By Charles D. Johnson

Director, Illinois Department on Aging

July is Elder Abuse Awareness Month in Illinois. During the month of July, communities across Illinois will sponsor events to shed light on the growing and tragic issue of elder abuse.

Your readers, young and old, should be aware that the U.S. Administration on Aging estimates as many as 3.5 million older Americans are abused each year.

And this is only the tip of the iceberg since only one in five cases of elder abuse is ever reported to authorities.

In an effort of preventing elder abuse and neglect, the Illinois Department on Aging is launching its annual public awareness and education campaign, called “Break the Silence.”

Please support these efforts by printing this letter which includes steps we should all take to prevent elder abuse and neglect.

To fight elder abuse:

1. Regularly call or visit an elderly loved one to ask how he or she is doing.

2. Provide a respite break for a caregiver.

3. Ask your bank manager to train tellers on how to detect elder financial abuse.

4. Ask your doctor to ask all senior patients about possible family violence in their lives.

5. Ask your local senior center to present a program on elder abuse.

6. Organize a “Respect Your Elders” essay or poster contest in your child’s school.

7. Ask your religious congregation’s leader to give a talk about elder abuse at a service or to put a message about elder abuse in the bulletin.

8. Volunteer to be a friendly visitor to a nursing home resident or to a homebound senior in your neighborhood.

9. Learn the warning signs of abuse – for more information, visit the Illinois Department on Aging website at: http://www.state.il.us/aging/ or contact your local Elder Abuse Provider Agency to ask about elder abuse.

10. Call the state’s 24 hour Elder Abuse Hotline at (866) 800-1409, if you or someone you know is a victim of elder abuse. Trained professionals are prepared to help.

Thank you for helping to keep our seniors safe.

Pittsburgh based court case ruling gives stronger recourse against elder abuse

July 21, 2009

A recent court case of Sarah Grammer v. John J. Kane Regional Centers-Glen Hazel that a private cause of action does exist under federal civil rights laws gives families who suspect abuse of their elderly loved one more options to bring action against a federally supported nursing care facility.

The Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA) passed in 1987 gave the elderly more specific rights by stating that certain actions, such as restraining a patient, had to have a doctor’s written order. This newest ruling in the Grammer case further empowers the rights of the elderly and the option of the family to pursue civil actions against suspected abuse.

Abridged

SOURCE: The Examiner

Failure to commit to adult protection legislation lambasted

Overwhelming support for legislation in response to No Secrets 20 July 2009

writes Maria Ahmed

Campaigners have criticised the government’s failure to commit to legislation to strengthen protection of adults from abuse in England.

Today, the Department of Health published a report on its consultation on the review of No Secrets, the adult protection guidance introduced in 2000.

More than half of respondents – 68% – supported new safeguarding legislation, and 92% wanted adult safeguarding boards to be placed on a statutory footing, it revealed.

Duty to co-operate wins ‘near unanimous’ support

There was also “near unanimous” support for a wider duty on agencies to co-operate in relation to safeguarding across social care, police and the NHS. The majority also backed giving agencies the power to enter premises where abuse was suspected and introducing a new offence of ill-treating or neglecting a vulnerable adult with capacity.

Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow, a campaigner on older people’s issues, claimed the government wanted to avoid the funding implications of radically overhauling the adult protection system.

“Instead of making a policy announcement they have kicked the issue into the long grass,” he said.

Burstow said he would attempt to introduce a private member’s bill on adult safeguarding in the autumn.

Abridged

SOURCE: Community Care.Co.UK

Jul 14, 2009

Source: County

Suspect took over $50k for work that was never done

Santa Barbara County Detectives have arrested a man suspected of ripping off more than a dozen people who hired him to do landscaping work.

Gilbert Lee Martinez (DOB 3/22/69) is suspected of contacting potential tree trimming clients, quoting a price, taking money up front and then leaving without ever performing any work. Over the past few months the SBSO received several complaints from victims, many who are elderly, who have paid as much as $2,000 for work that was never done.

On Thursday, July 9, 2009 authorities in Arcadia, CA detained Martinez for trying to cash a forged check. They discovered a warrant for Martinez in Santa Barbara County. SBSO Detectives immediately traveled to Arcadia where they took Martinez into custody and brought him to the Santa Barbara County Jail.

SBSO Detectives have linked Martinez to at least fourteen cases in Santa Barbara County alone. He’s believed to have stolen at least $50,000. No money was recovered during his arrest.

He faces charges of Fraud, Grand Theft, and Fiduciary Elder Abuse. He’s currently in the Santa Barbara County Jail on $50,000 bail. However, he will remain in jail on a no bail warrant in San Luis Obispo County. His arraignment is scheduled for Friday, July 17, 2009 in North Santa Barbara County.

If you or someone you know was a victim of Martinez and have not reported it, you are encouraged to contact SBSO Detective Charles Cooley at 805-934-6176.

By Eve Glicksman

Staff Writer, myOptumHealth

Older adults may face a higher risk of getting treated improperly. They may be frail and unable to stand up for themselves. Some don’t think as clearly as they used to. Or they may depend on others to manage their bills.

All these things can open the door for people to take advantage of seniors. This could include physical abuse, emotional mistreatment, neglect or financial scams. Sometimes it is the result of a caregiver facing extra stress, but this is still not a reason to abuse you.

If you are a senior, don’t let yourself be a target. Protect yourself from being abused in these ways:

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.