Thursday, March 15, 2012
ELDER ABUSE NEWSFEED
1. ARIZONA (Tucson), KPHO, March 13, 2012
Home health worker convicted of patient theft
http://www.kpho.com/story/17150446/home-health-worker-convicted-of-theft
A 46-year-old former caregiver was found guilty on one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices and one count of theft/financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The thefts occurred over a seven-month period. The perpetrator faces anywhere from 6 ½ to 25 years in prison.
2. ARIZONA (Tucson), My Fox Phoenix, March 13, 2012
Caretaker Convicted of Defrauding Vulnerable Adult
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/justice/caretaker-convicted-of-defrauding-vulnerable-adult-3-13-2012
Over the course of seven months, a 46-year-old former caregiver defrauded a vulnerable adult of money in Tucson. The loss was discovered by the patient's family member, who received notices for insufficient funds.
3. CALIFORNIA (Santa Clara Valley), Mercury News, March 12, 2012
Los Gatos shorts: Free elder abuse seminar scheduled
http://www.mercurynews.com/los-gatos/ci_20159518/los-gatos-shorts-free-elder-abuse-seminar-scheduled
Silicon Valley Village, a nonprofit organization that deals with senior issues, is sponsoring a seminar on elder abuse on March 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center. The group is known for its services that help seniors remain in their homes as they age.
4. FLORIDA (Lee County), Wink News, March 14, 2012
LCSO Operation Medicine Cabinet 2012 kick-off a success
http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2012-03-14/LCSO-Operation-Medicine-Cabinet-2012-kick-off-a-success
Operation Medicine Cabinet Wednesday collected over eight large bins of unused medications and introduced citizens to the secure drug drop off boxes, located at each of our district offices and headquarters. Lee Elder Abuse Prevention Partnership Coalition was present to provide information about elder neglect, exploitation and abuse.
5. IOWA (Shoreview), KSTP, March 13, 2012
Shoreview, Roseville Workshops Address Elder Abuse
http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2535509.shtml
Shoreview and Roseville are teaming up to offer workshops about preventing elder abuse. The sessions, presented by the cities’ Human Rights Commissions, will talk about protecting people from scammers and how to report elder abuse crimes.
6. KENTUCKY (Frankfort), WFPL News, March 14, 2012
House Passes Adult Abuse Registry Bill
http://www.wfpl.org/2012/03/14/house-passes-adult-abuse-registry-bill/
The Kentucky House of Representatives has endorsed the creation of an adult abuse registry. The bill that would create that registry has been a priority of lawmakers for years, but funding hasn’t been there. But this year, Governor Steve Beshear allocated funds for the registry in the budget.
7. MICHIGAN (Lansing), Niles Star, March 14, 2012
Rep. Sharon Tyler: Strengthening protection for the elderly
http://www.nilesstar.com/2012/03/14/rep-sharon-tyler-strengthening-protection-for-the-elderly/
Michigan Rep. Sharon Tyler asks Michiganders to show support for a package of bills introduced to the House to help increase the reporting of elder abuse in Michigan and strengthen penalties for those convicted of abuse.
8. NEBRASKA (Omaha), Omaha.com, March 14, 2012
Hotline a fraud fighter for seniors
http://www.omaha.com/article/20120314/MONEY/703149930
Infuriating and relentless scams that target seniors were the catalyst for the creation of the BBB Senior Line Program, which includes a statewide toll-free hotline (877-637-3334) for seniors to call for help in assessing the legitimacy of offers they may be considering. The hotline also serves as an aid to senior citizens who want to identify trustworthy businesses from which to purchase products and services.
9. NEW YORK (Utica), WKTV, March 13, 2012
Utica man accused of extorting 90 year old woman
http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Utica-man-accused-of-extorting-90-year-old-woman-142576085.html
A Utica man is accused of burglarizing a 90-year-old woman’s house several times over the past six months, and recently contacted her and offered to sell her back her belongings. The woman contacted the Elder Abuse Coalition Program, who then contacted Utica Police. The suspect allegedly used two children to retrieve the money and return the belongings to the woman.
10. OHIO (Charleston), Cleveland Banner, March 15, 2012
Sandy McClellon sought in alleged elder abuse case
http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/17883050/article-Sandy-McClellon-sought--in-alleged-elder-abuse-case?instance=latest_articles
A warrant has been issued for a man wanted on failure to appear charges and a new charge of alleged elder abuse. Police began investigating the suspect after receiving information that McClellon had been staying with his father and was “not treating him right.” His father has since passed away.
11. OHIO (Columbus), Sacramento Bee, March 13, 2012
Ohio facility may lose license after meth lab fire
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/13/4334442/ohio-facility-may-lose-license.html
The state of Ohio is taking steps to revoke the license of a nursing home that had a fatal methamphetamine lab fire and was later found to be violating federal regulations, the Ohio Department of Health said Tuesday.
12. OHIO (Hamilton), WLWT.com, March 13, 2012
Prosecutors Set Up Task Force To Fight Elder Abuse
http://www.wlwt.com/news/30670251/detail.html
Butler County prosecutors say elder abuse is on the rise, so they’ve created a task force to help victims speak up. To report scams against the elderly in Butler County, call the hotline set up by prosecutors at 1-888-662-3973.
13. RHODE ISLAND (Smithfield), Valley Breeze, March 14, 2012
Whistleblowing Hebert nurse out of work and license in jeopardy
http://www.valleybreeze.com/2012/03/14/observer/whistleblowing-hebert-nurse-out-of-work-and-license-in-jeopardy
A psychiatric nurse lost her job when she made a phone call that set into motion a recent investigation of sexual abuse that almost cost the Hebert Nursing Home its status as Medicare and Medicaid Provider
14. INTERNATIONAL (British Columbia, Canada), Maple Ridge News, March 14, 2012
B.C. begins overhaul of senior care
http://www.mapleridgenews.com/community/142557255.html
Faced with a sweeping report from the B.C. Ombudsperson on problems and inconsistencies in senior care, Health Minister Mike de Jong has launched an effort to simplify the path navigated by families finding health care for the elderly. De Jong said the health ministry will launch a toll-free phone line by June for people to express concerns about the system. A new seniors’ advocate office is to be established at an unspecified later date.
15. INTERNATIONAL (Edmonton, Canada), St. Albert Gazette, March 14, 2012
St. Albert family says 80-year-old mother received inadequate care
http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20120314/SAG0801/303149963/youville-home-targeted-as-family-speaks-out
A St. Albert family is speaking out about the care their 80-year-old mother received, both at Youville Home in St. Albert and at a private Edmonton facility, which they say evicted the senior via ambulance after the family refused to pay higher fees.
16. INTERNATIONAL (Ottawa, Canada), Canada.com, March 15, 2012
Feds to table elder abuse bill
http://www.canada.com/Feds+table+elder+abuse+bill/6304809/story.html
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson is expected to announce new legislation Thursday that will amend the Criminal Code to add ``vulnerability due to age'' as an aggravating factor during sentencing.
17. INTERNATIONAL (Ottawa, Canada), The Star, March 14, 2012
Tories plan tougher sentences for elder abuse
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1146367--tories-plan-tougher-sentences-for-elder-abuse
The Canadian Press has learned that Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and seniors minister Alice Wong are to announce amendments to the Criminal Code on Thursday in Toronto.
18. INTERNATIONAL (Ottawa, Canada), CBC.CA, March 15, 2012
Elder abuse sentences to be toughened
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/15/pol-elder-abuse-sentences.html
Proposed changes would make age-related abuse an aggravating factor in sentencing offenders, so people convicted of some type of age-related abuse would face stiffer sentences. Stiffer sentencing provisions were among the Conservatives’ promises during the last election campaign, and were also proposed by the NDP during the campaign.
19. INTERNATIONAL (Ottawa, Canada), The Globe and Mail, March 15, 2012
NDP, Conservatives table bills aimed at boosting seniors’ quality of life
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-conservatives-table-bills-aimed-at-boosting-seniors-quality-of-life/article2370269/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=2370269
Both the NDP and the Conservatives tabled separate bills aimed at improving the quality of life for seniors. The NDP proposed legislation that would automatically register seniors for the guaranteed income supplement, while the Conservatives offered amendments to the Criminal ode that would impose tougher sentences on those convicted of elder abuse.
20. INTERNATIONAL (Ottawa, Canada), CTV, March 15, 2012
Feds promise tough sentences for crimes against seniors
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20120315/elder-abuse-tories-legislation-20120315/
The federal government is introducing legislation that calls for tougher sentences for those convicted of elder abuse. The legislation does not call for specific penalties in cases involving the victimization of seniors, but calls on judges to use their discretion in each case. Judges will also be allowed to determine whether or not a victim qualifies as a “senior.”
21. INTERNATIONAL (Vancouver, Canada), News 1130, March 15, 2012
If you suspect elder abuse, speak up!
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/341384--if-you-suspect-elder-abuse-speak-up
The federal government says it plans to come down more harshly on people who abuse the elderly, and British Columbia’s Council of Senior Citizens’ Associations says that victims need to come forward, as many cases of abuse go unreported.
22. INTERNATIONAL (South Tyneside, United Kingdom), Shields Gazette, March 13, 2012
‘Don’t let care home probe be a whitewash’ urge family
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/don-t-let-care-home-probe-be-a-whitewash-urge-family-1-4341399#
The South Tyneside care home now under review has been littered with controversy, including a 22-year-old care assistant who carried out ‘degrading’ attacks on two elderly residents.