Newsfeed – Wednesday, February 5, 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, Noozhawk, February 3, 2014
Tips for seniors, families to help prevent financial elder abuse
http://www.noozhawk.com/article/preventing_financial_elder_abuse_20140203
An estimated 30 percent of financial abuse crimes are committed by a scam artist previously unknown to the victim, and studies have found that in a majority of cases — over 50 percent — the abuser is a family member, friend, neighbor or caregiver the article states. Author Luciana Cramer, of the Alzheimer's Association-California Central Chapter, shares ways to prevent continued financial abuse.
ALABAMA (Birmingham), FOX 6, February 4, 2014
Charges dismissed in nursing home abuse cases
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/24627451/charges-dismissed-in-nursing-home-abuse-cases
Three former nursing home employees no longer face abuse charges. Patricia Hockaday, Janice Robinson and William Dixon were charged with emotional abuse of an adult person. In court on Monday, the cases were dismissed.
CALIFORNIA (Petaluma), Petaluma 360, February 3, 2014
Seniors bilked out of $219K in series of scams
http://www.petaluma360.com/article/20140203/community/140209934
Financial scams targeting senior citizens have long been a concern for the Petaluma Police Department, but after four separate scams bilked older Petaluma residents out of more than $219,000, officials are warning residents to be on alert. “Some type of scam is reported to us about five times a month,” said Petaluma Police Lt. Tim Lyons, who explained that roughly half of those scams involve elderly residents.
COLORADO (Boulder County), Daily Camera, February 3, 2014
Anam Chara’s Claire Gordon makes first appearance in Boulder elder-abuse case
Claire Gordon, an administrator for the now-closed Anam Chara home, made her first appearance in Boulder District Court on Monday after being indicted by a Boulder County grand jury in an elder-abuse case. The indictment alleges Gordon failed to report an incident of negligence causing serious bodily injury to an at-risk person to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment within 24 hours as required by state law.
FLORIDA (Pasco County), Hernando Today, February 4, 2014
Spring Hill nurse loses license after theft from dementia patient, authorities say
A certified nursing assistant and home health aide in Spring Hill had her license revoked last month for stealing $3,000 from an 86-year-old patient with dementia and memory problems, authorities said. Julisa M. Walker, 22, of Keyes Avenue, was arrested September 2010 in Pasco County and charged with exploitation of the elderly, according to Pasco Sheriff's Office.
GUAM, Kuam News, February 4, 2014
Organization helps those who can’t help themselves
http://www.kuam.com/story/24536760/2014/01/24/organization-helps-those-who-cant-help-themselves
Giving a voice to those who may not be able to defend themselves, Adult Protective Services aims to curb violence against our island's man'amko and adults with a disability. "In physical [sic] year 2013 alone APS received a total of 283 referrals 70% which were specific to our elders and 30 percent specific to adults with disability between 2009 and 2013 we have seen at least a 70 percent increase in referrals," APS supervisor Jocelynn Cruz explained.
IOWA, Des Moines Register, January 31, 2014 (Opinion)
Iowa view: let’s make sure this doesn’t happen again
In response to the Iowa nursing facility that dropped off a 65-year-old navy veteran without food, medication, or a phone the author stated that “This is a gut-wrenching and disturbing story. What happened to Mr. Chedester should not have happened, and we need to make sure that it never happens again — to anyone, anywhere.” John Hale provides recommendations to the Governor, state legislators and other state officials to consider in hopes of preventing future cases of abuse.
MASSACHUSETTS (Wilbraham), ABC 40, January 30, 2014
Local assisted living caretakers fired for alleged abuse
http://www.wggb.com/2014/01/30/loacl-assisted-living-caretakers-fired-for-alleged-abuse/
Several caretakers working for a Wilbraham assisted living facility have been fired for allegedly abusing patients. According to Orchard Valley at Wilbraham Senior Living administrators, anonymous employees tipped them off earlier this month that patients were being allegedly abused by other workers.
MARYLAND (Salisbury), Delmarva Now, January 31, 2014
Salisbury man sentenced to 20 years in counterfeit case involving elderly man
A 42-year-old Salisbury man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday in connection with a counterfeit case dating back to March involving a 92-year-old man, the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office said. Facts indicated at trial that David Suire, who was on parole, was hired by the elderly man in Wicomico County to perform home improvement work, and Suire got at least two checks from the victim, wrote them out to himself and cashed them, the State’s Attorney’s Office said.
MISSOURI (Hawk Point), Riverfront Times, February 3, 2014
Couple beats grandmother for money, goes on the run, gets busted by Facebook: police
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2014/02/kerpash_coleman_grandmother_arrest.php
Police credit Facebook for the arrest of a couple on the run for three days after beating an 87-year-old woman until she wrote them a $500 check. Mark Kerpash, 28, of Hawk Point, Mo., faces four felony charges after assaulting his grandmother and threatening to kill her until she gave him money, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
NEW YORK (Springville), Springville Journal, February 2, 2014
Elder fraud: identifying scams, finding resources
http://www.springvillejournal.com/social/144-Elder_fraud_identifying_scams,_finding_resources.html
The types of frauds that are out there run the gamut from younger people asking seniors to co-sign loans to gambling trips, ill-intentioned new friends and even charity scams the article states. Marge Wilcox of Springville is one alert citizen who said she has been dealing with a potential fraud, since October 2013. Wilcox said her sister fell victim to financial scams, and now she is trying to be alert and report similar scam artists targeting her.
OHIO (Sandusky), Sandusky Register, February 1, 2014
Police: man left elderly mom in squalor
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/article/crime/5232241
Lee Drennen, 57, of the 500 block of E. Parish St., was charged with failure to provide for a functionally impaired person, a fourth-degree felony. A home health care nurse reported Drennen’s 85-year-old mother missing Monday evening, after she couldn’t find the woman and Drennen didn’t know her whereabouts despite living with her, according to a Sandusky police report.
INTERNATIONAL (Canada), Inside Toronto, February 3, 2014
Runnymede Health Care Centre launches prevention program for elderly dental abuse
Inspired by the decade she practiced as a mobile geriatric dentist across the province, Dr. Natalie Archer created a program that addresses neglected oral health in the elderly, a form of abuse that can cause illness and even death. Launched with support of a federal grant, the DEAR program, unique in Canada, raises awareness of dental health and elder abuse to dentists, seniors and the broader community through educational materials while forming a network of dentists and people concerned about dental elder abuse, such as seniors, dentists, caregivers and families.
INTERNATIONAL (Peterborough, Ontario, Canada), Toronto Sun, January 31, 2014
Fired nursing home worker gets job back after hidden camera scandal
A nursing home employee who was fired after video footage of abusive treatment at the facility surfaced should be allowed to return to work, a provincial arbitrator has ruled. Footage captured the man canoodling with a female co-worker while Parent's mother lay in bed beside them.
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
ARIZONA (Sahuarita), Sahuarita SUN, February 2, 2014
Police report details spending by care-home owner
The owner of an assisted-living home in Sahuarita made more than 40 purchases in 2012 using a resident's money without her consent, according to a police report released Wednesday. Timothy P. McKenna, co-owner of Saguaro Acres, spent $2,517 or $2,570 — the report gave two numbers — on car repairs, nuts from Hawaii, gas in Rio Rico and on other items unrelated to the resident's care from January to May 2012, according to the report.
KENTUCKY (Mayfield), 12 KFVS, January 31, 2014
Mayfield man charged with exploiting adult
http://www.kfvs12.com/story/24603971/mayfield-man-charged-with-exploiting-adult
A Mayfield man faces a charge of knowingly exploiting an adult. Robert Harris, 50, of Mayfield is charged with knowingly exploiting an adult of $300.
NORTH DAKOTA, The Jamestown Sun, February 4, 2014
Hart counseling services awarded contract to protect vulnerable adults here
The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Aging Services Division has contracted with Hart Counseling Services in Jamestown to provide the Vulnerable Adult Protective Services Program in Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells counties. The program provides protective services to vulnerable adults who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
RELATED ISSUES
NEW YORK (Bronx), Time Warner Cable NEWS, February 2, 2014
NYPD issues silver alert for missing Bronx woman with mild dementia
Police need the public's help in finding a missing elderly woman suffering from mild dementia from the Bronx. The NYPD has issued a Silver Alert for any information on the whereabouts of the 84-year-old woman.
NEW YORK (Brooklyn), Time Warner Cable NEWS, February 4, 2014
Police search for missing Brooklyn man with dementia
http://www.ny1.com/content/news/203054/police-search-for-missing-brooklyn-man-with-dementia
Police are looking for a 77-year-old man with dementia who walked out of a Brooklyn Medical Center over the weekend. Officials say the man was last seen at around 6 .m. leaving Interfaith Medical Center on Atlantic Avenue.
WASHINGTON (Lacey), The Olympian, February 1, 2014
Lacey woman with dementia reported missing
http://www.theolympian.com/2014/02/01/2961335/lacey-woman-with-dementia-reported.html
A 65-year-old Lacey woman with a history of dementia was reported missing at 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Lacey police report that the woman left on foot, and was wearing a white leather coat, dark colored jeans and black boots. She was possibly carrying a pink purse.
INTERNATIONAL (CANADA), The Province, February 3, 2014
Elderly dementia patient struck by train in White Rock after wandering away from care home
An elderly dementia patient struck by a freight train in White Rock on Saturday night had wandered away from Evergreen Baptist, a nearby care home, according to the Fraser Health Authority. The victim, whose name has not been released, had reportedly wandered from the care home at about 8 p.m. although he was not reported missing until 9 p.m.
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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.org with any questions. To register please use the following link: https://thearc.webex.com/thearc/k2/j.php?MTID=tcac50d94749c6b73e527d08cc6459376
· 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-annual or 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
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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