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!
Calendar of upcoming elder abuse and neglect events can be found at the bottom of the newsfeed.
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ELDER ABUSE NEWSFEED
1. NATIONAL, AZ Central, November 23, 2012
Officials urged to help seniors avoid scams
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2012/11/21/20121121officials-urged-help-seniors-avoid-scams.html
Federal officials should continue working with local governments and others to educate seniors on how to avoid financial scams, experts testified at a recent Senate hearing. Frank Abagnale, a fraud expert and the subject of the movie "Catch Me if You Can," said, "I have always believed that the government should take the lead in education to combat this horrendous crime."
2. ALASKA (Fairbanks), News Miner, November 26, 2012
Program for elder abuse prevention receives grant
http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/20938016/article-Program-for-elder-abuse--prevention-receives-grant?instance=home_news_window_left_bullets
Alaska’s Adult Protective Services office has received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging to test a program to prevent elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, according to a news release last week from the state Department of Health and Social Services. The grant will add resource referral and short- and medium-term crisis intervention to the office’s services.
3. CALIFORNIA (Saratoga), Saratoga Patch, November 22, 2012
Saratoga Man Faces Elder Fraud Charges
http://saratoga.patch.com/articles/saratoga-man-faces-elder-fraud-charges
Police are releasing safety tips to guard against financial crimes and frauds following a six-month investigation into a man suspected of posing as a tax accountant to steal money. The Saratoga man was arrested in September following an investigation into a complex financial scheme in which he allegedly acted as a tax accountant and financial adviser to gain the confidence of elderly residents before stealing their money.
4. HAWAII (Ewa Beach), Honolulu Star Advertiser, November 20, 2012
Ewa Beach man apologizes for fatal fire, sentenced to 35 years
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/180241991.html?id=180241991
Michael P. Dahilig apologized in state court this morning to the family of a 97-year-old woman who died in a fire he started at her home, calling his actions “reckless and idiotic.” He was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of manslaughter, burglary and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.
5. HAWAII (Honolulu), KITV, November 21, 2012
Man gets sentenced to 35 years for deadly Pearl City house fire
http://www.kitv.com/news/hawaii/Man-gets-sentenced-to-35-years-for-deadly-Pearl-City-house-fire/-/8905354/17493348/-/jnc6s1/-/index.html
A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he was accused of intentionally setting a fire at a Pearl City home that killed a 97-year-old woman was sentenced by a judge Tuesday to 35 years in prison.
6. MASSACHUSETTS (Stoughton), Stoughton Patch, November 21, 2012
ABOUT TOWN: Stoughton Clergy Get Training on Domestic Violence and Abuse Prevention
http://stoughton.patch.com/articles/about-town-stoughton-clergy-get-training-on-domestic-violence-and-abuse-prevention
More than 60 clergy members from across Norfolk County attended a training session hosted by the Norfolk County District Attorney last week to learn how best to recognize even subtle signs of domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse – and how to tap into the right resources when a member of their congregation needs help.
7. OHIO (Lorain), Cleveland.com, November 21, 2012
Lorain man arrested in elder abuse of mother
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/11/lorain_man_arrested_in_elder_a.html
A 51-year-old Lorain man was arrested Tuesday after police found his elderly mother lying in her own excrement and suffering from multiple broken bones that healed improperly. He is charged with domestic violence, patient abuse and gross neglect and failure to provide for a functionally impaired person. His mother is in critical condition and only weighed 70 lbs when she arrived at the hospital.
8. OKLAHOMA (Oklahoma City), News OK, November 22, 2012
Ex-nursing home worker pleads guilty abusing 96-year-old patient
http://newsok.com/ex-nursing-home-worker-pleads-guilty-abusing-96-year-old-patient/article/3730816
A former nursing home aide caught on video stuffing latex gloves into the mouth of a 96-year-old patient with dementia pleaded guilty Wednesday to caretaker abuse and was sentenced to two years in prison. The former aide is a citizen of Nigeria, and will be deported after she is released from prison.
9. OREGON (Portland), Oregon Live, November 24, 2012
Man acquitted in rape of woman with dementia agrees to pay $200,000 to her family
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/11/man_acquitted_in_rape_of_woman.html
Three and a half years after the family of Ruth DeLong Black first suspected she'd been raped at her assisted-living home, the man accused but acquitted of attacking her has admitted to lying about what happened and will pay up to $200,000 to settle a civil lawsuit. The suspect has signed an admission that he “committed one or more acts” alleged in the family’s $2.5 million suit against him, though he doesn’t specify which acts.
10. UTAH (Salt Lake City), St. George Utah, November 21, 2012
Utah joints nationwide campaign to help prevent financial exploitation of seniors
http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2012/11/21/utah-joins-nationwide-campaign-to-help-prevent-financial-exploitation-of-seniors/
As financial exploitation targeting older adults continues to become more prevalent in the United States, Utah Adult Protective Services has joined a nationwide campaign to encourage older adults and their families to address the issue and get informed about the warning signs and resources available to help prevent abuse. As part of its tenth annual Home for the Holidays campaign, the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging that is administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, is encouraging older adults, their caregivers and families to use their time together this holiday season to discuss and get informed about strategies to prevent financial exploitation.
11. INTERNATIONAL (Halifax, Canada), The Chronicle Herald, November 24, 2012
Experts take aim at elder abuse
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/191424-experts-take-aim-at-elder-abuse
According to the provincial government, 5,000 to 13,500 older people in Nova Scotia “experience harm and poor health or well-being because of abuse.” However, abuse is always underreported, so it is believed these figures are low, a government website said. At a recent workshop, experts discussed possible solutions, including a federally-funded speaker program run out of the University of Prince Edward Island.
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
1. NATIONAL, USA Today, November 26, 2012
Report: Disabled parents face bias, loss of kids
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/26/disabled-parents-custody-adoption/1726465/
Advocates say barriers and bias still surround adults with disabilities, especially surrounding parenting rights. A Kansas City, Mo., couple had their daughter taken into custody by the state two days after her birth because both parents were blind. A Chicago mother, because she is quadriplegic, endured an 18-month legal battle to keep custody of her young son. A California woman paid an advance fee to an adoption agency, then was told she might be unfit to adopt because she has cerebral palsy.
2. ARIZONA (Tucson), AZ Star Net, November 22, 2012
Couple Charged with Abusing 3 Vulnerable Adults
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/couple-charged-with-abusing-vulnerable-adults/article_70821200-6030-5d92-8d5c-c69882810e66.html
A Tucson couple was arrested Tuesday on felony charges alleging they physically abused three vulnerable adults who were living with them. An investigation revealed that two mentally challenged people were forced to spend their days outside, regardless of the weather. They were not allowed to eat inside the home or use the bathroom facilities. They were permitted only to sleep.
3. CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles), CBS Local, November 20, 2012
Caught on Camera: Caretaker Allegedly Steals From Disabled Woman
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/11/20/caught-on-camera-caretaker-allegedly-steals-from-disabled-woman/
A caretaker is accused of stealing from a disabled woman and leaving her stranded in bed in downtown Los Angeles.
4. LOUISIANA (Monroe), The News Star, November 21, 2012
OPSO: Man left disabled victim at drug house
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20121121/NEWS01/121121002/OPSO-Man-left-disabled-victim-drug-house
A man is behind bars Wednesday after reportedly leaving a disabled man at a drug house because victim would not give him money. According to the arrest report, the alleged victim complained to the OPSO that Wright batters and abuses him. The two have lived together since last year.
5. OHIO (Toledo), Toledo Blade, November 25, 2012
Toledo nursing home appeals state censure
http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/11/25/Toledo-nursing-home-appeals-state-censure.html
Liberty Nursing Center of Toledo, 2005 Ashland Ave. was notified in August that it would lose its license — meaning it probably would have to shut its doors — after an incident in which staff failed to properly respond to an incident of sexual abuse. If a facility’s license is revoked, it can no longer operate. Liberty has appealed; the Ohio Department of Health will conduct a hearing in Columbus on Dec. 5 and 6. Nursing home license revocations are fairly rare. The state moved three times this year to revoke licenses from Ohio nursing homes; it had not revoked any licenses for the previous five years.
6. INTERNATIONAL (Ontario, Canada), The Star, November 22, 2012 (Opinion)
Ontario must step up inspection of nursing homes
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/1291730--ontario-must-step-up-inspection-of-nursing-homes
Only a fraction of nursing homes have actually faced that in-depth inspection since the ministry’s new rules began in July 2010. In fact, advocates say, most homes will face the tough scrutiny only once every five years, instead of the government’s original promise for annual investigations.
7. INTERNATIONAL (Bristol, United Kingdom), BBC, November 22, 2012
Weston man with dementia not guilty of rape
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-20452072
A 67-year-old man with dementia who was accused of taking a young woman off a bus and subjecting her to a night of sexual assault and rape has been ruled unfit to plead or give evidence. A jury at Bristol Crown Court cleared him of three sexual assault charges and two rape charges. The woman was 19 at the time and has learning difficulties.
RELATED ISSUES
1. COLORADO (Loveland), 9 News, November 26, 2012
Authorities find 78-year-old Loveland man with dementia
http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/301408/222/Authorities-searching-for-78-year-old-Loveland-man-with-dementia-
Authorities have found 78-year-old Paul Bernard Spitler on Sunday. Spitler, who has dementia, had not been seen since Saturday morning. Authorities asked for help from the public on Sunday to locate him.
2. HAWAII (Honolulu), Honolulu Star Advertiser, November 26, 2012
Man with dementia found downtown
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/180844611.html
Honolulu police canceled a missing person bulletin this morning after finding an 82-year-old man who has dementia. Seichi Kawamoto was found at about midnight at Bishop and King streets, police said. He had been last seen around noon Sunday at the Keeaumoku Walmart.
3. MICHIGAN (Saginaw Township), MLive.com, November 26, 2012
Police searching for missing Saginaw Township man diagnosed with dementia, seeking help from residents
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2012/11/police_searching_for_missing_s_1.html
Paul Moore, 67, went missing from Frandor around 2:30 a.m. Friday November 23 and is still missing on Monday, November 26. He was diagnosed with dementia in 2010, and is described as 5’4” and 122 lbs. He has thinning brown hear and was last seen wearing a long sleeve blue University of Michigan shirt, blue jeans, a blue windbreaker and dark moccasin-type shoes.
4. WASHINGTON (Spokane Valley), Seattle Times, November 26, 2012
Spokane Valley man, 71, with dementia missinghttp://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019766159_apwamissingspokanevalleyman.html
Authorities are looking for a 71-year-old Spokane Valley man with dementia who has been missing since Friday. The man left home to drive to a store and has not been seen since. He was driving a white Kia sedan.
5. INTERNATIONAL (Saskatchewan, Canada), Edmonton Journal, November 25, 2012
Saskatchewan man with dementia found dead next to stuck pickup truck
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Saskatchewan+with+dementia+found+dead+next+stuck+pickup/7607753/story.html
A missing Saskatchewan man, who police say suffered from dementia, has been found dead near his pickup truck which was stuck in snow and mud. Police say they are still investigating, but do not suspect foul play.
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Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):
· California District Attorneys Association 2012 National Elder Abuse Symposium (December 4-7, 2012) Guest speakers to include Paul Greenwood, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney, Bob Nichols, Retired Marin County Deputy District Attorney, and many more. http://www.cdaa.org/training/seminar-conference-registration?regevent_action=register&event_id=35
· The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) released their famous 2012 Tool Kit on dementia education on November 1, 2012. http://www.nccdp.org/staff-education-week.htm For the fifth year, they will host Alzheimer’s and Dementia Staff Education Week February 14-21, 2013
An archived collection of previous newsfeeds is available here:
http://nceagov.posterous.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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