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Elder Abuse

Elder Abuse Specialist
2008-06-05 03:13:00
Elder Abuse Specialist Full Time An excellent full time position with flexible hours is available at The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention at The Hebrew Home at Riverdale ? a nationally acclaimed not-for-profit, geriatric center located on 19 acres along the Hudson River. This position will be responsible for day to day management of ...
Alarming Social Trend - It Can Happen to Anyone!
2008-06-02 06:01:00
By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG Staff WriterNot long ago, a Plattsburgh woman forced her dementia-impaired housemate to kneel on hot tarmac; a Utica man just last week was sentenced for letting his mother starve to death covered in her own excrement -- those are just two cases in an alarming social trend.Across the nation and even in the North Country, the elderly are more often falling prey to those they love and trust the most.In the last decade, there's been a drastic increase in the number of abuse and neglect cases involving the elderly and many more go unreported each year.It can involve neglect, emotional trauma, physical abuse or financial exploitation and typically happens to people in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s."Elder abuse and mistreatment is an equal-opportunity social issue. It can happen to anyone," said Art Mason, of Lifespan of Greater Rochester, during a recent elder-abuse training seminar.
A Detective?s Case Files Of Exploitation
2008-05-29 02:41:00
by Joe RoubicekWhile the number of violent crimes in the U.S. is decreasing, financial crimes against the elderly are increasing as a result of the aging of the population and greater concentration of wealth among older people. According to a 2005 Senior Forum Report by the White House Conference On Aging, only one in 100 cases of financial abuse is reported, and there are millions of financial abuse victims each year.The money is certainly there for the taking: persons over 50 control at least 70% of the nation?s household net worth. 75% of victims of financial abuse are between the ages of 70 and 89. The majority are female, frail and mentally impaired.With each new case I realized that the key is not deception of the elderly, but exploitation of common disabilities this population suffers. Exploiters were being recognized as crafty scammers when they were simply exploiting the victim?s disabilities.I had no idea at the time that my law enforcement career was about to focus on a b...
Caretaker Allegedly Bilks 86-Year-Old
2008-05-21 00:49:00
When Dennis Reeves Cooper said "Occasionally, we are able to break a blockbuster story before the Citizen gets it and they often follow with their own version of the story a day or so later." on May 9, 2008 after running the story "Elder Abuse Hits Home: The Clara Fernandez Story." he didn't know just how prophetic those words would become when days later the Key West Citizen jumps on the bandwagon to headline Elder Abuse Caretaker Allegedly Bilks 86-Year-OldKey West,Florida USA by Mandy Bolen A Big Pine Key woman remained in jail Monday afternoon, facing charges of elderly exploitation. She is accused of stealing from an elderly man she cared for in Marathon. Felicia Sheppard, 54, told a Monroe County sheriff's detective that she was a "good Christian" and would not hurt her 86-year-old charge, reports say.Nevertheless, detectives believe Sheppard drained the victim's checking and savings accounts, wrote checks to herself and used the money to buy herself clothes, jewelry and a ...
Key West ,The Africans Buried at Higgs Beach and Zephanias Kingsly
2008-05-20 18:45:00
Key West , Florida. USA .- by Ray Fernandez A lot of you have been by the cemetery on Higgs Beach and have heard about the Africans buried there.Some said they died and were buried there in the name of historical truth these people were murdered, when you shackle someone hands and feet without food or medicine for months, they just don't happen to die, they are murdered for financial gain . Now that we got that out of the way we'll get on with the rest of the story. The life story of Zephaniah Kingsley (1765-1843), alleged smuggler, trainer and trader of slaves, more certainly Florida planter and man of affairs.One popular anecdote about Kingsley, often repeated and published at least twice, tells of the capture by a Coast Guard gunboat* of 350 Africans whom, so the story goes, Kingsley was attempting to land illegally the government after confiscating the human cargo could find no one capable of taking care of the Africans except Kingsley himself.Consequently, they were put in hi...
Clara and Al on August 2004
2008-05-18 19:30:00
Clara and Al August 2004by Al FernandezClara's thoughts and activities revolved around simple daily living, weekend outings, evening trips to the mall, getting her nails done and most of all, peace of mind. Clara chose to live with Al, a son that offered love and sanity, unlike the world Raul.This is the "Rebuttal Site" of ElderAbuseHelp.Org by Al Fernandez and Life's Partner William Hart... for several years I just have just ignored the site.... but hence the saying "You repeat a lie enough times, and people start to believe it...I Decided to take a look, I am glad I did because now I realize where the attorneys appointed by the court and on Clara's quarter get their evidencewhich they offer as proof to mislead the court into thinking that Clara really is abused and needs a guardian when Florida Statues F.S.§744.331(6)(b): Chapter 744, Florida Statutes, is very precise : "Florida Guardianship Law." Florida's guardianship laws were rewritten by the Legislature in 1989 to ensure ...
New York Governor Paterson Gets Serious On Elder Abuse
2008-05-15 06:10:00
by Brooklyn Eagle (edit@brooklyneagle.net),Assemb-lymember Alec Brook-Krasny (D-Coney Island, Dyker Heights) announced that Governor Paterson has signed into law a measure that makes assaulting a senior citizen a class D violent felony, helping curb predatory attacks by those who target the elderly (A.9818).?Society cannot tolerate criminals who assault and abuse the elderly,? Brook-Krasny said. ?Elder abuse is a heinous crime, and we must take immediate action to stop this type of violence.?The new law will increase the penalty for assaulting a senior citizen from a class A misdemeanor to second-degree assault ? a class D violent felony ? if a person 65 years or older is assaulted by someone more than 10 years younger. ?Our senior citizens deserve to feel safe and protected,? Brook-Krasny said. ?This law will ensure that criminals who assault and victimize the elderly will be severely punished for their shameful behavior.?The Assembly also passed legislation this year that will incr...
New Task Force Targets Elder Abuse
2008-05-15 06:06:00
Honolulu,HI,USAThe Prosecutor's office has created an elder abuse unit dedicated increasing public awareness of crimes against those over 60 years of age and prosecuting those guilty of such crimes.It's not something we like to think about, someone abusing our seniors. And that abuse doesn't have to be physical, it could be financial. And seniors are reluctant to talk about it.
Elder Abuse is Everyone?s Problem:
2008-05-10 01:00:00
Excerpt from Paradise CostsA mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.?What food might it contain?? the mouse wondered.He became frightened and devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning to all: ?There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!?The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head, and said, ?Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.?The mouse scurried to the pig and told him, ?There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!?The pig sympathized, but said, ?I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it. I?d be very careful if I were you, but it?s no threat to me.?The mouse turned to the cow and said, ?There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!?The cow sighed and said, ?Wow, Mr. Mouse. I?m sorry for...
Protecting The Elderly With David Kessler
2008-05-06 06:19:00
Financial exploitation of the elderly is a CRIME. Too often, incidents of stealing from an elderly victim are misinterpreted as a "family matter," or the elderly individual is blamed for giving the suspect their money or property. A common misperception is that the perpetrator did not "take" the money or property from the victim, but that the victim "gave" their valuables to the perpetrator ? therefore, how can it be a crime?David Kessler can answer this question based upon the hundreds of cases he has investigated involving financial exploitation of the elderly. David's investigations have resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of PREDATORS.David M. Kessler is a retired Police Officer (former Commander of the Financial Crimes Unit) with the Dekalb County Police Department in Decatur, Georgia. He has dedicated his professional life to providing education and guidance for public and private sector professionals on the topic of exploitation of the elderly, and making certain tho...
Video warns seniors of exploitation by family
2008-05-03 15:25:00
Click on Video to View It!By T.J. GREANEY of the Tribune?s staff Sometimes adult children are abusing drugs or alcohol, sometimes they?re resentful of their childhoods and feel their owed, and sometimes they?re simply opportunistic, but financial exploitation by children of their elderly parents is a problem only now beginning to be widely reported. "A lot of people think it?s within the family so it?s a civil matter, and some people even think, ?Well, I?m going to inherit the money anyway, so I?m just collecting my inheritance early,? " said Marta Fontaine, adult protective services planner for the health and senior services department. "We?ve seen it get to the extent where someone gets the deed to a home or opens joint bank accounts. People have signed over CDs. It can be quite extreme." Fontaine said this area of the law is relatively new. Missouri first passed a financial exploitation of the elderly and disabled statute in 2000. It has been revised twice to make it easier to p...
NO LONGER THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
2008-05-01 17:45:00
Intimidating Family Members: When a family member petitions or questions the need for a guardian , the unethical lawyers will make "conclusory" statements maligning the family member(s), claiming they are not fit to be appointed as guardian. "Conclusory statements" are those which are merely unproven allegations not supported by real evidence.Our investigation of court records disclosed that the "family blame game" is a popular modus operandi. When family members don't know their rights or how to legally oppose false allegations, the guardianship perps are left free to acquire the ward's assets for themselves.What Happens When the Money's Gone? The greedy, unethical guardian, after bleeding out the estate (whether through unnecessary and excessive legal fees or by outright theft), petitions the court to withdraw. How many bad guardians do you think have any sense of duty or obligation to stay on the assignment pro bono, without getting paid, when there is no money left? THE WARD,...
Domestic Elder Abuse in Louisiana: The Case of August Baxter
2008-05-01 13:30:00
Ray,Could I post something about my late father's abuse? -Eric C. BaxterMy late father, August Baxter, was an elderly and disabled man when, as his wife lay dying, his home was invaded by interlopers who appointed themselves to be his "caregivers". He was coerced into signing legal instruments he could not read and which were artfully designed to imprison him and rob him of his assets. His body was ultimately found in the lake behind his home, just days before a legal resolution seemed at hand. The manner of his death was classified as "undetermined", but his apparent drowning in two feet of water resulted from negligence, violence or the application of psychological abuse.Throughout his long ordeal, family members reporting his exploitation, urgently warning of his endangerment and attempting to arrange the legal assistance he requested were subjected to acts of official reprisal and intimidation. State law defines elder abuse and criminalizes any failure to report it; it does not...
Please Help My Grandmother!
2008-05-01 13:05:00
by Jason Fernandez My father had the financial ability to care for his elderly mother ripped away from him due to greedy lawyers and sweetheart deals, tantamount to judicial misconduct.I will fight tooth and claw to see that the lawyer, the state appointed guardian and even the judge are eventually held accountable for the suffering they are causing my grandmother. $400 an hour? For what? Its DISGUSTING! It wreaks of a shady back-room deal, and little notice is given for my family to dispute the judge's motions, adding to suspicions that the guardian, the lawyer and the judge may be in collusion. My grandfather worked hard for that money. This is not what he intended the money to go to!Abuse of Chapter 744 (State Forced Guardianship) allows courts to take money from families and use it to pay lawyers to "guard it" is like using a fox to guard the henhouse! Until, of course....its all gone. Until my grandmother is penniless and destitute.We need to draw national media attention to t...
Elder Abuse - News Jounalist - Janet Phelan and Others, Help Secure Televis
2008-04-21 13:04:00
After hearing the stories and seeing the pictures about abducted mothers being taken to "Warehouses to die", and actually being placed on he floor next to the trash, I became so scared that my mother could meet a similar fate, all I could think of was to rush home and take my mother someplace safe.This abuse of the elderly is truly un-believable, we would like for you to meet some of these victims. You will not believe what you will see or hear, it is that horrible!The elder abuse victims and the families that I have met through this web site are really scared out of their wits, and they are afraid to talk to anyone. When they showed me photos of their parent in the nursing home the Guardian had put her, I became sick to my stomach.Just as soon as they found out she was taking pictures of the disgusting enviroment that her mother was subject to , her mothers court appointed guardian prohibited her from seeing her mother!These stories are just begging to be told!! -FOX NEWS knows it,...
Elder Abuse Hits Home:The Clara Fernandez Story
2008-04-19 13:30:00
by Rhonda Linseman-Saunders : Key West The Newspaper THE NAME OF THE SCAM IS THE GUARDIANSHIP SYSTEM. LAWYERS HIRE OTHER LAWYERS TO HELP ?MANAGE? AN ELDERLY PERSON?S ESTATE.AND THEY ALL BILL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AN HOUR . . . UNTIL ALL THE ASSETS ARE GONE.AND THE JUDGES LET IT HAPPENExemplified the American dream, especially for Cuban exiles. In 1965, after Fidel Castro took power in Cuba, Dr. and Mrs. Fernandez lost their successful private medical clinic and newly-built home. The new regime seized the property and turned it into a truck stop.The Fernandez family escaped to the United States and ultimately settled in Key West where Dr. Fernandez built a successful medical career, including having served as the Monroe County Medical Examiner for more than 20 years. As many know, the Fernandez family would became one of the most respected and beloved families in Key West. Clara was known as the financial wizard behind the family?s successful business and investment decisions, but she...
Blogger's of Note
2008-04-19 13:00:00
Wasting assets away in ?margaritaville?
Baby Boomers Are In For Some Rude Surprises
2008-04-17 12:55:00
NORTH WILMINGTON, Del. - April 16, 2008 (WPVI) -- New Castle County Police arrested 46-year-old Louanna Gary, of the 2200 block of Rosewood Drive, in the community of Lancashire. She is charged with intentionally abusing an infirmed adult and causing harm to an 82-year-old male, for whom she was supposed to be providing care. On February 20, 2008, emergency personnel responded to the home after Gary called 911 to report the victim needed medical attention. The victim was transported to the hospital and found to have a core body temperature of 87 degrees. He was admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment of severe dehydration, hypothermia, and numerous sores to his back, legs and groin. A joint investigation between the county and Attorney General's Office has revealed Gary has been responsible for taking care of the victim for the past two years. In addition to his poor medical condition, the unkempt condition of the home was also unhealthy.-----------------------------------...
It's a Scary, Scary Situation! : "I Would Never Have Believed Such A Thing
2008-04-14 13:04:00
Port Charlote, Florida USATed Stith Sr. left his Cincinnatti farm to visit a friend in Florida.He probably won't return home alive.As of Monday afternoon, he'd been seven days without food and water, a decision made by his son who left his father to die in Florida and returned home.Monday night, it couldn't be ascertained if Ted Stith Sr. was alive. Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte where he had been hospitalized said he had been discharged.And one of his best friends who has been by his side for the past week had been barred from visiting him.Ted Stith wanted to live. He apparently had no advance directive, no living will. But even though he declared his will to live in front of a patient advocate, she said it was just a reflex and the efforts to cause his death continued and may have been hastened.Contacted Monday evening at his home in Cincinnattus by The North Country Gazette and asked about his father's condition and his responsiveness, Ted Stith said "It's none ...
Tracy Breton - Journal reporter wins award for series on elder abuse.
2008-04-05 13:10:00
Journal reporter wins award for series on elder abuse01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, March 30, 2008Tracy Breton, a member of The Providence Journal?s investigative reporting team, has won a media award for regional/local reporting from The American Society on Aging.The award, which was presented at the organization?s conference in Washington, D.C., Friday, is for a series of stories she wrote last year about elder abuse and exploitation.She was recognized ?for her incisive articles? about financial abuse perpetrated against two elderly women in New York City by a ?helper? who is now serving a prison sentence, and about ?the devastating ?? and costly ?? effects of a feud between two sisters over the care of their mother,? who suffers from dementia. Breton wrote 25 stories about that family feud, which pitted the daughters of Laurette Borduas Eifrig, who now resides in assisted-living in Providence, against one another in a protracted court battle over who would have control over their mother...
Oklahoma Drops the Ball on Elder Abuse Bill
2008-03-31 12:30:00
Mcalester,OK,USASenate Bill 1900 would have increased penalties for abusing the elderly. I would have fully supported this bill; unfortunately, it will not be heard. The chairman of my committee (Criminal Justice and Corrections) and/or the speaker of the House decided that SB 1900 would not be heard.District 17 state Rep. Brian Renegar: House of Representatives, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 326, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105. Capitol office 405-557-7381.
Journal Reporter Wins Award for Series on Elder Abuse
2008-03-30 12:37:00
Rhode Island News Tracy Breton, a member of The Providence Journal?s investigative reporting team, has won a media award for regional/local reporting from The American Society on Aging.The award, which was presented at the organization?s conference in Washington, D.C., Friday, is for a series of stories she wrote last year about elder abuse and exploitation.She was recognized ?for her incisive articles? about financial abuse perpetrated against two elderly women in New York City by a ?helper? who is now serving a prison sentence, and about ?the devastating ?? and costly ?? effects of a feud between two sisters over the care of their mother,? who suffers from dementia.Breton wrote 25 stories about that family feud, which pitted the daughters of Laurette Borduas Eifrig, who now resides in assisted-living in Providence, against one another in a protracted court battle over who would have control over their mother?s finances and living situation.Because the sisters couldn?t agree on wha...
Sumter duo faces theft, forgery, fraud charges
2008-03-29 12:00:00
South Carolina,USAMichael L. Baxley, 33, of 5370 Christine Drive, and Janet M. Baxley, 38, of 31 Gaddy St., were charged Wednesday with exploitation of a vulnerable adult; financial transaction card fraud; burglary; petit larceny; and multiple counts of forgery.According to a release, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office Investigation Division has been working on several cases involving these two suspects for more than a year. Reports said the two befriended an 83-year-old man and forged more than $20,000 worth of checks in the man's name. The suspects also, according to reports, pried open the victim's window and stole money from his wallet, resulting in the burglary charge. Investigators said the suspects have admitted to removing copper from air conditioners from approximately 100 residences throughout the county, and the investigation is ongoing. More charges are likely, investigators said, as information is gathered and victims are identified.Thank you Thank You, Sumter Count...
California Panel Approves Wolk Bill to Increase Reporting to Elder Abuse
2008-03-27 14:00:00
SACRAMENTO?Legislation by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to help local district attorneys investigate and prosecute elder abuse cases that occur in long-term care facilities was unanimously approved by the Assembly Public Safety Committee."Every year hundreds of cases of physical abuse in California nursing homes and assisted living centers, including potential felonies such as assault, rape, and sexual molestation, are reported to state licensing agencies, but not to local law enforcement," said Wolk. "This bill builds on the ombudsman reporting system now in place and makes sure with a simple cross-report that the most serious cases are brought to the immediate attention of local law enforcement, before evidence is lost or destroyed, or witnesses forget key details, making it impossible to prosecute the criminals committing these horrible crimes."Under existing law, local ombudsmen are assigned to monitor facilities that provide care for elderly and dependent adults. Ombudsmen ...
The Danger of Being a Senior Citizen
2008-03-26 12:00:00
By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - Star Beacon Ashtabula,OH,USA Martha Gillespie knows the danger involved with being a senior citizen.As program administrator for the Ashtabula County Department of Job and Family Services (ACDJFS), Gillespie hands out tissues and advice to local seniors, helping them through tough times and confusing issues. But for all Gillespie?s work, her most heartbreaking cases involve elder abuse.?Last year we had many cases of elder abuse and it was shocking to me not only that this could happen, but that seniors and the people around them don?t really know much about elder abuse, neglect and exploitation,? Gillespie said.Abridged=>>
Abducted Elder Manages to Escape to Freedom - Sues Daughter to Regain His P
2008-03-24 12:00:00
Danville,VA,USA By REBECCA BLANTON - A woman being sued by her father is barred from selling or transferring any of his real estate until the suit is resolved.Pittsylvania County Circuit Court Judge Charles Strauss has issued an order expanding the temporary injunction that was granted on Feb. 22 against Emma and Bobby Doss.The couple is being sued by Moncie Lee Doss, who claims Emma, his daughter, and her husband held him against his will for two years, drugged him and sold off his property after gaining power of attorney over his affairs.Moncie Lee Doss said he managed to escape from the couple and get to safety, according to court documents filed in the case. He is now suing to regain his property and damages.Doss alleges his daughter auctioned off his farm for approximately $670,000 and diverted $317,000 in his tobacco buyout payments for her use.Strauss said it appeared that Moncie Lee Doss had raised a ?substantial factual and legal basis for the order.?The injunction prevents...
Elder Abuse On The Rise
2008-03-24 11:55:00
Fall River Herald News - MA, USA by By Deborah Allard Bristol Elder Services investigated 243 cases of elder abuse from July to December of 2007, showing a disturbing upward trend of abuse and mistreatment of local senior citizens.The year before, the elder advocacy agency opened 202 cases of elder abuse.Reports ranged from physical, emotional and sexual abuse, to financial exploitation, self-neglect and caretaker neglect ? the latter two ranking among the highest forms of elder abuse.?It does seem to be an increasing problem for more and more elders,? said Karen Statser, Bristol Elder Services? director of programs.?A lot of people hope that if they reach that stage of life and are healthy, they should be able to enjoy it,? said Dias-Rezendes.?We know that there are probably more cases that go unreported,? said Statser. ?As much as possible, we try to preserve their way of life for them.?Abuse cases are up statewide, with a 12 percent rise in the last two years. Since July of 2007,...
Predatory Practices Reach Epidemic Proportions : How Many Families Must Be
2008-03-21 12:15:00
The brazen fleecing of our elder citizens seems to get worst by the day with an out of control Judiciary system that rubber stamps the take over of elder finances in contrary to the the spirit of the laws that are clear on how Guardianships are to be established and used in the event that the elder has no one to look for him/her, is it any wonder that others are following suit in the feeding frenzy that follows . Our Question and that of our readers is : How Bad does it need to get before our lawmakers take action ? How many families must be destroyed ?In August 2007, investigator Eric Bremner found evidence in a shredder at Olympic Escrow that he says confirmed borrowers' complaints that they had never signed the mortgage documents that pushed them into a financial hell.Bremner found pieces of documents that had been cut to remove signatures and notary seals. Loan applications, escrow agreements and other documents had signatures that had been taped on, he said."That validated the...
From Key West to Hawaii Elders Wealth Ripe for Picking
2008-03-21 12:00:00
Honolulu,HI,USA By Alexandre Da Silva the perpetrator Matthew M. Ako III, who was arrested during the weekend, has been charged 25 times for various offenses since 1991, state criminal records show. He was found guilty of burglary four times.Spallina said police are still searching for another man suspected of helping Ako ransack the home of 79-year-old Yaeko Matsumoto on March 7. Police said the men locked Matsumoto in her bathroom and stole numerous items, including a portable safe, before fleeing in her 2003 Cadillac.Matsumoto is recovering from broken ribs and a collapsed lung she suffered during the attack. Her husband, former City Councilman Toraki Matsumoto, 78, was not home when the robbery happened.Police found the Cadillac abandoned on Loaa Street. Inside, they discovered a key chain with a photo of a man whom police determined was a victim of a separate auto theft.Anyone with information about the cases can call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Elder abuse ? Ageism ? The Silent Shameful Crime of America
2008-03-21 12:00:00
By JOAN BURGEElder abuse has long been called the ?The Silent Crime?, when in fact it is anything but. Research and data show the millions of elderly citizens in America are victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation each year.But we must recognize and not avoid the issues of elder abuse and ageism in America. Read it All =>>
New York State Lawmakers Approve "Granny's Law"
2008-03-21 12:00:00
New York.-USA NY1.NewsState lawmakers unanimously approved a law Tuesday that toughens penalties for assaults against the elderly.The so-called "Granny's Law" makes it a felony to assault anyone 65 or older, as long as the attacker is at least ten years younger. The penalty is up to seven years in prison. The measure was introduced in the face of public outcry over the attack last year on a 101-year-old woman in Queens. A half hour later an 85-year-old woman was also punched in the face and robbed by the same man. Jack Rhodes was charged on numerous counts in connection with the attacks and faces up to 90 years in prison if convicted.
NY Governor Paterson Announces $800 Million in Additional Spending Reduct
2008-03-21 11:55:00
New York City , USA .- Governor Paterson announced today an additional $800 million in spending reductions! It is absolutely critical that you send in letters to key legislators in support of geriatric mental health funding. Click here for the press release regarding the spending reductions. As you know, the Assembly added $2.5 million for geriatric mental health and chemical dependency services in its one House budget bill. The Senate has added $500,000 for geriatric mental health. The mental health conference committee is beginning to meet this week to discuss final budget negotiations.We urge you to send in the below letters to the key legislators, thanking them for their support and asking them to support the Assembly ask in the final budget. Please print and mail in the following:Letter to Senator GoldenLetter to Senator MorahanLetter to Assemblymember DinowitzLetter to Assemblymember RiveraLetter to Assemblymember OrtizYou can simply fill out your name and addresses, sign ...
'Elder Torture' Alive and Well in the USA
2008-03-20 12:00:00
While we are concerned with the torture of enemy combatants , our own elders are being tortured everyday in America, some face a slow death by starvation, other are stripped of their wealth , their dignity , their families are destroyed and they are held prisoners in their own homes. This was a disturbing case of elder abuse caught on tape? a 90 year old Baltimore man beaten by his caretaker. The victim?s daughter is now pushing for a law in her dad?s name that would stiffen elder abuse penalties.The victim?s daughter, Jaki Taylor, made the discovery thanks to cameras she had put in her home. The caretaker Anastacia Oluoch was arrested and charged in the beating. But she was able to make bail and eventually flee from the law. Taylor says, ?It makes me really irate that she bailed herself out with the money I had been paying her to take care of my dad.Eight days before the trial, she flees the country and goes back home to Nairobi, Kenya.? The caretaker never stood trial. That prompt...
Senator Alesi,R-Perinton Want to Make Reporting Elder Abuse 'Mandatory'
2008-03-19 12:15:00
Elder abuse is an escalating and often neglected problem in the United States, as highlighted by a recent Lifespan report that documented 1,300 cases in the Rochester-Finger Lakes area alone.Many of our families rely on institutions or specialized care at home for aging family members, and it is essential that safe, professional care be available at all times.To combat this growing issue, I have again introduced legislation (S.1916) that would require individuals treating or caring for people with physical or emotional symptoms of abuse to report this crime to authorities.Those who knowingly or willingly fail to report abuse shall be civilly liable for the damages caused by such failure and will be guilty of a Class "A" misdemeanor.This legislation has now passed the Senate five years in a row but has languished in committee in the Assembly.However, by holding nursing homes and caretakers responsible for reporting symptoms of abuse, we can help protect our vulnerable citizens.Alesi,...
Abuse of The Elderly Under Reported
2008-03-19 12:10:00
At a conference on the Neglect and Abuse of the Elderly in Brussels, Belgium, it was reported that more than 80% of abuse of the elderly is not reported and not well researched. Surveys carried out in a number of European Union (EU) countries indicate that the vast majority of abuses, either physical or financial, are committed by family members or caregivers. Speakers called for this 'hidden' abuse to be highlighted and for the elderly to be granted the same level of human rights and dignity as the rest of society. Source=>>
Elder abuse ? ageism ? The silent shameful crime of America
2008-03-19 11:37:00
By JOAN BURGE WNESJW.ComElder abuse has long been called the ?The Silent Crime?, when in fact it is anything but. Research and data show the millions of elderly citizens in America are victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation each year.It is difficult and uncomfortable to consider ourselves becoming frail and vulnerable. The uncertainty of our future and the loss of our own independence and youth cause us fear. Fear is a normal emotion that we all have, especially about our aging process.But we must recognize and not avoid the issues of elder abuse and ageism in America.In 1964, the last year that you could be born to be a ?Baby Boomer? the Civil Rights Act became a law.Provisions include Title VII, which bans workplace discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, and national origin, but not age? Congress requested that the U.S. Labor Department study whether age bias laws were needed.On July 14, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Older American Act, wh...
THE SKY IS FALLING: One Third of Boomers May be Victims
2008-03-18 12:00:00
Irene A. Masiello / author: PARADISE COSTS--We?re living in a voracious society with predators lurking in lending and in legislation not to mention a plethora of predatory offenders ready to lash out at the vulnerable.In nature, predatory animals stalk the weak in order to survive. They slither along the brush on the plains or in the shadows of forestry ready to devour their prey. While humankind considers itself more "civilized," too many do likewise.In life, business or politics, if common decency or, God forbid, human life gets in the way of profit margin, people are viewed as the expendable commodity. The bottom line for too many: get all they can and when an escape from the plundering is needed let?s delve into the compelling social issues of the times.Observe the media frenzy about how much weight the celebrities gained or who's in which rehab, what major league baseball players are alleged to be involved with steroids and Congress? interest in less than 100 professional athl...
Seniors Golden Years Turn Into Golden Fears
2008-03-17 12:05:00
Yakima, WA . USA by Leah Beth Ward Whenever Moleen Cline remembers the neighborly knock on her door two years ago, she still gets a shudder of anxiety. Duane Lee Ortiz put on a good show, talking his way into Cline's condo in Yakima by offering to wash her windows inside and out. While he was at it, he'd shine up the mirrors, too. He was down on his luck, he told her, and just needed to make a little money. "You have this kind of maternal feeling toward him. I just let him have the run of the house," she said. Sure enough, a day later when Cline went to put onthe diamond ring her husband had given her two years before he died, it wasgone. Yakima police immediately suspected Ortiz, who two years earlier hadswindled more than $100,000 from a retired machinist living in aYakima mobile home court. For that crime, prosecutors had to plea bargain and ended up with only a seven-day sentence."The punishment did not fit the crime," recalled Therese Murphy, deputy prosecuting attorney for Y...
Police Point finger at Social Services, DSS points finger at ?
2008-03-17 12:00:00
South Carolina. USA by Patricia Burkett S.C. Now.ComMary Terry. She died in February as a result of severe malnutrition. Police say she had not been fed for at least 30 days when they found her. Two family members were in charge of her.However, other family members have sued the State Department of Social Services, the Darlington County Department of Social Services, caretaker Lisa Gibson and social worker Ada Antoine, who were assigned to the case.On Friday, Darlington Police arrested a social worker in the Terry case. D.S.S. employee Lisa Gibson turned herself in. Police say she checked on Terry and eventually Terry's mother, and did not report when Terry was near death. Her charge is a misdemeanor.Police say Terry's son, Timothy Sims, and his cousin, Less Williams, were Terry's caretakers.Authorities say the two men essentially starved her to death. Both men are charged with abuse of a vulnerable adult resulting in death. Family members Andrew Gurley and Clarence Sims filed a ...
Justice Often SLOW For Elder Crimes
2008-03-11 12:05:00
Raleigh , North Carolina. USA by Thomas Goldsmith, thomas.goldsmith@newsobserver.c-om or (919) 829-8929 Staff Writer for News Observer.ComCLINTON - So far, Mary Morris has spent three years and $73,000 to get back just part of the $475,000 that was withdrawn from her mother's accounts by the relative who was overseeing the elderly woman's affairs.Morris' mother agreed, three years before she died at age 96 in 2004, to give legal power of attorney to a grandnephew. It's a step that many advocates for older people say should be considered when people begin to show signs they are having difficulty managing finances, selling property, making acquisitions and buying insurance.But a caution always accompanies that advice: Be careful whom you trust, and be careful about giving total authority to one person."You need to make sure that you either thoroughly trust your agent or you have some kind of controls on the agent's abilities to move assets," said Bob Mason, an Asheboro lawyer and ...
Alberta Elderly Left To Die
2008-03-11 12:00:00
OTTAWA, ONTARIO-"The president of NUPGE, the National Union of Public & General Employees, accused the Alberta government today of systematically stripping the elderly of their rights.""Most of these assisted living facilities are unlicensed, unregulated and unmonitored. It means the elderly are left essentially on their own. It's simply unacceptable that in this day and age in a country as rich, in a province as rich as Alberta, we can't do more for them."Clancy says the change in legislation began 30 years ago and has left the elderly without the protection afforded most Canadians. Ruth Adria, president of the Elder Advocates of Alberta Society, says there is extreme pressure placed on the guardians of the elderly to sign non-resuscitation consent forms when the elderly are admitted."As a result when an elderly person becomes ill, particularly in a locked unit where there's often little or virtually no staff, the elderly person is often just left to die and there's no inte...
Advocate Volunteers to Document Elder Abuse with Videos and Photos
2008-03-07 13:10:00
I would like to offer to make you tube videos for free for any one involved in guardianship or conservatorship issues. Just send me the footage and I can edit it. If you only have photos we can make something out of that also.You can write the text that you would like it to say, and I will add it to the video.just E mail Annie for more info here =>>and make sure you foward your story to us here=>
For Many, The Golden Years Aren't So Golden
2008-03-07 12:50:00
Elder abuse is widespread, yet few resources are directed toward combatting it. One Senate committee, for example, found that less than 2 percent of federal money targeted for abuse prevention is spent to help elders.But the Baby Boom generation, now heading into its senior years, is focusing attention on the issue, as Jennifer Fernandez's story in the News & Record on Sunday pointed out.That story also showed that the problem isn't just substandard care in nursing homes. It's also financial abuse. Studies show that the elderly are the ones most often falling victim to these scams. Aware that many older people have substantial savings, and aware that aging may have left the elderly isolated or diminished their faculties, scammers see them as prime targets.Clearly, the nation must target the abuse and exploitation of elders or else the elderly will keep getting targeted. The elderly must not be preyed upon by anyone ? from family members to Internet scammers.
The Price of Abusing an Elder; "Not even some Lawyers are immune!"
2008-03-07 12:45:00
Judge to Lawyer: "Get a Shovel, Get Job"!AUBURN, Maine ? A former lawyer convicted of stealing from clients has been told by a judge to get a job, even if it means shoveling snow off roofs.John Frankenfield appeared before a judge in Auburn after being accused of violating a condition of probation. The judge told him to report back next month with a plan for paying back $219,000 in court-ordered restitution. So far, Frankenfield has paid back just $50.Justice Thomas Delahanty II took Frankenfield to task Wednesday. Delahanty told him to get a job and noted "there are a lot of roofs out there to be shoveled."!Frankenfield served about two years in prison after being convicted of skimming assets from his grandfather's estate. He also pleaded guilty to stealing $55,000 from clients.
Elder Abuse - F.B.I. Law Enforcement Bulletin - "Protecting the Elderly fro
2008-03-06 16:17:00
Investing in the future:"Protecting the elderly from financial abuse."The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin -"©2007 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission." Over the years, a shift in law enforcement priorities, as well as an increase in general awareness, has made most officers familiar with the concepts of spousal abuse and child abuse. Still, the term elder abuse raises questions among even the most seasoned law enforcement officers. From physical, emotional, or sexual abuse to financial exploitation, approximately 818,000 elderly individuals are victimized annually.Furthermore, experts estimate that only 1 in 10 cases of elder abuse gets reported.(1) Many elderly citizens must contend with a variety of health problems that limit their physical or mental functioning. Some become bedridden and cut off from normal contact with the rest of the world. At the same time, mental limitations leave many older citizens highly vulnerable to various forms of abuse.In Tennesse...
Senator Schumer Wants to Protect Elders
2008-03-03 12:50:00
By Jessica Wasmund jwasmund@post-journal.comSen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, is working on legislation against what he considers one of the greatest problems plaguing senior citizens.??For too long (this problem) has stayed hidden in the shadows and out of the public eye, and it?s called elder abuse,?? Schumer said. ??It comes in many different forms: from senior citizens suffering from neglect at the hand of a caregiver or financial exploitation where seniors are conned out of their life savings or property. These despicable acts jeopardize senior citizens, and what?s most disturbing is right now we?re seeing way too many cases across Upstate New York.??Schumer said there is a lack of attention being paid to the issue, as well as a lack of federal safeguards in place to protect America?s senior citizens.??Elder abuse has been swept under the rug for too long,?? Schumer said. ??Now with the baby boom generation growing older, we?re going to see an unfortunate spike in the number of...
Many Choose Not to Report Elder Abuse
2008-03-03 12:45:00
Colorado Springs,USA .- Gazette.Com by Lance Benzel For one elderly man in Colorado Springs, the problem wasn?t the beatings he occasionally suffered at the hands of his grown sons.It was the prospect they?d go to jail, and he?d end up in a nursing home. Crippled by poor health and financial hardship, he had no one else to look after him, no place to go and a powerful aversion to losing independence.In the end, he opted to stay home with his sons and endure the violence.?These are the kinds of dilemmas that we run into,? said Chief Deputy District Attorney Doug Miles, who recounted the man?s case as an example of the challenges involved in stopping the abuse and exploitation of the elderly.The crimes involve victims who are unable or unwilling to cooperate with law enforcement, abusers who double as caretakers, and social needs that the criminal justice system can?t address.And, authorities say, crimes against the elderly are underreported and likely on the rise.Now, with the help o...
Exclusive Interview with Editor of ElderAbuseHelp.Org
2008-03-02 13:00:00
An Doan is our most recent elder advocate, An asked to interview me regarding this epidemic of our century that's has spun out of control with no one to watch over the people that are supposed to protect our parents, but instead has turned into an orgy of frivilous billing and rubber stamping by the courts. So we have this un fortunate circumstance that when the elder abuse ends with the perpetrators , it then begins with the courts.Doan before we start this interview, I would like for you to tell our readers a little about yourself, but first let me ask you a question of my own. E.A. : How did you hear about ElderAbuseHelp.Org and what prompted you to ask the editor of E.A. for an interview of all people? An Doan: The reason on how I found you to interview is from an answer that I got from Yahoo! Answers when I was asking who may I interview regarding elderly abuse Tabitha Grace Smith from Agis.Com and Agis FamilyCare Groups said I could go and ask Ray, Editor of ElderAbuseHelp.Or...
Polygamy and Elder Abuse-Warning Signs-
2008-03-01 15:00:00
Last Week we talked about how Western Culture Encourages Polygamy by Paying Welfare Benefits for Separate Wives By TOM GODFREYand how Muslim men in polygamous marriages -- some with a harem of wives -- are receiving welfare and social benefits for each of their spouses.A lot of our most vocal liberal media and spokepersons think that it is great that the United States in the name of multiculturalism is embracing and protecting the practice of other cultures while the Elder Abuse Protection Laws Languish in Congress and Elder Abuse reaches Epidemic Proportions.A Muslim man is permitted to have up to four spouses.The average recipient with a child can receive about $1,500 monthly, city officials said."This is a law and there's nothing wrong with it.""Canada is a very liberal-minded country," Ali said. "Canada is way ahead of Britain in this respect."He said Britain recently began permitting husbands to collect benefits for each of their wives and we wondered ? The Unites States is a ...
Senator Schumer Wants the Goverment to Get Serious about Elder Abuse and So
2008-02-29 13:12:00
Auburn, New York, USA by Nate Robson U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on Wednesday said it was time for the federal government to get serious about elder abuse.Schumer said the swift passage of the Elder Justice Act, which is pending before the Senate's finance committee, would be the first piece of federal legislation to directly deal with elder abuse.Schumer said that in 2007, about 8,693 cases of elder abuse were reported in New York, with 120 cases reported in Cayuga County, but a study from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging shows that more than 80 percent of elder abuse goes unreported.Mark Miller, the New York state long-term care ombudsman with the New York State Office for the Aging, said the additional funding the Elder Justice Act provides would help improve the training for people who are accountable for monitoring abuse.The Elder Justice Act would allocate around $163 million for funding programs and conducting research.?It has a huge...
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