She allegedly used her mom’s money for vacations, jewelry, car loan.

By PAT PHEIFER, Star Tribune

July 15, 2009

In a case that Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner called “a heartbreaking example of elder abuse,” a 42-year-old North St. Paul woman has been charged with stealing more than $220,000 from her mother over a two-year period.

Marsha A. Truskolaski is accused of abusing her power of attorney over her 75-year-old mother’s money to pay for vacations, private school tuition for her children and expensive home improvements including an in-ground swimming pool. She was charged Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court with one count of theft by swindle.

San Luis Obispo Man Arrested for Elder Abuse

July 13, 2009

Officers in San Luis Obispo have arrested 43 year old Ronald Perkins for elder abuse.

Officers say on Friday Perkins repeatedly kicked a 65 year old man in the head and the face at the Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter.

Several bystanders were able to stop Perkins by in turn punching him the head.

Perkins who is on supervised parole with the California State Parole Department was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse.

He has been booked into the San Luis Obispo county jail.

SOURCE: KCOY.COM

Break the silence campaign addresses hidden problem of elder abuse

July 15, 2009

Press release submitted by Lori L. Weber, Media Link, Inc.

Break the Silence Campaign Addresses Hidden Problem of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse, the mistreatment of an older person, takes many forms. Abuse can come in the form of physical and emotional abuse, financial exploitation or neglect. But whatever the form, elder abuse hurts – physically, emotionally and socially. The suffering that results can”t be erased, but continued suffering can be reduced with heightened awareness.

That”s why the Illinois Department on Aging designates the month of July to “Break the Silence” about elder abuse. Alternatives for the Older Adult and Protective Service providers across the state of Illinois join this effort to bring attention to the issue and the resources available for help.

(Press Release)

The Nursing Home Complaint Center Intends To Team Up With Personal Injury Law Firms To Stop Nursing Home Abuse & Medicare Fraud In Each State.

The Nursing Home Abuse Center wants to assist personal injury law firms go after nursing homes, for elder abuse, and wrongful death in every state, by teaming up with established personal injury law firms that have a passion about elder abuse issues, in their specific state. The Nursing Home Complaint Center also wants to work with law firm that also have an interest in Medicare-Medicaid fraud, Class actions, and employee wage and hour issues. According to the group, “We want to team up with larger personal injury law firms in specific cities, where we know nursing home abuse, Medicare or Medicaid fraud, and employee wage, and hour issues are wide spread, to stop these types of practices.” Personal Injury Law Firms, class action law firms, or employment law firms that might have an interest in this are welcome to call the group at 866-714-6466, or visit their web site at http://NursingHomeComplaintCenter.com.

The group says, “Our nursing home initiative is the real deal, that will dramatically change the landscape of elder abuse, wrongful death, possible class action issues, and wage and hour issues in our nations nursing homes. We want to work with one, or a maximum of two personal injury law firms in each state, or at least one in our nations top 100 metro areas.” The Nursing Home Complaint Center says, “Our initiative is ethical, and it will be a win-win for the patients, the victims, & the participating personal injury law firms.”

Brooke County Man Charged With Elder Abuse

July 20, 2009

A man who police said was involved in the abduction of a Brooke County woman has been charged after he showed up at the nursing home where she lives.

David Matthews was arrested over the weekend on a felony count of abuse and neglect of an elder and incapacitated person.

By NANCY FOSTER

New Hampshire Union Leader Correspondent

July 18, 2009

Police are investigating concerns about possible elder abuse at a local nursing home involving an 87-year-old man who died last Friday.

According to police Chief Frederick Douglas, detectives were called to the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center on June 28 to investigate concerns raised by staff at the hospital about the condition of the man’s wounds. Investigators will try to determine whether neglect contributed to the death, Douglas said.

The man, whom Douglas refused to identify for reasons of privacy, was a resident at The Elms, a nursing home on Elm Street run by SunBridge Healthcare Corp., based in Rochester, N.Y.

As economy worsens, swindling of elders increases

By Michelle Singletary

July 16, 2009

Fraud is bad enough, but when you have family members or caregivers who are financially abusing their elderly relatives or patients, that’s downright despicable.

And yet, in most of the cases of elder financial abuse, the perpetrators are not strangers. Family, friends, neighbors and caregivers are the culprits in 55 percent of the cases, according to a report, “Broken

Trust: Elders, Family, and Finances, “ released by the MetLife Mature Market Institute. The report was produced in conjunction with the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Virginia Tech University.

Law enforcement and securities officials say the recession is pushing more people to steal from well-off seniors.

Nurses ignored me, says patient

An elderly Dundee woman, who has been battling a rare form of terminal cancer for four years, has hit out at the “lack of care” she received at Ninewells Hospital after her latest hip operation (writes Kirsten Johnson).

The 72-year-old former nurse, who asked not to be named, underwent surgery to replace a hip joint.

The pensioner’s health was already a cause for the concern before the operation and on the advice of her consultant she was sent to Ninewells —rather than her first choice, Stracathro Hospital — because of the levels of expertise and aftercare available.

However, the woman, who has leukaemia, claims the nursing staff “left her to her own devices” and that she was forced to clean her own wound for fear of infection.

Maggie Simpson, NHS Tayside director of nursing for the delivery unit, apologised for the situation. “We are sorry this patient has raised concerns about her care and I am more than happy to discuss any issues,” she said.

She added, “She can also contact the complaints and advice Team on 0800 027 5507.”