Newsfeed – Friday, February 28, 2014
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! An archived collection of previous newsfeeds is available here: http://ncea.posthaven.com/
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, Huffington Post, February 21, 2014
Protecting Our Parents: Can Science Help?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-h-price-md/elder-fraud_b_4826666.html
The authors explain that over the last decade, researchers have focused on developing assessment tools to identify deficits in financial decision-making and vulnerability to undue influence long before they become apparent to family members, caregivers, and financial or legal advisors. Other approaches can detect neurological impairments even five to ten years before the formal diagnosis of dementia or other cognitive disorders. Yet, these instruments, which can often be administered by primary care physicians, nurses, and occupational therapists, have not gained traction in clinical practice, the authors state.
ARIZONA (Tucson), Explorer News, February 28, 2014
Sexual assault arrest vulnerable adult
http://explorernews.com/features/police_and_crime/article_2adb1104-a096-11e3-90bd-0019bb2963f4.html
On Dec. 9, 2013, the Tucson Police Department received information about a 79-year old female who was being sexually assaulted and sexually abused, while residing at the Villa Maria Care Center. The victim reported that the incidents took place on several different occasions throughout 2013, by a Certified Nursing Assistant who worked at the Center.
CALIFORNIA (San Diego), ABC 10 News, February 25, 2014
Nurse accused of sex on the job, elder neglect to be arraigned Tuesday
A male nurse accused of engaging in a sex act with another male nurse while caring for a 99-year-old stroke victim is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at the downtown courthouse. At that time, Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood said a March 2011 video shows the two defendants engaging in a sex act near the bedridden woman they were caring for.
CALIFORNIA (Santa Barbara), KCOY 12 FOX 11, February 26, 2014
Community leaders come together to end elder abuse
http://www.keyt.com/news/community-leaders-come-together-to-end-elder-abuse/24671312
The Santa Barbara Elder & Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Council brought the community together to protect seniors and prevent elder abuse and neglect in the county. The Council started "Stand Up Against Elder Abuse," a campaign to get the public involved and make Santa Barbara a safer place.
COLORADO (Colorado Springs), Fox 21 News, February 27, 2014
98-year-old woman dies, daughter accused of severely neglecting her
http://www.fox21news.com/news/story.aspx?id=1012849#.UxCnR_ldUzN
A Colorado Springs woman is now accused of severely neglecting her 98-year-old mother to the point of death. The 66-year-old caretaker is now charged with a felony count of Crimes Against At-Risk Adults and a misdemeanor count of Crimes Against At-Risk Adults – Caretaker Neglect.
COLORADO (Ouray County), The Watch, February 21, 2014
Defendant in Elder Abuse Case Found Guilty of Harassment
An elder abuse case that has lingered in county court for almost two and a half years reached partial conclusion earlier this month. Barbara Deluca, one of two co-defendants in the case, was originally charged with neglect of an at-risk victim, a Class 1 Misdemeanor. She reached a plea agreement, and the case never went to trial. At a sentencing hearing on Feb. 6, Ouray County Judge David Westfall dismissed the charge of at-risk neglect and found Deluca guilty of a lesser charge of harassment.
GEORGIA (Garden City), Savannah Now: Savannah Morning News
Garden City pair sentenced in elder abuse convictions
A Garden City woman on Thursday was sentenced to 20 years in prison – with six to serve – and her co-defendant to 20 years with eight to serve for their convictions on elder abuse charges. Assistant District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones, who is the elder abuse prosecutor, said that between June 1 and June 26, 2012 Wiggins and Nesmith deprived Wiggins’s mother of food and water and withheld her necessary medications, evidence showed.
KANSAS, The Hays Daily News, February 25, 2014
Kansas Legislature approaches turnaround
http://hdnews.net/opinion/ostmeyer022514
The Senate considered two bills, SB 354 and SB 355, which strengthen laws for the financial mistreatment of an elder adult or dependent. Primarily, SB 354 gives prosecutors additional tools to indict anyone who takes advantage of a senior. Both bills passed the Senate on a vote of 38-0.
KENTUCKY (Frankfort), The Republic, February 20, 2014
Bill to create adult protection registry in Kentucky clears state Senate
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/28533643587248339c3a5322f670d8b6/KY-XGR--Adult-Abuse
A bill aimed at creating an adult protection registry in Kentucky to give more assurances that the elderly and disabled are receiving compassionate care was passed by the state Senate on Thursday. The registry would list people found to have abused, neglected or exploited vulnerable adults.
MASSACHUSETTS (Stoughton), WCVB, February 27, 2014
Stoughton police: Woman charged in 'worst case of elder abuse'
http://www.wcvb.com/news/stoughton-police-woman-charged-in-worst-case-of-elder-abuse/24713294
A Stoughton woman has been arrested and charged in what police have called "one of the worst cases of elder abuse" they have seen. She was in a "small basement room that could be equated to a cell," said Stoughton police Deputy Chief Rob Devine, and had bed open sores, was dehydrated, and malnourished, police said.
MASSACHUSETTS, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, February 24, 2014
Kindred faces $2 million verdict in nursing home assault case with no eyewitnesses
A jury recently slapped Kindred Healthcare with a $2 million verdict in a resident abuse case that turned on testimony from medical experts, attorneys announced Thursday. An 87-year-old resident at a Kindred facility in Massachusetts* was found with genital bruising and bleeding, according to court documents. Kindred argued she sustained the injuries in a fall, while her lawyers argued that she had been assaulted.
MICHIGAN, Grand Rapids Business Journal, February 21, 2014
West Michigan’s elderly are falling victim to financial abuse
http://www.grbj.com/articles/79054-west-michigans-elderly-are-falling-victim-to-financial-abuse
Each year, according to the Alliance for Health, about 80,000 Michigan elders fall victim to some form of criminal abuse — and one of the most common types is financial, in the form of fraud and embezzlement. Last year, the Adult Protective Services staff at the Kent County Department of Human Services received 19,000 calls reporting abuse, up from 12,000 calls in 2000. The Alliance for Health says many more cases go unreported to authorities.
MINNESOTA (Hermantown), Mail Online, February 24, 2014
Branded a flirt and locked in a psychiatric ward, horrific ordeal of rape victim, 89, who was accused of lying about attack by nursing home worker
An 89-year-old woman who was raped by a 30-year-old nursing home worker was accused of making up the attack and ‘flirting mercilessly’ with her perpetrator by the administrators of the home. Directors at the Edgewood Vista nursing home in Hermantown, Minnesota have been accused of impeding a rape investigation by suggesting the sex was consensual, court documents show.
MISSOURI (Taney County), Branson Tri-Lakes News, February 25, 2014
Man charged with elder abuse facing 33 gun charges
http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news/article_cefd8f3e-9e4b-11e3-a997-0019bb2963f4.html
A Branson man originally charged in November 2013 in Taney County court with elder abuse and a single gun charge is now facing a total of 36 felony charges, including 33 gun-related charges. The 53-year-old man is accused of taking a woman out of an assisted-living facility to care for her himself, and being abusive towards her.
OKLAHOMA (Oklahoma City), February 25, 2014
OK House Halts Bill For Comprehensive Nursing Home Reform
http://www.news9.com/story/24819853/ok-house-halts-bill-for-comprehensive-nursing-home-reform
Lawmakers put the brakes on legislation aimed at preventing nursing home violence and neglect. House Bill 2901 did not make it to committee Tuesday, but senior citizen advocates tell News 9 their fight is long from over. 86-year-old Fern A. Horton, who survived elder abuse, shares her anger and desire for change to prevent future cases of abuse!
VIRGINIA, Newsleader, February 26, 2014
Groups work to protect vulnerable adults
Anne S. See and other staff members applied for funding from the Administration on Aging, and received a $10,000 grant. In January 2011 the Greater Augusta Coalition Against Adult Abuse began its work. See said a key goal of the coalition has been to create awareness among all residents, and she also noted free training sessions for law enforcement and other officials who investigate and prosecute crimes involving vulnerable adults.
INTERNATIONAL (Canada), The Star Phoenix, February 25, 2014
Coroner's inquest set for seniors' CO deaths
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Coroner+inquest+seniors+deaths/9546923/story.html
A coroner's inquest will be held into the December 2010 carbon monoxide buildup that led to the deaths of three seniors at St. Mary's Villa in Humboldt. About 18 witnesses are expected to testify at the hearing, which will be held March 3 to 7 at the Humboldt Uniplex.
INTERNATIONAL (Canada), Inside Belleville, February 27, 2014
Belleville Police raise awareness of elder abuse
http://www.insidebelleville.com/news-story/4388176-belleville-police-raise-awareness-of-elder-abuse/
Ann Earie Dempsey spoke over the weekend at the first Belleville Elder Abuse Education Conference at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre, organized by the Quinte Co-ordinating Committee Against Violence. CARP (formerly the Canadian Association of Retired Persons) says that the rate of family violence against seniors has risen 14 per cent since 2004, and of the 7,900 violent crime cases against seniors reported from 2009 to 2011 the perpetrators were likely to be a friend or family member.
INTERNATIONAL (Ireland), BBC News, February 20, 2014
Katherine McCall failed to investigate Cherry Tree House abuse claims
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-26272327
Last year, in a separate case, a whistleblower told the BBC that she had first made allegations of patient neglect at the home eight years ago. As nursing manager at Cherry Tree House, she was asked to investigate allegations of abuse by one member of staff against eight residents at the end of 2010 and the start of the following year.+
INTERNATIONAL (United Kingdom), Eastbourne Herald, February 22, 2014
Siblings battling over will
http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local/siblings-battling-over-will-1-5891686
Benefits dependent Christine Watts, 47, has “done nothing to get a job” since she became unemployed in 2005, because she expected to be rescued by a share of her mother’s £200,000 estate, the High Court heard. Gary Watts said that their mother “was extremely disappointed with the conduct of my sister. She said basically she wanted to change the will. She was disappointed with her not showing any concern for her, not coming up and visiting her.”
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
IDAHO (Twin Falls), Magic Valley, February 21, 2014
Caregiver Accused of Beating Man with Metal Pipe; Certificate Suspended
A woman who was running an assisted living home in Twin Falls County hit a man with severe dementia in the head with a metal pipe, police say. An on-site aide told Health and Welfare that Bryan, who owns the home, was abusing the 62-year-old man. Tricia Richard, of Health and Welfare, said the man also had several bruises on his head.
KENTUCKY (Louisville), WAVE 3 News, February 24, 2014
Friend defends couple accused of beating mentally-challenged man
http://www.wave3.com/story/24810885/friend-defends-couple-accused-of-beating-mentally-challenged-man
Louisville Metro Police say an Auburndale neighborhood man and his wife became so upset with her grown, mentally-challenged son that the two of them tied him up and beat him with a belt. Detectives arrested Chris and Vickie Battle on February 21 after the victims caregiver called Adult Protective Services and reported suspicions of abuse.
MARYLAND (Baltimore County), Fox 45, February 25, 2014
Baltimore Co caregiver convicted of assaulting
A caregiver at Baltimore County care agency for individuals with disabilities has been convicted of assaulting a 63-year-old vulnerable adult. Ronald G. Barnes, 54, of Lochearn was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree following a two-day jury trial in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.
MICHIGAN (Grand Haven), Grand Haven Tribune, February 25, 2014
Mental health worker pleads to client theft
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/policefire/884351
Andrea Beth Quigg, 35, of Muskegon, will serve 45 days in jail if she pays $4,525 in restitution prior to her sentencing on April 14, according to court records. Quigg entered the plea to charges of embezzlement $1,000-$20,000 of a vulnerable adult, and to uttering and publishing.
NEBRASKA (Beatrice), Beatrice Daily Sun, February 26, 2014
Pangborn sentenced in BSDC abuse case
The last of five former Beatrice State Developmental Center employees convicted of abusing mentally handicapped clients was sentenced in court Wednesday. Former employee Matthew Pangborn was sentenced to 112-180 months, roughly 9-15 years, in prison. Last month, Pangborn was found guilty of five charges related to abusing vulnerable adults beginning in May, 2011.
INTERNATIONAL (Canada), CBC News, February 27, 2014
Exclusive: Mentally ill inmates kept in 'grossly inadequate' conditions
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mentally-ill-inmates-kept-in-grossly-inadequate-conditions-1.2554110
Prisoners with the most acute mental illness are being locked up in prolonged isolation and unkempt, chaotic and "grossly inadequate" conditions, two years after the United Nations called on Canada to end solitary confinement for inmates with mental disorders. Documents released under Access to Information reveal that the correctional investigator of Canada raised concerns about the isolation, lack of programming and "gross neglect" of maintenance and hygiene at Ontario's Millhaven Institution.
INTERNATIONAL (United Kingdom), Belfast Telegraph, February 27, 2014
A Trust's apology over abuse of disabled care home patients at Ralph's Close in Derry
Severely disabled care home residents in Londonderry who could not speak suffered physical and psychological abuse, a review has found. An investigation was initiated following anonymous allegations about staff at Ralph's Close.
RELATED ISSUES
CALIFORNIA (San Bernardino), The Sun, February 24, 2014
San Bernardino police search for missing elderly woman with slight dementia
Police searched for an elderly woman Monday night who walked away from her assisted living home. Police said she has slight dementia.
MICHIGAN (Lenawee), Lenconnect, February 26, 2014
State effort to deny care for 96-year-old blocked
http://www.lenconnect.com/article/20140226/News/140229271
A threat to evict a 96-year-old legally blind woman from the nursing home where she has lived for nearly three years was lifted Tuesday by an order signed in Lenawee County Circuit Court. The order reverses state government decisions denying Medicaid coverage for Joy Wonders to remain in the Lenawee Medical Care Facility. Administrative law judges ruled three times that Wonders was too healthy for nursing home care paid for by Medicaid, despite being blind and confined to a wheelchair.
MICHIGAN (Detroit), Detroit Free Press, February 20, 2014
Detroit police seek missing man with dementia
http://www.freep.com/article/20140220/NEWS01/302200176/missing-man-dementia
Detroit police are turning to the public for help in finding a man with dementia who has been missing for several days. He was last seen wearing a gray hat, blue sweatshirt, pleated jacket, brown pants and brown house shoes.
TEXAS (Grayson County), KTEN, February 22, 2014
Lake Texoma Dementia Patient Still Missing After Eight Days
http://www.kten.com/story/24796578/lake-texoma-dementia-patient-still-missing-after-eight-days
It's now been eight days since a Lake Texoma retiree who suffers from dementia disappeared from his home near Pottsboro. Dixon's son had gone in to take a shower last Friday evening, but says when he came out, his father was gone. They say he has some trouble walking, but his cane was still in his room.
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Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):
· IOM Forum on Global Violence Prevention will host a public workshop on February 26-27, 2014. This workshop will explore a model for thinking about mental health, violence, and prevention with the goal of arriving at a better understanding of the relationships between mental illness and risks of violence perpetration and victimization as well as the mental health consequences of exposure to violence. The workshop will be held at the Keck Center in Washington, DC, and is free and open to the public. However, space is limited. More information found here: http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Global/ViolenceForum/2014-FEB-26.aspx?utm_medium=etmail&utm_source=Institute%20of%20Medicine&utm_campaign=12.18.13+Forum+and+Roundtable+News&utm_content=&utm_term=
· The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability is holding its second webinar featuring Dr. Nora Baladerian’s presentation, “Crime Victims with Disabilities: An Overview for Professionals in the Criminal Justice System” on February 27th at 12:30 CST, 1:30 EST. This comprehensive webinar will present an overview of the issues surrounding victimization of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and where various professionals fit into the solution. Contact NCCJDInfo@thearc.orgwith any questions. To register please use the following link: https://thearc.webex.com/thearc/k2/j.php?MTID=tcac50d94749c6b73e527d08cc6459376
· The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care will be hosting a Free Webinar called “Tips and Tools for Preventing and Responding to Financial Exploitation in Long-Term Care Facilities” on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 3:00- 4:30 ET. Topics include: The role of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in financial protection and education of older adults and share new resources attendees can use with consumers; The responsibilities and oversight of representative payees and how attendees can support the rights of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries and report suspicion of misuse of benefits by a representative payee; Case scenarios; New consumer factsheets regarding the prevention, detection and reporting of financial exploitation in nursing home and assisted living facilities. Space is limited. To register, click here: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=r1wpa2akd1ht
· Aging in America 2014 Conference by the American Society on Aging (March 11-15, 2014) presents the National Forum on Elder Justice Thursday, March 13th from 1:00pm-5:00pm PST. The program will examine elder justice from a multidisciplinary perspective, looking at everything from research and practice to policy and the impact of elder abuse on diverse populations. Pre-registration is required. Find more information here: http://www.asaging.org/national-forum-elder-abuse
· 14th Annual International Family Justice Conference “The Root of All Crime” is April 2-4, 2014 in San Diego, CA. The conference will include training and interactive peer to peer discussions on issues related to the handling of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse and stalking cases with special focus on law enforcement response, criminal prosecution, civil legal assistance, and advocacy. For more information click here: https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/default.aspx?EventID=1231094
· The 7th Annual Forensic Investigations on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Child and Elder Abuse. This conference will be held in the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri from May 14-16th, 2014. For more information click here: https://www.saintlukeshealthsystem.org/classes-and-events/forensic-conference-7th-annualor contact saintlukesconcierge@saint-lukes.org
· The 3rd World Congress on Adult Guardianship will be convened on May 28-30th , 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
· The 2014 Consumer Voice Annual Conference will be held in Arlington, Virginia from November 15-19, 2014. There will be speakers in the field, long-term care policy updates from key experts, and tools and resources for advocacy. Registration and the conference agenda details will be coming soon. For questions, contact: info@theconsumervoice.org.
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Funding Opportunities:
· The National Institute of Justice is seeking proposals for research and evaluation related to the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elderly individuals. Research that includes residents of residential care facilities also will be considered. Research proposed may be focused at the state, local, tribal, federal, juvenile justice policy and/or practice level.
o The closing date for the application is April 25, 2014
o Click here for more information: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=251247
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
Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology
101 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
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