Newsfeed – Tuesday, October 8, 2013
The newsfeed includes articles and stories related to abuse of elders and adults with disabilities. Articles related to elders appear in the top half of the newsfeed. Articles related to abuse of adults with disabilities appear towards the bottom. To subscribe to the NCEA listserv, please send an email with your name, occupation, your organization/agency name, city and state, and a statement about your professional interest or expertise in elder abuse to NCEA@UCI.edu. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
Did you know? A calendar of upcoming elder abuse and neglect events and funding opportunities can be found at the bottom of the newsfeed.
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ELDER ABUSE NEWSFEED
NATIONAL, Poughkeepsie Journal, October 6, 2013
Banks aid fight to halt scams that cheat aged
Increasingly, banks are being told that their employees are part of the solution on the front lines to stopping financial abuse. Federal regulators joined forces to issue guidance to clarify that privacy rules don’t trump common sense for reporting suspected elder abuse to law enforcers or state adult protective services agencies.
CALIFORNIA (Riverside County), Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2013
Pair allegedly conned, defrauded elderly mentally ill woman
Two Riverside County residents suspected of conning an elderly, mentally ill woman into giving them thousands of dollars are facing fraud-related charges. Authorities say they persuaded the unidentified victim to open multiple credit accounts, which they used to make more than $36,000 in purchases, as well as had her withdraw $10,000 from her bank account.
CALIFORNIA (San Diego), Lawyers and Settlements, October 6, 2013
California to take a tougher stance on financial elder abuse
California is expected to pass three bills that will take a tougher stance on financial elder abuse than existing laws currently do. Those laws, which deal with elderly financial abuse, would not only update the definition of undue influence as it relates to elder abuse, but would also require notary publics to report suspected elder abuse.
CALIFORNIA, California Healthline, October 7, 2013
Governor agrees to finish state makeover of long-term care ombudsman’s office
On Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed into law legislation (SB 609) to strengthen the enforcement power of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The penalty for interference with preventing the ombudsman representatives from entering rooms of facility residents without an escort would more than double, to $2,500 per incident.
CALIFORNIA, Daily Democrat News, October 6, 2013
Brown signs bill to better protect seniors, long-term care residents
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_24251010/brown-signs-bill-better-protect-seniors-long-term
Federal and state law authorizes Ombudsman staff to enter long-term care facilities, tour facilities unescorted, and speak unhindered to residents. Yet some facilities in California have, on several occasions, prevented representatives of the Ombudsman's office from walking into residents' rooms without an escort, prevented the Ombudsman's staff from meeting privately with residents, or refused access to residents altogether, Wolk, D-Davis said. Gov. Jerry Brown signed Thursday Senate Bill 609, legislation by Sen. Lois Wolk to increase penalties for long-term care providers that hinder investigations.
COLORADO (Broomfield), The Denver Post, October 4, 2013
Probable cause to charge nursing assistant in Broomfield sex-abuse
A certified nursing assistant employed by Broomfield Skilled Nursing was back in court Thursday, where a judge ruled there was probable cause to charge him with seven counts of sexual assault and crimes against at-risk adults. The first victim, who came forward in mid-July, told the facility about her abuse, but the nursing home's internal investigation determined the incident was "unfounded" and allowed the nursing assistant to return to work, according to an arrest affidavit.
IOWA (Storm Lake), The Daily Reporter, October 5, 2013
SL woman arrested for elder abuse
http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/2010885.html
After a six-month investigation, police have arrested a Storm Lake woman for alleged dependent adult abuse -- alleging the suspect stole her mother's Social Security income and denied her needed dialysis treatment. Investigation into an alleged dependent adult neglect incident, after an adult female was admitted to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, with complications related to a pre-existing medical condition including liver disease that were believed to be the result of lack of proper treatment.
KANSAS (Lawrence), Eagle-Tribune, October 5, 2013
Ex-cop ordered to pay $70k restitution
http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x1612857832/Ex-cop-ordered-to-pay-70k-restitution
Retired police officer William Hale has been ordered to pay $70,000 restitution after admitting there were “sufficient facts” to find him guilty of forging checks and stealing from the estate of an elderly woman he befriended. The appeals court decision also stated there is sufficient evidence Hale used “undue influence” with the frail, elderly woman and “appears to have engaged in a broader scheme to misappropriate” the woman’s assets.
MINNESOTA, Star Tribune, October 7, 2013
In Minnesota, nurses in trouble get second chances
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/226301371.html
Records examined by the Star Tribune of more than 1,000 disciplinary actions by the Nursing Board over the past four years show that it tolerates or forgives misconduct that would end nursing careers in other states. Eighty-eight nurses are allowed to practice despite having been charged or convicted of crimes such as physical or sexual assault and drug thefts — some against their own patients, states Star Tribune. They also found that getting fired for incompetence, even multiple times, rarely means Minnesota nurses lose their licenses.
MINNESOTA, Star Tribune, October 5, 2013
Five nurses allowed to keep practicing after being accused of unsafe practice
http://www.startribune.com/local/226367441.html?page=all&prepage=2&c=y#continue
These are five nurses who were allowed to continue practicing after cases of neglect leading to death, multiple medication errors, and frequent sexual intercourse with a patient with mental illness.
PENNSYLVANIA (Hollidaysburg), Altoona Mirror, October 6, 2013
Officials to study guardian system
Court officials in Hollidaysburg have decided to study ways to monitor guardianships, thereby assuring that elderly residents or the disabled are not being abused, neglected or financially ruined by the people who are supposed to protect them. Prothonotary Carol Newman said nothing has been set up to track the guardianship cases - making sure the annual report has been completed and monitoring what may be happening in a particular case.
INTERNATIONAL (New Zealand), The Northern Advocate, October 7, 2013
Lending warning for aged
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11136177
New Reserve Bank lending restrictions making it harder to get a home loan with less than 20 per cent deposit have sparked fears many first-home buyers will turn to their families to help raise the necessary funds. Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention coordinator Heather Campbell, of Whangarei, said she had not seen cases of parents lending money for home loans, but typical cases of elder abuse involved an older person spending a lot of money on a family member.
INTERNATIONAL (Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom), The Republican Journal, October 4, 2013
Belfast Attorney accused of ‘financial exploitation’ of two elderly clients
A Belfast lawyer is being accused of mishandling the finances of two of his elderly clients, both of whom court records show have medical conditions that limit their abilities to manage their own estates. One of the alleged victims is 98 years old and court records state she suffers from dementia, and the second woman is 86 years old and court documents state she has multiple medical conditions including memory loss, anxiety disorder, depression and severe congestive heart failure.
INTERNATIONAL, (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), CBC News
Dementia home fight leaves 91-year-old woman dead
Halifax Regional Police are trying to figure out what happened between two seniors at a home for people with dementia that resulted in the death of a 91-year-old woman. Police were called to Evan Hall, which is described as a memory-care facility, around 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
NORTH DAKOTA (Williston), Gainesville, October 3, 2013
Owner of Williston adult care home charged with abuse, exploitation
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20131003/ARTICLES/131009831?tc=ar
The owner of an adult care home in Williston was charged Thursday on allegations of mistreatment of residents, including failure to provide beds, restraining one with handcuffs, abusing residents and other crimes. The owner was charged with neglect of a disabled adult, false imprisonment, aggravated abuse and exploitation, according to a press release from the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
RELATED ISSUES
NATIONAL, Reuters, October 4, 2013
Remarriages add complexity to dementia caregiving
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/04/us-health-remarriage-dementia-idUSBRE9930QL20131004
Negative relations with stepchildren can compound the burdens a wife feels while caring for her husband with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, a new study suggests. "We learned from women in the study that those with higher levels of care-related disagreements with stepfamily members felt a significantly greater burden and feelings of depression related to care," said lead author Carey Wexler Sherman of the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research in Ann Arbor.
NATIONAL, The Washington Post, October 5, 2013
Gay man, lesbians struggle to find caregivers and old-age facilities that don’t discriminate
Older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, including those among the first to come out as a political and social force, are increasingly apprehensive about encountering discrimination as they grow older and more dependent on strangers for care. A 2011 survey demonstrated that fear of discrimination from other residents was almost as high as fear of discrimination from staff, and 43 percent said they had experienced mistreatment at facilities.
MICHIGAN (Kent County), MLIVE, October 6, 2013
Police ask for help in locating missing Alpine Township man with dementia
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/10/police_ask_for_help_in_locatin_5.html
Authorities are asking for help in locating a missing 74-year-old Alpine Township man who is in the "advanced" stages of Alzheimer's disease. The man has several medical related issues and has difficulty remembering his name, authorities say.
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Funding Opportunities:
- October 15, 2013
- The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute is awarding grants of up to $1.5-million over three years that will support projects providing information of value to patients, their caregivers, and their clinicians, as well as to health-care leaders, regarding which system features lead to better patient-centered results. All applicant organizations must be recognized as tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service.
- For more information: (202) 827-7700; http://pcori.org/funding-opportunities/fundingannouncements/improving-healthcare-systems-december-2013-cycle
- October 16, 2013
- The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health seeks proposals for projects with state, regional, or local significance that have the potential to positively influence mental-health policies in Texas. Proposals may focus on any aspect of mental health policy. Examples include legal issues, access to care, quality of care, protection of rights, service delivery, and financing. Twenty-four grants of up to $180,000 each will be awarded. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) and governmental organizations in Texas are eligible to submit proposals.
- For more information: (512) 471-5041; http://www.hogg.utexas.edu/uploads/documents/PPG_RFP_Final_2013.pdf
- October 31, 2013
- Applications for the Innovations in Rural Health Award from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, which seeks ideas to focus on rural health care challenges. One winner will receive $25,000 and up to three finalists will receive $7,500 each for their innovative and inspiring ideas.
- For more information: Delvon Worthy, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust ruralprize@kbr.org; http://kbr.org/sites/default/files/New%20Rural%20Award%202014_FINAL.pdf
- November 1, 2013
- The Lawrence Foundation awards grants in support of the environment, education, human services, disaster relief, and other causes. The foundation awards both program and operating grants with no geographic restrictions to nonprofit organizations that qualify for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as public schools and libraries.
- For more information: http://www.thelawrencefoundation.org/grants/guidelines.php
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Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):
· The 33rd Annual Mental Health & Aging Conference, “Innovative Perspectives on Mental Health & Aging,” will be held on October 8, 2013 at The Double Tree in Sacramento, California. For more information: www.sacmhac.net.
· The 20th Annual New York State Adult Abuse Training Institute will be held on October 9-10, 2013 at the Albany Marriott Hotel in Albany, New York. For more information: http://brookdale.org/aati-2013/aati-2013/ To register for the 2013 Adult Abuse Training Institute: Go to brookdale.org, click on the NYS Adult Abuse Training Institute link and download the registration form. Please fax the completed form to (212) 396-7852; or email the completed form to afaustin@hunter.cuny.edu.
· The 37th Annual Consumer Voice Conference will be held in Arlington, Virginia October 24-27, 2013. For additional information: http://www.theconsumervoice.org/events/annual-meetings
. The 21st Annual New Mexico Adult Abuse Conference will be held on October 24 and 25, 2013 in Albuquerque, NM . This year’s theme is “A Cornucopia of Learning, Knowledge and Services”. For information, contact Agapito J. Silva at Agapito.silva@state.nm.us or 505-841-4550.
· The 2nd Annual Elder Planning Symposium, hosted by the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA), will be held at the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 7, 2013. Register here: http://www.ficpa.org/Public/Conference/Description.aspx?courseID=13ELDR. You can also visit https://www.facebook.com/events/518843064859824/ for more information.
· The 30th Annual Adult Protective Services Conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas from November 19-22, 2013. For more information: https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adult_Protection/Adult_Protective_Services_Conference/
· The 2nd Annual National Elder Abuse Symposium, hosted by the California District Attorneys Association, will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Anaheim, California on December 3-6, 2013. Register here: http://www.cdaa.org/training/seminar-conference-registration?regevent_action=register&event_id=154
· The 3rd World Congress on Adult Guardianship will be convened on May 28-30, 2014 in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. It is sponsored by the National Guardianship Network in affiliation with the International Guardianship Network. The theme of the conference is, “Promising Practices to Ensure Excellence in Guardianship Around the World.” Proposals for presentations are due July 31. See http://worldcongressguardianship.org
An archived collection of previous newsfeeds is available here: http://ncea.posthaven.com
National Center on Elder Abuse
Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect
University of California, Irvine
Program in Geriatrics
101 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
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