Attorney Earlier this year, I spoke about concern over the elimination of federal estate tax for this year.  While that sounds like a good thing, it’s not really because the law also eliminated the capital gains “step up” in […]
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What is a LTACH? . . . and How Can it Benefit My Critically Ill or Catastrophically Injured Loved One?
Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq., a NJ Elder Law Attorney Medical science has made great strides in the last 30 years.  We are certainly living longer.  Illnesses and injuries that in the past resulted in death, now do not.  However, the recovery period can be a long one, especially for the elderly, whose recuperative abilities are not […]
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Seniors Learn to Prevent Attacks, Money Scams

Seniors Learn to Prevent Attacks, Money Scams

By Leonard Sparks

10/21/10
Helen Kwasinowicz normally walks close to buildings and keeps her car doors unlocked when out shopping.
The 92-year-old is now rethinking those habits after sitting through a three-hour forum held Wednesday morning to educate Sullivan County seniors about defending themselves from physical attacks and protecting themselves from emotional abuse and financial scams.
“You take everything for granted, that everybody’s honest,” said Kwasinowicz, who lives in the hamlet of Willowemoc. “But they’re not.”
The forum, organized by TRIAD, an organization dedicated to preventing elder abuse and violence against seniors, drew about 50 seniors to the Ted Stroebel Center in Monticello. Speakers included District Attorney Jim Farrell and representatives from Cornell Cooperative Extension and Friends and Advocates for Mental Health.
“The whole point is prevention of any kind of abuse and the improvement of the quality of life,” said Bonnie Lewis, coordinator of TRIAD, a program of Cornell Cooperative, in collaboration with the Sullivan County Office for the Aging.
Awareness of surroundings is the best safety strategy, said Pete Tweed, former Monticello Parks and Recreation director, during his 30-minute presentation on safety and self-defense.
Suggestions also included walking in the middle of sidewalks to avoid surprise ambushes from people hiding in alleys or between parked cars. Seniors should also lock car doors when out shopping and park in well-lit areas, he said.
Should a confrontation occur, he said, seniors should either try to talk themselves out of the situation, run or scream. Yelling “fire” is particularly effective, he said, because other people are more likely to respond.
“Some people say it’s against the law,” he said. “But saving your life is not against the law,” he said.
He also demonstrated techniques for fighting back, all requiring little strength. They included low kicks to the knee and using thumbs to impair attackers’ eyes. He also showed seniors an easy way to dislocate an assailant’s wrist.
“This is important, especially to seniors who are not as agile and don’t have the strength that a younger person has,” said Ernest Danenberg, 89, who lives near Monticello with his wife, Thelma Flaxman, 87.




SOURCE:    The Record Online
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Senior Crime Busters and Financial Planning

Who’s Afraid of Probate, Senior Crime Busters and Financial Planning
Senior citizens face many legal issues unique to their ages and situations.
Managing debt in retirement—a hot topic for senior citizens—wasn’t even on the radar screen 10 years ago.  Now that, and new issues such as Internet-based identity theft and 401Ks, are among the concerns facing today’s older residents. 
Some have been created by the current economic climate, others by the new world of social networking.
Those topics and perennial issues such as estate law, financial planning, navigating the medical system and wills and trusts draw consistent interest, says attorney Steven A. Schurkman, a principal member of Keane & Beane law firm in White Plains and author of Elder Law Q&A: Answers to Questions About Estate and Financial Planning, Health Care Planning and Elder Abuse.
Gary S. Brown, Esq., the Director of Communications and Policy Research with the New York State Consumer Protection Bureau, says he knows things have changed because of the reaction he got at a recent workshop for Hudson Valley seniors.
“A few years ago, when I would ask how many people in the room use computers, no one raised their hand. Now, more hands than not go up,” Brown says.
 Brown wants seniors who use the Internet to be aware of identity theft—and wants them all to shred documents.
In addition to phone safety and charities fraud, he singles out the new  “grandson scam,” a con aimed at the elderly where a caller claims to be a relative—usually a grandchild—and asks to have money wired immediately to take care of an emergency. Don’t be taken in by anyone on the phone or on email, he says.
 He and other legal and financial experts recently talked about these issues at Senior Law Day at the Westchester County center in White Plains, legal and financial experts were on hand to provide free advice to an estimated 250 seniors at the 11th Annual Senior Law Day Oct. 14 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. 
Each year, new elder law topics are added to a growing list of workshops determined by the needs of the elder community. Changes to tax and power of attorney laws and New York’s new Family Health Care Decision Act were two new topics and were addressed by workshops entitled “How the New Tax Laws Will Affect You and Yours” and “What Happens If I Can’t make Medical Decisions?”
Westchester Commissioner Mae Carpenter —who has served the county’s seniors for the past 31 years— is a rock star among the seniors she champions.
In addition to her message of empowerment, she always repeats her mantra: “A failure to plan is a plan to fail.” 

SOURCE:   Scarsdale.Patch.com

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Don’t Forget the Elderly When They Need Your Care

Don’t forget the elderly when they need your care
26 OCTOBER 2010

The hate love relationship that often exists between the media and the politicians appears to be yet continuing occasionally gathering momentum especially when some officious law enforcing officer decides to act with high handed efficiency and the naturally irritated press takes umbrage and various political parties decide that this is a glorious opportunity or them to add their critical dismay!
While this situation provides for amusement, criticism or irritation depending on the political stance of the readers another factor that is a fairly common source of amusement is the continuing concern among ministers and deputy ministers to gain brownie points especially since soon it will be November and chances are that when the President takes oath for a new term of office he may decide to appoint others to positions of ministerial importance.
As elders become more physically frail, they’re less able to stand up to bullying or fight back if attacked. They may not see or hear as well or think as clearly as they used to, leaving openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. Mental or physical ailments may make them more trying companions for the people who live with them. Many elders are abused in diverse ways by their own family members and, most often in their own homes where abusers are apt to be adult children; other family members such as grandchildren; or spouses/partners of elders. Institutional settings especially long-term care facilities can also be sources of elder abuse. Abuse of elders takes many different forms, some involving intimidation or threats against the elderly, some involving neglect, and others involving financial chicanery. Often aged parents are pressurized to write their wills especially the house they live in, in favour of the adult child who often with his family is living with them, and when that is done a certain metamorphosis takes place in the attitude of the adult child and his family.
It is difficult to take care of a senior when he or she has many different needs, and it’s difficult to be elderly when age brings with it infirmities and dependence. Both the demands of caregiving and the needs of the elder can create situations in which abuse is more likely to occur. Furthermore these issues are more compounded when financial constraints prevent proper or necessary health care for the elderly.
Would it not be possible for the government to make some arrangement with the Ceylon Insurance Corporation  to take a small percentage from the monthly pensions of government servants to cover the  health costs needed when they fall sick. This will reduce any burden that their children will have to bear and also make the elderly less vulnerable to neglect . Furthermore, since it is mandatory for all private sector companies to pay EPF. The same system can be worked out in association with the Insurance corporation. Moreover since now great publicity is being given to Farmers and Fishermen’s pensions and moves are being made even to have a pension scheme for the self employed,  providing a health coverage for all pension holders with suitable and graduated premiums will enable the elderly to have more security and less neglect in their old age.
Essentially what is needed to help the elderly is to set up an Authority  with the assistance and the expertise of organizations  like Helpage so that the elderly feel that they are recognized for all the services they have given to society in the best years of their lives.

SOURCE:  The Daily Mirror, UK








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Estate Planning for Blended Families
By Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq., a NJ Estate Planning and Administration Attorney Many people don’t get serious about estate planning until they are well into middle age.  By then, some of them are part of blended families:  they are marries, and one or both spouses have children from previous families.  Estate planning in such families can […]
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Maintenance and Welfare of Parents Act (INDIA)


Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act 2007 : WHEN
WILL MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENT ??????????????
1 January 2010

Traditional norms and values of the Indian society laid stress on providing care for the elderly. However, due to withering of the joint family system, a large number of elderly are not being looked after by their family. Consequently, many older persons, particularly widowed women are now forced to spend their twilight years all alone and are exposed to emotional neglect and to lack of physical and financial support. This clearly reveals that ageing has become a major social challenge and there is a need to give more attention to the care and protection for the older persons. Though the parents can claim maintenance under the Section 125 of the Cr Pc and Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA) BUT the procedure is both time-consuming as well as expensive. Hence, there is need to have simple, inexpensive
and speedy provisions to claim maintenance for parents. The Indian Parliament felt that the elderly and senior citizens of the country required care and attention and also protection of their life and liberty. It further felt that the young generation was failing in its duty to take adequate care of its elderly citizens, including 
parents, relatives or other members of the society, who have turned old and infirm and whose population in 2009 is estimated 90 millions.

The major benefits in the act includes : Monthly maintenance upto Rs. 10,000/- , punishment of Rs.5000/- or jail for three months or both for not paying the monthly allowance by children’s or relative, 90
days time bound disposal,no need of advocate, a 3rd party intervention possible , to first resolve the differences and disputes between parents and children amicably, medical facility , protection of life and property , old age homes in every districts etc…



Lets give Justice to our Elders, lets give Love, Care & Respect to our
parents .Say NO TO ELDER ABUSE.

SOURCE:    FOREXGUIDE BLOG

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Elders Warned of Rising Crime

BY SHAUNNA GATELY
SUN CHRONICLE
October 22, 2010
DA tells seniors they must be vigilant
Warning that more elderly residents are falling victim to crime, Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter urged an audience of senior citizens and their caregivers to be more vigilant for all forms of abuse, including scams by strangers, unscrupulous insurance companies and the neglect and coercion of some relatives.

“Crimes against elders are rising and they’re rising because the elder population is rising,” Sutter told the annual elder abuse prevention conference Thursday sponsored by the Attleboro TRIAD.

More than 100 people gathered at the LaSalette Shrine Welcome Center to hear Mary Richardson, the former WCVB-TV Chronicle anchor and current liaison for Caritas Health Care, lead a discussion about the dangers faced by the elderly community.

“Many more seniors today I think are alert and are aware. They know a scam when they see one,” Richardson said. “Although it still happens.”

Richardson said the elderly have the right not to be pressured, not to be bullied, and the right to make their own decisions about their life and their finances. 

Assistant District Attorneys Paul Machado and Silvia Rudman touched on some of the laws protecting the elderly and ways to prevent victimization.

“There’s often a combination of neglect and financial benefit,” Rudman said. “There are some laws that have been created because we have become acutely aware of how seniors have become taken advantage of.”

Those laws include reckless endangerment and assault and battery of an elder person, she said.

“It can be avoided if you reach out to your community. It can be avoided if you make sure that your loved ones have regular care,” Rudman said.

Lucilia Prates, a representative from the Senior Medical Patrol addressed health care fraud, and stressed the importance of reading Medicare statements to look for fraudulent charges.

“Health care errors cost billions of dollars – your dollars, your tax dollars,” Prates said. “Massachusetts has been designated as one of the top 18 states where fraud is committed in the health care system.” 

Speakers stressed that preventing crimes against the elderly begins with awareness. Knowing about a scam ahead of time can help seniors avoid becoming victims.

Registrar of Probate Gina DeRossi spoke of important legal issues involving living wills and knowing the limits of granting the power of attorney.

Sutter said a 10 percent cut in his office’s budget has reduced his ability to fight abuse.

“For law enforcement, it’s trying to do the same job with less resources,” he said.

“I learned that there is only so much you can do with less,” Sutter said. “The more we can prevent crime the more we can save money on prosecuting crime.”

SOURCE:    The Sun Chronicle
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Fife Not Alone In Facing Care Homes Dilemma (UK)

Fife Council is far from alone in having to rethink how older people are cared for, according to the representative body for private and voluntary care homes
Councillors meet today to discuss plans that could eventually see all 10 of the council’s residential care homes closed and alternatives sought in the private and not-for-profit sector.
With that in mind, Ranald Mair, the chief executive of theprivate sector group Scottish Care, said all councils are taking a long, hard look at what services they provide, but the current financial situation means the status quo doesn’t appear to be an option for Fife.
He said, “We know local authorities will face huge pressures and one of the main areas councils will have to look at is whether or not they maintain in-house provision or buy care from the private or not-for-profit sector where there is usually a significantly lower cost.



“It’s not just a question Fife facing public sector finance cutbacks and where to make savings: if the council is to continue being a direct provider, they will have to spend a lot of money redeveloping as their buildings are no longer fit for purpose.
“It’s a double whammy and though Fife is unique in many ways, nationally this may be one way councils can try to get as much value as they can.
“The important thing is to safeguard the public and Courier readers will want to be satisfied they or their relatives are not getting lower quality of care in the private or not-for-profit sector.




Abridged
SOURCE:   The Courier.co.uk
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Advocating An Interfaith Response to Elder Abuse

Written by Mary Beth Hislop – Town Crier Staff Writer  
20 OCTOBER 2010
It’s no big secret that America’s citizens are aging. During the 1900s, the U.S. population 65 and under tripled, while those 65 and above increased eleven-fold – from 3.1 million in 1900 to 33.2 million in 1994.
The numbers supplied by the Foundation for Health in Aging aren’t any big secret to Adult Protective Services, which estimates that the nation’s 65-and-older populace will double to 70 million – one in five people will be a senior citizen – by 2030. That same age group will double in California by 2020.
And it’s no big secret that many of the elderly will require assistance with daily-living tasks. If the statistics hold, between 1 million and 2 million of them will be victims of elder abuse each year. The big secret is that 90 percent of the abusers are family members. Worse, one in five cases isn’t reported. It’s a number that shocks Betty Malks.
“This is a crime,” she said. “This is the crime of the 21st century. Elder abuse is increasing all over the world. And people are getting older all over the world.”
As director of Santa Clara County’s Department of Aging and Adult Services for 12 years, Malks knows the numbers only too well.
Today, Malks is project director for Protecting Our Elders, a Santa Clara County Mental Health Department program that focuses on educating interfaith communities about elder abuse.
With more than 700 congregations in the county, it’s an approach with promise, according to Los Altos resident Margriet DeLange, a gerontolologist and the program’s community organizer.

To report a suspected case of elder abuse, call Santa Clara County Adult Protective Services at (800) 414-2002.
“(The phone line is) manned 24/7,” Malks said. “And we have live people answering the phone.”
In most cases, the agency investigates reports within 24 hours, with an understanding of and respect for seniors’ rights to self-determination.
“We do whatever we can to keep (seniors) in the home,” Malks said, “and get the perp out.”

For more information, call 269-2589 or visit www.protectingourelders.net


Abridged
SOURCE:    LosAltosOnline




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Hospice, Social Services and Nursing Homes Provide Services for Elders (USA)


Hospice, Social Services and nursing homes provide services for elders

By Callie Jones, Journal-Advocate staff writer
10/21/2010
Adult protective services, hospice and nursing homes were among the topics discussed at a presentation at Northeastern Junior College on Tuesday, part of the “Takes More Than Love” series.
NJC and Sterling Federal Credit Union are sponsoring the series, which wraps up next week with a presentation on “Social and Recreational Opportunities.”
This week, Betty Zimmerman, supervisor for Logan County Social Services Adult Protective Services program, spoke about the program for at-risk adults.
An at-risk adult is someone who is: Unable to protect themselves; unable to perform or arrange for services that will help them protect their health and safety; and/or lacks sufficient understanding or lacks the capacity to make or communicate decisions that keep them safe and healthy.

If someone has a concern about someone else they can call Social Services and ask them to assess that person to see if they need some help.




To avoid financial abuse:


• Watch out for people who are eager to manage or take control of your finances;
• Don’t sign documents giving control of your finances to someone else without checking with a family member or someone you trust;
• Don’t commit large summons of money to anyone without talking to someone else first;
• Make sure that friends and relatives check on you frequently to make sure you’re okay;
• Don’t allow yourself to be isolated from friends, family or other people in your community;
• Consider direct deposits for any of your monthly income;
• Have your bank statements sent to you and someone else so they can check for unusual activity;
• Always have someone review documents you don’t understand when you’re asked to sign something.
When Social Services gets a referral they will contact the adult that was reported and ask them questions to see if that person understands what’s going on. If they don’t understand what’s going on then Social Services will probably contact a trusted family member and explain the situation. 


Abridged
SOURCE:    The Journal Advocate










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Elderly Women in Better Hands With Biological Daughters: Study (JAPAN)

Elderly Women in Better Hands With Biological Daughters: Study (JAPAN)

Elderly women in better hands with biological daughters: Study
 By Misty Harris, Postmedia News

Think your mother-in-law will be the death of you? Turns out, it’s more likely the other way around.
A four-year study from Japan finds elderly women under the care of a daughter-in-law are twice as likely to die as those whose caretaker is a biological daughter. Writing in the journal BMC Geriatrics, the researchers describe this as a “survival penalty,” and theorize that the higher mortality risk is partly due to the strained relationship a mother can have with her son’s wife.

Deborah Merrill, a Clark University sociologist cited in the paper, says it likely comes down to differences in intensity.

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News






Abridged
SOURCE:     The Vancouver Sun
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Estate Planning for Vacation Homes
Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq., a NJ Estate Planning Attorney Whether it is a palatial estate where Rockefellers and Vanderbilts would feel at home or a rustic cabin in the woods complete with an outhouse, a family vacation home often carries sentimental value that doesn’t show up on financial ledgers. That is all the more reason why […]
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Don’t Forget the Elderly When They Need Your Care

Don’t forget the elderly when they need your care
26 OCTOBER 2010

The hate love relationship that often exists between the media and the politicians appears to be yet continuing occasionally gathering momentum especially when some officious law enforcing officer decides to act with high handed efficiency and the naturally irritated press takes umbrage and various political parties decide that this is a glorious opportunity or them to add their critical dismay!
While this situation provides for amusement, criticism or irritation depending on the political stance of the readers another factor that is a fairly common source of amusement is the continuing concern among ministers and deputy ministers to gain brownie points especially since soon it will be November and chances are that when the President takes oath for a new term of office he may decide to appoint others to positions of ministerial importance.
As elders become more physically frail, they’re less able to stand up to bullying or fight back if attacked. They may not see or hear as well or think as clearly as they used to, leaving openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. Mental or physical ailments may make them more trying companions for the people who live with them. Many elders are abused in diverse ways by their own family members and, most often in their own homes where abusers are apt to be adult children; other family members such as grandchildren; or spouses/partners of elders. Institutional settings especially long-term care facilities can also be sources of elder abuse. Abuse of elders takes many different forms, some involving intimidation or threats against the elderly, some involving neglect, and others involving financial chicanery. Often aged parents are pressurized to write their wills especially the house they live in, in favour of the adult child who often with his family is living with them, and when that is done a certain metamorphosis takes place in the attitude of the adult child and his family.
It is difficult to take care of a senior when he or she has many different needs, and it’s difficult to be elderly when age brings with it infirmities and dependence. Both the demands of caregiving and the needs of the elder can create situations in which abuse is more likely to occur. Furthermore these issues are more compounded when financial constraints prevent proper or necessary health care for the elderly.
Would it not be possible for the government to make some arrangement with the Ceylon Insurance Corporation  to take a small percentage from the monthly pensions of government servants to cover the  health costs needed when they fall sick. This will reduce any burden that their children will have to bear and also make the elderly less vulnerable to neglect . Furthermore, since it is mandatory for all private sector companies to pay EPF. The same system can be worked out in association with the Insurance corporation. Moreover since now great publicity is being given to Farmers and Fishermen’s pensions and moves are being made even to have a pension scheme for the self employed,  providing a health coverage for all pension holders with suitable and graduated premiums will enable the elderly to have more security and less neglect in their old age.
Essentially what is needed to help the elderly is to set up an Authority  with the assistance and the expertise of organizations  like Helpage so that the elderly feel that they are recognized for all the services they have given to society in the best years of their lives.

SOURCE:  The Daily Mirror, UK








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Information For Elders (AUSTRALIA)

By Laura Wakely
19th October 2010
BETWEEN one and five per cent of Victorians aged over 65 years will experience some form of elder abuse.
But senior residents will have the opportunity to learn how to protect their rights at a free session in Wallan tomorrow afternoon.
Seniors Rights Victoria will hold the “Know and Protect Your Rights” information session to give senior residents a better understanding of the types of elder abuse as well as information on the free and confidential helpline, advocacy and legal services available to seniors.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, elder abuse is any act that occurs within a relationship where there is an implication of trust, which results in harm to an older person.
Ovens and King Community Health Elder Abuse Prevention Strategy project officer Debbie Hogg said the session was important for seniors and their families to attend.
“Elder abuse is still very taboo as a subject and as such it is very under-reported,” Ms Hogg said.
“The sessions we are running are to increase the awareness (of elder abuse).”
The “Know and Protect Your Rights” information session will run from 2pm to 3pm on the 20 October at the Wallan Multi-Purpose Centre.
For details contact Debbie Hogg, at Ovens and King Community Health Service on 5723 2041.

SOURCE:    The Star News Group

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Elderly Women in Better Hands With Biological Daughters: Study (JAPAN)

Elderly Women in Better Hands With Biological Daughters: Study (JAPAN)

Elderly women in better hands with biological daughters: Study
 By Misty Harris, Postmedia News

Think your mother-in-law will be the death of you? Turns out, it’s more likely the other way around.
A four-year study from Japan finds elderly women under the care of a daughter-in-law are twice as likely to die as those whose caretaker is a biological daughter. Writing in the journal BMC Geriatrics, the researchers describe this as a “survival penalty,” and theorize that the higher mortality risk is partly due to the strained relationship a mother can have with her son’s wife.

Deborah Merrill, a Clark University sociologist cited in the paper, says it likely comes down to differences in intensity.

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News






Abridged
SOURCE:     The Vancouver Sun
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Witness: Defendant Came Back to Victim’s House (USA)

Witness: Defendant came back to victim’s house
October 18, 2010
By Tomoya Shimura
 
VICTORVILLE
A brother of a Hesperia man accused of beating their 73-year-old mother to death testified for the prosecution Monday.
William Thomas Hussey, 52, charged with murder, elder abuse and robbery of Mary Hussey, drove to Nevada the day after the prosecution claims the alleged beating took place in 2009. Hussey then came back to his dead mother’s house in Hesperia the following day, according to Clayton Hussey, William Hussey’s brother.
Clayton said he saw William Hussey drive past him watering his plants in the front yard and turn around to stop in front of the house. Clayton approached the defendant’s vehicle and yelled to him that sheriff’s deputies were looking for him, Clayton testified. Upset about the attack on his mother, Clayton asked his brother what he had done to her.




Abridged
SOURCE:    The V V DailyPress


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Don’t Forget the Elderly When They Need Your Care

Don’t forget the elderly when they need your care
26 OCTOBER 2010

The hate love relationship that often exists between the media and the politicians appears to be yet continuing occasionally gathering momentum especially when some officious law enforcing officer decides to act with high handed efficiency and the naturally irritated press takes umbrage and various political parties decide that this is a glorious opportunity or them to add their critical dismay!
While this situation provides for amusement, criticism or irritation depending on the political stance of the readers another factor that is a fairly common source of amusement is the continuing concern among ministers and deputy ministers to gain brownie points especially since soon it will be November and chances are that when the President takes oath for a new term of office he may decide to appoint others to positions of ministerial importance.
As elders become more physically frail, they’re less able to stand up to bullying or fight back if attacked. They may not see or hear as well or think as clearly as they used to, leaving openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. Mental or physical ailments may make them more trying companions for the people who live with them. Many elders are abused in diverse ways by their own family members and, most often in their own homes where abusers are apt to be adult children; other family members such as grandchildren; or spouses/partners of elders. Institutional settings especially long-term care facilities can also be sources of elder abuse. Abuse of elders takes many different forms, some involving intimidation or threats against the elderly, some involving neglect, and others involving financial chicanery. Often aged parents are pressurized to write their wills especially the house they live in, in favour of the adult child who often with his family is living with them, and when that is done a certain metamorphosis takes place in the attitude of the adult child and his family.
It is difficult to take care of a senior when he or she has many different needs, and it’s difficult to be elderly when age brings with it infirmities and dependence. Both the demands of caregiving and the needs of the elder can create situations in which abuse is more likely to occur. Furthermore these issues are more compounded when financial constraints prevent proper or necessary health care for the elderly.
Would it not be possible for the government to make some arrangement with the Ceylon Insurance Corporation  to take a small percentage from the monthly pensions of government servants to cover the  health costs needed when they fall sick. This will reduce any burden that their children will have to bear and also make the elderly less vulnerable to neglect . Furthermore, since it is mandatory for all private sector companies to pay EPF. The same system can be worked out in association with the Insurance corporation. Moreover since now great publicity is being given to Farmers and Fishermen’s pensions and moves are being made even to have a pension scheme for the self employed,  providing a health coverage for all pension holders with suitable and graduated premiums will enable the elderly to have more security and less neglect in their old age.
Essentially what is needed to help the elderly is to set up an Authority  with the assistance and the expertise of organizations  like Helpage so that the elderly feel that they are recognized for all the services they have given to society in the best years of their lives.

SOURCE:  The Daily Mirror, UK








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Woman Accused Of Elder Abuse (GA. USA)


October 25, 2010

Police said a woman who used to run a Gwinnett County assisted-living facility stole at least $10,000 from a man who was under her care.
Veronica Martin, 39, turned herself into the Gwinnett County Jail on Friday, on a charge of elder abuse.

Channel 2 Action News obtained documents showing a Georgia Adult Protective Services worker discovered signs that something was wrong during a routine visit in September 2009.

The documents show the 79-year-old man’s monthly rent ballooned from $1,000 to $3,500 a month. Investigators worked with the man’s bank to find out if there was any wrongdoing.

“The investigation showed that she had access to his records and she posed as a family member, gaining access to his records and his money,” said Cpl. Edwin Ritter of the Gwinnett County Police Department.
“The investigator was able to show that she was responsible for at least $10,000,” Ritter added. “He’s missing up to $50,000.”





Abridged
SOURCE:    WSBTV


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Why Decide on a Pre-Paid Funeral

Although thinking about your death will seem strange for some people, others will appreciate how organised you are being. People plan for everything in their lives so why should a funeral be any different? Putting money by to have a pre paid funeral will mean that your wishes are met to the last little detail. It also means that your family do not have the added stress, both emotionally and financially, to deal with after you have gone.

Having a funeral payment plan can bring great peace of mind to you and your loved ones. Your death will cause a great deal of emotional strain to your friends and family who will have so many feelings to deal with. Often the expenses of your funeral will be left to your family and this can cause great strain on them. By being organized and having a funeral payment plan you are guaranteeing that when the time comes your funeral will be paid for in full.

Your family can concentrate on moving on and not have any debt after your death. With the average cost of a funeral being around £3,000 these days, if you have exact wishes that you want carried out then you will need to ensure that you have completed your pre paid funeral prior to your death. You will be able to decide on every detail before the day, including your favourite readings, songs and express how you want your service to be. Being able to discuss with your minister exactly what you want will make you happier in the knowledge that you have planned the day in full.

Organised people love the fact that they are in control of everything in their lives even up to the last moments. You can choose the pre paid funeral plan that suits you and how much you decide to spend is entirely your decision. There are many different funeral payment plans to choose from and you can choose the one that will suit your budget. You pay as much or as little as you can afford over a set period of time and you can of course pay it off early if you want.

Once the balance of the pre paid funeral has been met then you can continue with your life feeling happier and more organized. Some people choose to inform their loved ones what they have done and others feel it is nicer to know when they are dealing with their grief. It is often seen as a relief to know they do not have to pay out for your funeral. The stress will suddenly be lifted and they can deal with the emotions that they have without the worry.

When choosing the funeral company to carry put your pre paid funeral you will need to ensure that they are a reputable company and have a good track record. Often companies that have been established for many years will have the most experience with funeral payment plans and pre paid funerals. They will be able to guide you through the whole process and help you to get exactly what you want for one of the most important days of your life.

Hospital Negligence Claims and Solicitors

The doctors and nurses and other professionals who care for us do a wonderful job, but sometimes the care we receive from them is not quite up to scratch because of pressure, limited resources or simple mistakes. When this happens it is called negligence and can lead to serious injury and financial loss for the victims: as a result many make negligence claims with the help of the relevant solicitor, such as Raleys Solicitors.  Some victims of medical negligence feel guilty about making a claim. There is no reason to: their suffering certainly warrants an apology and compensation.

Some of the problems which Raleys Solicitors cite as frequent factors in medical negligence include delayed or incorrect diagnosis, poor care and mistakes in surgery or other procedures.
Those patients who believe they have been victims of negligence resulting in an injury should first use the NHS complaints procedure. This system was not established to award compensation but it can give apologies and answers. Finding this out allows victims to make an informed decision about whether or not to make a claim.

it is important to employ the services of an experienced solicitor because this area of the law is complex. They will begin by consulting with a medical expert who is independent in order to identify whether or not you have cause for a claim.

If it is established that you do have a claim it will then be down to you and your solicitor to show that the care you received was below the standard that should be expected of a competent medical professional. It is a valid defence if the practitioner can show that other similarly qualified practitioners would have acted in the same way.

Lastly, you must demonstrate that the negligence itself directly caused the injury. That means showing that if it hadn’t been for the negligence the injury would not have happened anyway.

Arizona Public Court Records – The Basics

It is very essential that you know how to access Arizona county public court records. This way, you will be able to get all the documents that you need for your loan and credit card application, university enrolment, or even job application. This is very essential even if you just want to check on some information that you have missed.

It is actually very easy to access these Arizona county public court records. One of the easiest things that you can do is to just go to your local government agencies. You just go to your statistics or registrar’s office, fill out some forms, and await the release of the papers. However, you might just get disappointed because this can also be very inconvenient. As you already know, you still need to go through a  series of bureaucratic procedures before you can really access these Arizona county public court records. And if you are very busy, this is indeed very troublesome.

And because of this, there are a lot of people who just opt to delegate this task to a private investigator. For several reasons, this is indeed very convenient. But if you are going to think about it, this method can also be very impractical as you still need to pay for their services.

It is really a much better idea if you will just do it on your own because all of the tools that you are going o need can actually be found online. They are also very simple to use because you just need to enter your name and type the kind of document that you want.

If you are going to use these tools, you just need to be certain that their database are really very comprehensive. As much as possible, you should see to it that it can really provide you with all the data that you need. If the database is incomprehensive, then you are just wasting your time and effort.

There is also a need for you to consider the cost if you are going to access these Arizona county public court records. There are a lot of free sites in the internet but it is still much better if you are going to use a premium one.

It is actually very easy to access Arizona county public court records but you just need to make sure that you will consider all of these factors.

Instantly conduct county court records search immediately to track down every public county record you want. Also learn how to search public records.

Why Medical Negligence No Win No Fee Claims Are Complex

We are all familiar with the type of hard work medical workers perform everyday: unfortunately, other factors such as limits on resources, human errors and pressure can cause the standard of care provided to slip below what is expected. This is known as negligence and any patient who is injured as a result of it might be entitled to make medical negligence no win no fee claims. Many victims who are considering making medical negligence no win no fee claims feel guilty, as though they are making an unnecessary fuss. Regardless, being injured as a result of someone else’s negligence is serious and the victim is perfectly entitled to an apology and compensation.

Errors such as delays in diagnosis, poor care, wrong treatment, negligent performance of an operation or procedure or misinterpreting test results are examples of the mistakes which could lead to a medical negligence no win no fee claim. It is important to remember that this area of the law is by no means simple and that there are no guarantees of success in medical negligence no win no fee claims.

If you think that you have been injured as the result of the negligence of a medical professional then the NHS complaints procedure should be your first step. This is a procedure aimed at addressing allegations of negligence and giving explanations of what went wrong and how. Although this system does not award compensation, it helps give the victim a clear picture of what happened, allowing them to take the decision of whether or not to make a medical negligence no win no fee claim.

The complexity of this area of the law means that a solicitor must first examine your case closely to try to decide whether or not you have a viable medical negligence no win no fee case. Next, an independent medical expert will consider your case to spot any negligence and make the final decision about whether you have grounds for a medical negligence no win no fee claim.

If your claim is thought to be viable then you will have to show that the care or treatment which you received was below the standard which could reasonably be expected of a competent medical practitioner. It is considered a viable defence if the practitioner can demonstrate that a reasonable proportion of other practitioners would have acted in the same way.

In order for their medical negligence no win no fee claim to be successful, patients must then prove that their injury was directly caused by the negligence and that but for the negligence the injury would never have occurred. This is why it is by no means simple to win a medical negligence no win no fee claim.