More elder abuse cases

Most common are physical abuse and neglect; financial abuse also on the rise

By Mavis Toh

June 7, 2009

Madam G.H. Teo has four children but wishes she had none.

The 79-year-old widow, who used to work as a seamstress, lives in a one-room flat in the Outram area and survives on the little that is left of her savings.

In May last year, she found her 48-year-old drug addict son milking her savings from a joint account. When confronted, he threw a stool at her.

He still comes back to ask for money, but her other children have not visited her in two years.

Madam Teo is a victim of neglect, and physical and financial abuse.

Help groups for the elderly worry that with the recession, such elder abuse cases will rise.

In a downturn, struggling couples with young children might neglect the needs of elderly family members, including medical and basic needs.

Ms Helen Ko, executive director of the Centre For Seniors, said: ‘When people are under pressure and financially strapped, there is a higher chance they will neglect the elderly.’

Mr Wong Lit Shoon, chief executive of the Singapore Action Group of Elders Counselling Centre, said calls to the centre were down by about 1,000 last year, compared to the more than 7,000 calls it received in 2007.

Callers request medical aid as well as report abuse.

Promoting bill to combat elder abuse

Last year, over 16,000 adults were abused, and it’s estimated that 73,000 adult abuse cases go unreported every year.

June 29, 2009

UP legislators are in Marquette Monday promoting a bill that would combat elder neglect, emotional, and physical abuse.

The bill would also focus on financial exploitation of the elderly.

It proposes tougher punishment for those committing offenses.

The legislators conducted an informal meeting at the Senior Center in Marquette today. Unfortunately, nobody attended the meeting, but with a 40 percent increase in elder abuse in Michigan, lawmakers say the issue is extremely important, and the the bill needs to be passed.

“Sometimes the people that gain these peoples trust are than taking their money, they abuse them in someway, and we just want to make sure that doesn’t happen,” says State Representative, Steve Lindberg.

SOURCE: WLUC TV6 – Marquette,Michigan,USA