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

Health and support listings

By Phyllis Day, Times Staff Writer
July 21, 2009

Elder Abuse Hotline: To report suspected cases of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, or those 60 or older who are being hurt or taken advantage of by someone you know, call toll-free 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) . Sponsored by the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

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.

Seniors increasingly targeted by abusers

By NICOLE C. BRAMBILA

THE DESERT SUN

JULY 18, 2009

Mom wasn’t always given a bath and was permitted to wear her pajamas in public. The caretaker, although a live-in, couldn’t always be found in the middle of the night for emergencies. Expensive jewelry, collected over a lifetime, went missing.

The abuse was apparent, but without a power of attorney over her elderly parents’ health care or executive power over the family trust, Kathleen Jonas felt helpless to do anything.

“It was a nightmare. I knew what was going down, but my big mistake was not going to the police. It didn’t occur to me,” said the Palm Desert resident, who has parents that require around-the-clock care.

Jonas’ story is far from unique.

Roughly, 200,000 California seniors are victims of elder abuse each year.

The National Center on Elder Abuse in Newark, Del., estimates that more than 1 million seniors suffer abuse or neglect each year.

Consumers are bilked of nearly $40 million every year in telemarketing scams, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Seniors account for more than half of those scams.

Advocates say being proactive is the best defense.

“Trust your gut,” Walsh said. “That’s the bottom line. If you think something’s wrong, it probably is.”

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.

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.

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

July 14, 2009

by Nick Johnson

For many people, the thought of nursing home neglect is upsetting at the least. For those individuals who have elderly relatives in a home or other elderly care facility, the idea of it is unfathomable.

All too often, however, elder abuse and nursing home neglect take place in this country and in others. For those who do not know how to spot this kind of problem, there are signs and symptoms of neglect to look for. Often, elderly individuals who are victims of neglect or elder abuse do not show the kinds of symptoms that one would always expect, and some of them are also not capable of articulating their problems well enough for their friends and relatives to understand what is really happening to them.

Nursing home neglect and elder abuse have symptoms that are sometimes physical, such as cuts, bruises, and other problems. In addition, however, mental and emotional abuse and neglect can leave marks that are not so easily seen. These can linger and become more problematic as they pray on the mind of the elderly individual.

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.

Former Jackson County attorney will serve at least six years in prison for embezzlement

by Danielle Quisenberry | Jackson Citizen Patriot

July 17, 2009

Former Jackson County lawyer Richard McQuillan said he considers it a “lifelong obligation” to pay back the heirs of an estate he said he plundered to help people in the Dominican Republic.

“It is my sincere desire to get out, to work and earn this,” said McQuillan, 55, who earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of embezzling more than $20,000 from the estate of Robert Howard, who died in December 2006 at age 84.

First, McQuillan is to serve at least six years in prison.

Jackson County Circuit Judge John McBain went well beyond state sentencing guidelines, which called for 10 to 23 months in prison or jail, and sentenced McQuillan on Thursday to six to 10 years in prison.

McBain said the guidelines did not adequately reflect the amount of money stolen — more than $800,000 — and McQuillan’s abuse of his position of trust.

“Action of an attorney like you, it damages the reputation of every attorney in the country,” McBain said.