Newsfeed – Wednesday, December 18, 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
ALABAMA (Colbert County), Times Daily, December 14, 2013
‘Elder abuse’ charged
http://www.timesdaily.com/news/local/article_3e6e8d64-6472-11e3-b84b-10604b9f6eda.html
A Colbert County woman already in jail on traffic and drug-related charges now is accused of bilking several thousands of dollars from an elderly Russellville man, police said Friday. Reports indicate Lunsford befriended the man and received money from him on numerous occasions to buy various things.
ARIZONA (Prescott), AZ Family, December 15, 2013
Prescott woman accused of defrauding 74-year-old with dementia
A Prescott woman was arrested Monday for an alleged fraud scheme involving a 74-year-old woman with dementia. In September, police were alerted to the possible fraud scheme after the victim was approximately $20,000 behind in payments to her care facility.
CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles), TIME U.S., December 11, 2013
Man allegedly killed both wife with dementia and sister in vegetative state
A 60-year-old California man allegedly shot and killed his wife, who suffered from dementia, along with his sister, 58, who was in a vegetative state, LA Police said Wednesday. Authorities say he then put down his gun and waited for the police to arrive.
CALIFORNIA (Marietta), Marietta Daily Journal, December 18, 2013
Police: woman, 86, shot dead in Marietta
An 86-year-old woman who was nearly blind and receiving in-home care was found shot to death in her house Tuesday morning. The woman was the victim of a theft earlier this year and her former caregiver, Antione Davis of Smyrna, was arrested and charged with the crime, according to an arrest warrant. Davis is now out on bond after being charged with felony exploitation of a disabled adult or elderly person and felony theft by taking.
FLORIDA (Marion Oaks), OCALA, December 10, 2013
Woman charged with organized fraud in use of EBT cards
A woman arrested in June after being accused of operating unlicensed assisted living facilities and neglect of a disabled/elderly person was charged Tuesday with organized fraud, in relation to the prior charges. Authorities recovered 10 Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards and two state identification cards from the accused woman's purse, and the residents there said their EBT cards were taken without their permission, the report states.
GEORGIA (Columbus), WNCN, December 13, 2013
Columbus senior home accused of human trafficking and sexual exploitation shut down
A Columbus senior citizen home and care center has been shut down after a two month investigation revealed residents were victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, the Columbus Police Department announced Thursday afternoon. The investigation found operators were not providing needed medical care, committing financial fraud, allowing residents to live in unsanitary conditions and "patients would sometimes have to endure some rather unspeakable acts of physical cruelty and sexual abuse," police say in a released statement.
GEORGIA (Jonesboro), 11 Alive Atlanta, December 17, 2013
Jonesboro police say elderly couple living in squalor
http://www.11alive.com/news/article/316210/3/Jonesboro-Police-say-elderly-couple-living-in-squalor
Jonesboro Police say it's the worst case of hoarding they've ever seen -- an elderly couple in failing health living in squalor and filth. And police are blasting the state for not stepping in to help. Officer Madison says the unsanitary conditions coupled with the homeowners' health issues made it an untenable situation. So, he contacted the state department of adult protective services.
GEORGIA (Peachtree City), WSB TV 2, December 13, 2013
Couple accused of exploiting elderly man with dementia, selling his wedding ring
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/couple-accused-exploiting-elderly-man-dementia-sel/ncKMD/
Two people are accused of intimidating an elderly man into letting them live in his house. Police said the two continually visited the 79-year-old at the Towne Club senior living facility and got him to sign paperwork allowing them move into his house on Hilltop Drive. Workers at the victim's assisted living facility and his neighbors alerted police.
MICHIGAN (Leelanau), Up North Live, December 16, 2013
Woman arrested for stealing money from senior citizen
http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=983937#.UrIxAvRDuB0
A Leland woman was arrested for embezzling over $1000 from an elderly man she was taking care of. The Sheriff's Department reports the victim's bank contacted Adult Protective Services and Leelanau County detectives in August of 2012 because the victim's account was overdrawn and unusually large amounts of money had been removed.
MICHIGAN (Westland), Hometown Life: Observer & Eccentric, December 13, 2013
Canton woman guilty of larceny from dementia patient
A Westland woman has pleaded guilty to one of two counts of larceny in a building following allegations she stole jewelry from dementia patients while working as a health care employee at Crystal Creek, a Canton assisted living center. Gail Lynn Good, 45, could face penalties ranging from probation to four years in prison when she is sentenced Jan. 14 by Wayne County Circuit Judge James Chylinski.
MINNESOTA (Moorhead), Perham Focus, December 12, 2013
Sanford social worker who investigated elder abuse accused of stealing from her grandmother
A Sanford Health employee whose job involved investigating and reporting elder abuse and neglect is accused of stealing about $20,000 from her own grandmother. The grandmother told Detective Nelson that the 28-year-old granddaughter said she spent money on herself for camping, liquor and eating out and that she would take full responsibility, police allege.
NEW YORK (Syracuse), Syracuse, December 13, 2013
Elder abuse: deaf, retired Mattydale man loses $105,000 to ‘friends’ in Florida; repaid today
For nearly a decade, an elderly Mattydale man considered himself close friends with two women in Florida, who were deaf like himself. After years of giving the Florida women money, the family knew something was wrong when he gave one of them $105,000 to buy a house for them to live in and that didn't occur.
PENNSYLVANIA (Northumberland County), PA Homepage, December 12, 2013
Northumberland County man in court on alleged elder abuse
A Mount Carmel man accused of neglecting his elderly mother and leaving her in "deplorable" conditions headed to court Wednesday. The 56-year-old man is charged with elderly neglect after investigators discovered his 86 year old mother covered in her own filth.
WEST VIRGINIA (Logan), Logan Banner, December 16, 2013
Logan man charged with elder abuse
http://new.loganbanner.com/news/news/2866586/Logan-man-charged-with-elder-abuse
A Logan man has been charged with striking and kicking his grandfather in a physical altercation. Officers allegedly observed a shoe print bruise on the right side of Burgess’ forehead and a one-inch laceration on his right hand.
WISCONSIN (Bayfield County), Twin Cities: Local News, December 9, 2013
Bayfield County, Wis.: elderly couple violently slain at home; son arrested
Authorities say the 44-year-old son suspected of violently killing his elderly parents in Bayfield County, Wis., is in an induced coma at a Minnesota hospital. Sheriff Paul Susienka said at a news conference Monday that the Saturday night 911 call for help came from one of the victims, the 76-year-old woman of Iron River. Officials did not disclose the nature of the victims' injuries, but the landlord, Eric Olson, said the scene in the apartment indicated a violent attack.
INTERNATIONAL (England & Wales, United Kingdom), Health Service Journal, December 17, 2013
Cameras can be the secret weapon to stop care scandals
http://www.hsj.co.uk/5065637.article?contentid=MAST#.UrIbkvRDuB0
Earlier this year, Andrea Sutcliffe, the chief inspector for social care at the Care Quality Commission, discussed the possibility of using hidden cameras as one way of tackling harm to adults at risk. Concerns have already been asked about the appropriateness of such a move, and what it will mean for patients receiving care and staff delivering it.
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
CALIFORNIA (Bakersfield), Bakersfield NOW, December 18, 2013
Lawsuit filed in residential care home death
http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/Lawsuit-filed-in-residential-care-home-death-236415971.html
A 27-year-old man died in July after an interaction with staff members at Mountain View Ranch Residential Care, a group home between Bakersfield and Lamont. The Kern County coroner's office said in September that the man died of positional asphyxia, and the manner of death was a homicide.
FLORIDA (Pompano Beach), Sun Sentinel, December 18, 2013
Thieves rob armless man in Pompano Beach, BSO says
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/crime/fl-disabled-pompano-robbery-20131218,0,4256437.story
Two men are accused of taking $300 cash from a disabled man who was born without arms. The 25-year-old men of Pompano Beach were charged with robbery and abuse to an elderly or disabled adult without great harm.
GEORGIA (Muscogee), Ledger-Enquirer, December 10, 2013
Senior citizen home director charged with exploiting, intimidating disabled adult
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/12/10/2848064/loving-care-senior-citizen-home.html
The director of Loving Care Senior Citizen Home was charged with intimidating or exploiting a disabled adult Dec. 4, following a Georgia Department of Community Health inspection, according to a Columbus Police report. Officers spoke with several patients who claimed they had not received the funds which were being channeled through the 55-year-old woman.
INTERNATIONAL (Ireland), The Irish Times, December 11, 2013
Twelve staff at Stewarts disability care facility suspended pending inquiry
A total of 12 staff members have now been suspended at a care facility for people with intellectual disabilities pending an investigation into allegations over the standard of care provided to vulnerable residents. The Irish Times reported yesterday that students who were on placement at Stewarts, a disability service provider, have made a series of allegations of neglectful or abusive practices in relation to the way clients were treated by staff members.
INTERNATIONAL (England, United Kingdom), The Telegraph, December 13, 2013
‘Every day delay leaves Winterbourne View victims at risk’
The Joint Improvement Programme (JIP) – tasked with implementing the Concordat to ensure that Winterbourne View Hospital cruelties can never happen again – is now reviewing all the hospital’s ex-patients to make sure they all receive the right support as soon as possible. It is profoundly disappointing that over a quarter of the people who were at Winterbourne are still in other in-patient units and therefore still at risk, the author states.
RELATED ISSUES
ALABAMA (Morgan County), WHNT 19 News, December 16, 2013
Still no sign of missing man from Lacey’s Spring
http://whnt.com/2013/12/10/teams-looking-for-missing-person-in-laceys-spring/
Nearly a week after he disappeared, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office continues to ask for the public’s help to find a 74-year-old man from Lacey’s Spring. The man has dementia, and has been missing since last Tuesday, December 10.
FLORIDA (Palm Beach), The Palm Beach Post, December 10, 2013
Man, 81, with dementia found dead after wandering from Delray-area facility, PBSO says
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/81-year-old-with-dementia-found-dead-after-wanderi/ncGw5/
An 81-year-old man with dementia wandered from his home at an assisted living facility in suburban Delray Beach Monday night and was later found dead in a pond on the property.
MICHIGAN (Detroit), WXYZ Action News ABC 7, December 17, 2013
Detroit police searching for missing 86-year-old who suffers from dementia
Detroit Police are searching for a missing 86-year-old woman who suffers from dementia and is in poor physical health. The woman was last seen by her caregiver at her home in the 17000 block of Cherrylawn on Friday, December 13 around 2 p.m.
INTERNATIONAL (United Kingdom), Mail Online, December 18, 2013
Vulnerable dementia patient spent £15,000 to 'win a prize' as daughter finds hundreds of unwanted books hidden around his home
A vulnerable dementia patient filled his house with an estimated £15,000 of unwanted Reader's Digest books - in the hope that he'd win a prize. He bought anything and everything and hid them in every available corner of his home the author states. He'd also been targeted by more than 100 charities, and his underwear drawers were overflowing with their thank you letters.
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Funding Opportunities:
- December 22, 2013
- Nominations for the Roth Award from the Mary Byron Project for programs that demonstrate promise in ending the generational cycle of domestic violence. A cash award of $10,000 will be given to a program that focuses on disadvantaged people. Such a program provides services to those who are identified as such based on characteristics that include age, race, ethnicity, gender, faith, disabilities, low socio-economic status, non-English speaking, sexual preference, and victims from suburban areas who traditionally do not know how to avail themselves of services or who are too ashamed to find them.
- Find more information by contacting Kathy Paulin, Mary Byron Project, 10401 Linn Station Road, Louisville, Ky. 40223; (502) 992-3444; kathypaulin@marybyronproject.org; http://marybyronproject.org/index.php/our-work/the-roth-award
- January 10, 2014
- The Tufts Health Plan Foundation is accepting letters of inquiry to apply for grants through its 2014 Healthy Aging program. Nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island focused on improving the lives of older adults, ages 60 and over, should submit letters under one of three categories: health and wellness, purposeful engagement, or empowerment.
- Contact: Tufts Health Plan Foundation; foundation@tuftshealth.com ; http://www.tuftshealthplanfoundation.org
- January 10, 2014
- Applications for grants from the Needmor Fund, which support community organizing projects that encourage the efforts of people who are working together for justice and the common good; encourage involvement in community affairs by people whose participation has been systematically denied; and foster the active participation of all citizens in crafting values and policies that are more equitable.
- Contact: Needmor Fund, 42 South Saint Clair Street, Toledo, Ohio 43604; (419) 255-5560; http://www.needmorfund.org/procedures.htm
- January 30, 2014
- The Office on Violence Against Women: Disability Grant Program funds will be used to establish and strengthen multidisciplinary collaborative relationships; increase organizational capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse; and identify needs within the grantee’s organization and/or service area, and develop a plan to address those identified needs that builds a strong foundation for future work
- Find more information here: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=249113 or contact Amy Loder Sr. Program Specialist: Phone 202-305-2971; Email
Amy.Loder@usdoj.gov . Additional information here: http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/docs/fy2014-disability-solicitation.pdf
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Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):
· The New York City JASA Elder Abuse Training Institute has new training classes for Fall 2013. For more details and registration information click here: http://jasa.org/sites/default/files/NextAct_Catalog_Final_8.9.13.pdf Contact Martha Pollack for further questions: 718-286-1540 or mpollack@jasa.org
· The Nebraska State Bar Association – Elder Law Section and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services present Financial Exploitation and Elder Rights Issues live Via Web Streaming from Lincoln to 13 Locations Statewide or your desktop computer, December 17, 2013 from 8:45am to 5:00 pm (CST). Topics include Guardianships & Conservatorships, Identity Theft and Scams Update, Low Cost Legal Services in Nebraska, End of Life Issues, Legal and Psychological Elements in Undue Influence, Special Needs Trusts, and Ethics in Representing Elderly Clients. To register, please send an email here emily.hroch@nebraska.gov saying Attn: Emily Hroch.
· 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
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