NCEA Newsfeed – Wednesday, March 13, 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!
Learn what the Administration on Aging is planning for the Year of Elder Abuse Prevention!
http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/Elder_Rights/YEAP/index.aspx
Calendar of upcoming elder abuse and neglect events can be found at the bottom of the newsfeed.
***************************************************************************************
ELDER ABUSE NEWSFEED
1. CALIFORNIA (Sacramento), Sacramento Bee, March 9, 2013
Sacramento jury slams assisted living firm with $23 million in punitive damages
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/09/5248716/sacramento-jury-slams-assisted.html
A Sacramento jury awarded the family of a deceased former resident of an Emeritus assisted living facility $23 million in punitive damages. Three days earlier, the jury found Emeritus guilty of malice, oppression and fraud in the former resident’s death. Emeritus has vowed to appeal the verdict.
2. CALIFORNIA (Murrieta), My Valley News, March 8, 2013
Felon faces elder abuse, kidnapping charges for alleged attack
http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/69871/
A probationer accused of assaulting a physically disabled family member in front of sheriff's deputies and briefly barricading himself inside the woman's San Jacinto home to avoid arrest was charged today with two counts of assault resulting in great bodily injury and other felonies.
3. ILLINOIS (Chicago), Chicago Sun Times, March 7, 2013
South Side woman charged with neglect in grandmother’s deathhttp://www.suntimes.com/news/18697185-761/woman-charged-with-neglect-in-grandmothers-death.html
A South Side woman has been charged with elderly neglect after her malnourished, bedridden grandmother was discovered dead with maggots in her hair, bed sores, skin ulcers and chemical burns on her body caused by lying in her own urine. The suspect, who is listed as a public school cook in a police report, never sought medical help when her grandmother cried out in pain every night in the last few months of her life, Cook County prosecutors said.
4. ILLINOIS (Edwardsville), The Telegraph, March 13, 2013
Club owner faces financial exploitation charge
http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/local/article_16f01862-8b78-11e2-8022-001a4bcf6878.html
An Alton business owner has been indicted on a charge of unlawful financial exploitation of an elderly person. The indictment alleges that the suspect, 52, "while standing in a position of trust and confidence with [the victim], an elderly person ... knowingly and by deception obtained control over [the victim’s] property, being U.S. currency, having a value in excess of $5,000 but less than $100,000."
5. ILLINOIS (Woodstock), Northwest Herald, March 8, 2013
Financial exploitation charges dropped in plea deal
http://www.nwherald.com/2013/03/07/financial-exploitation-charges-dropped-in-plea-deal/ajq87fw/
Accused of exploiting the husband’s elderly father, a couple pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor offenses, but the case was about a dispute between brothers over their father’s estate that should have been handled in probate court, a defense attorney said.
6. KENTUCKY (Ashland), Daily Independent, March 11, 2013
Raising public awareness of elder abuse
http://dailyindependent.com/local/x2101727211/Raising-public-awareness-of-elder-abuse
Raising awareness and educating the public on the warning signs of elder abuse are increasingly important as the population continues to age, said Angela K. Rigsby, the district ombudsman for the FIVCO Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, a partnership with the Legal Aid of the Bluegrass.
7. MISSOURI (Forsyth), Branson Tri-Lakes News, March 12, 2013
Forsyth man facing elder abuse charge
http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news/article_9bb374b4-8b40-11e2-ba04-0019bb2963f4.html
A Forsyth man is facing a felony elder abuse charge for allegedly shoving and stomping on his 66-year-old grandmother. According to a probable cause statement from the Taney County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect, 26, got into a physical altercation with his grandmother, shoved her down a hall and into a bedroom.
8. MONTANA (Helena), The Montana Standard, March 13, 2013
Bill backers aim to ease elder-abuse prosecutions
http://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/bill-backers-aim-to-ease-elder-abuse-prosecutions/article_601aac29-92f1-52ed-8f3c-dc09eea5bf6b.html
Supporters of a bill meant to discourage elder abuse say the new measure would make it simpler to prosecute those who attempt to take money from the elderly. Senate Bill 134 would no longer require a prosecutor to prove that an elderly person is mentally or physically impaired in cases of alleged elder abuse.
9. OHIO (Columbus), The Marietta Times, March 8, 2013
Proposal adds to list of who must report elder abuse cases
http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/550326/Proposal-adds-to-list-of-who-must-report-elder-abuse-cases.html?nav=5002
Bankers and pharmacists would be required to report suspected elder abuse and the definition of abuse would be expanded under a bill being considered in Ohio.
10. OHIO (Mount Vernon), Mount Vernon News, March 12, 2013
Thatcher to testify for elder abuse bill
http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/13/03/13/article?id=2
Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher will be among those testifying this afternoon in favor of House Bill 49, which would target the growing problem of elder abuse. Thatcher explained that it would create a multi-agency approach, much like Child Protective Services, to combat a range of ways the elderly are exploited and abused, such as having accounts drained by con men or even relatives, not just physical abuse.
11. OKLAHOMA (Oklahoma City), News OK, March 8, 2013
Daughters of abused nursing home patient call for reform in Oklahoma
http://newsok.com/daughters-of-abused-nursing-home-patient-call-for-reform-in-oklahoma/article/3763498
The state department tasked with regulating Oklahoma's nursing homes is failing to ensure the safety of those who live within them, an advocate for reform said Thursday. On the lawn of the state Health Department, flanked by the daughters of a 96-year-old woman who was physically abused by two Oklahoma City nursing home aides last year, Wes Bledsoe said the department should amp up its inspections and investigations process immediately.
12. TENNESSEE (Clarksville), The Leaf Chronicle, March 8, 2013
Clarksville man settles elder abuse case
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20130308/NEWS01/303080037/Clarksville-man-settles-elder-abuse-case
A Clarksville man accused of neglecting the care of his elderly father pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Wednesday in Judge Mike R. Jones’ court. Benton Samuel Wickham, 43, was charged with neglecting his 84-year-old father while in his care and causing his health to decline. On Oct. 11, 2012, a physician at Gateway Medical Center reported to police that the elderly man had skin tears, was extremely malnourished and could not respond verbally.
13. WASHINGTON (Tacoma), Komo News, March 13, 2013
Woman charged with stealing $423,000 from elderly uncle
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Betsey-Cammon-charged-with-stealing-423K-from-elderly-uncle-197847161.html
A woman is in jail after allegedly stealing more than $420,000 from her 96-year-old uncle while he suffered from Alzheimer's and dementia. The suspect was charged with 34 counts of theft, a crime she initially blamed on threats and extortion from an unknown person.
14. INTERNATIONAL (British Columbia, Canada), Coast Reporter, March 12, 2013
B.C. launches elder abuse prevention strategy
http://www.coastreporter.net/article/20130312/SECHELT0101/303129999/-1/sechelt/bc-launches-elder-abuse-prevention-strategy
British Columbia launched a strategy March 6, outlining short and long-term measures to prevent, recognize and respond to elder abuse in the province. “Protecting seniors from all forms of abuse is a priority for myself and for our government," said Minister of State for Seniors Ralph Sultan in a news release. “With this collaborative strategy, we hope to bring about a positive change where all British Columbians are involved in protecting seniors from abuse and creating a culture where older adults are respected in every way."
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
1. CALIFORNIA (Sacramento County), Fox 40, March 12, 2013
Parolee Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Disabled Man
http://fox40.com/2013/03/12/parollee-arrested-for-sexually-assaulting-disabled-man/
A man was arrested in Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting a developmentally disabled man. The suspect is a registered sex offender, and has a prior conviction for rape by force or fear.
2. CALIFORNIA (Sacramento County), News 10, March 13, 2013
Sheriff: Man forced dependent adult into sex act
http://www.news10.net/video/default.aspx?bctid=2221966424001
A dependent adult was forced into performing oral sex behind an Elverta shopping center last Friday, according to an arrest report from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.
3. CALIFORNIA (Sonoma), KQED, March 11, 2013
New Director to Take Over Troubled Sonoma Disability Center
http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2013/03/11/new-director-to-take-over-troubled-sonoma-disability-center/
A former employee of the Sonoma Developmental Center has been tapped to head California’s largest full-time care facility for the severely disabled, at a time when the institution is struggling to reinvent itself in the wake of patient abuse scandals. The appointment comes in the wake of a California Watch series that uncovered serious allegations of patient abuse at the Sonoma Developmental Center. The reported abuses included cases of rape and molestation as well as allegations that a state worker used a Taser to inflict burns on a dozen patients.
4. MASSACHUSETTS (Pittsfield), The Transcript, March 12, 2013
Jury is ‘stuck’ in trial over alleged elder abuse in Hancock
http://www.thetranscript.com/news/ci_22769158/jury-is-lsquo-stuck-rsquo-trial-over-alleged
The jury in the sexual abuse trial of a 72-year-old North Dartmouth man reported to the court late Monday afternoon that they were "stuck" on five of the seven charges against him. Their deliberations began Monday morning. The suspect is accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a 24-year-old woman who, according to prosecutors, has the problem-solving skills of a 4-year-old.
5. NORTH DAKOTA (Bismarck), Bismarck Tribune, March 11, 2013
Bismarck woman denies endangering disabled son
http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/bismarck-woman-denies-endangering-disabled-son/article_1d5d8f6c-8a93-11e2-a6dc-001a4bcf887a.html
A Bismarck woman accused of burning her disabled son with a cigarette has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge.
6. SOUTH CAROLINA (North Augusta), WRDW, March 8, 2013
Person wanted for questioning in exploitation of vulnerable adult
http://www.wrdw.com/news/crimeteam12/headlines/Person-wanted-for-questioning-in-exploitation-of-vulnerable-adult-196485951.html
The North Augusta Department of Public Safety is looking to question someone in an exploitation of a vulnerable adult case. The victim, who is said to be handicapped and incapable of making financial decisions, was befriended by the suspect in Augusta and brought to the Verizon store in North Augusta. The victim then gave all of his identifying information to store employees so the suspect could buy a phone. Investigators say the suspect has used the victim's identity multiple times to buy phones in other areas.
RELATED ISSUES
1. FLORIDA (Miami), Local 10, March 11, 2013
Police: Missing man suffers from dementia
http://www.local10.com/news/Police-Missing-man-suffers-from-dementia/-/1717324/19276844/-/e9it7pz/-/index.html
Authorities are asking for the public's help in finding a missing man who suffers from dementia. Police said Alfred Moss, 88, was last seen on Monday. Moss is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 183 pounds. He has grey hair and blue-grey eyes. He was last seen wearing a red-green cap, burgundy Adidas shirt, dark-colored pants with brown wafers and using a full red walker.
2. FLORIDA (St. Petersburg), Bay News 9, March 9, 2013
Elderly man with dementia goes missing in St. Pete
http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/3/9/elderly_man_with_dem.html
An elderly man in St. Petersburg is missing, and police say he could be in danger. Antonio Hunt, 88, disappeared Friday morning from a relative's apartment in the 200 block of 78th Avenue North. Police say Hunt has dementia and is not familiar with the area. He's originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, and police say he only speaks French when frightened.
3. ILLINOIS (Northlake), Chicago Tribune, March 10, 2013
Update: Missing Northlake man has been located
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-03-10/news/chi-northlake-man-83-with-dementia-goes-missing-20130310_1_northlake-man-haircut-person-report
An 83-year-old west suburban Northlake man who went missing after going out for a haircut Saturday has been located, according to his family. On Sunday afternoon, a member of Frank Chillemi's family said he has been found. Chillemi's daughter Suzanne Cech said he is "fine,'' came home on his own, and had no idea he was gone for more than 24 hours.
4. NEBRASKA (Lincoln), 1011 Now, March 13, 2013
Missing Lincoln Woman with Dementia Found in Hastings
http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/Lincoln-Woman-with-Dementia-Missing-197386291.html
Lincoln police say a 75-year-old woman with dementia who was reported missing was found near Hastings.
5. WASHINGTON (Federal Way), Q13 Fox, March 12, 2013
Missing Federal Way man with dementia and diabetes foundhttp://q13fox.com/2013/03/12/cops-looking-for-missing-federal-way-man-with-dementia-and-diabetes/#axzz2NSxgaC00
Police looking for an 85-year-old man with dementia and diabetes who was last seen leaving his home Tuesday in Federal Way located the man early Wednesday morning.
***************************************************************************************
Funding Opportunities:
- April 30/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
- May 1, 2013
- The American Bar Association has announced a further round of grants to be made in 2013 that will promote and support innovation in the delivery of civil legal aid. These grants will go to the state Access to Justice Commissions. The grants will fund projects in seven critical areas of innovation: expanding limited scope representation and other models for affordable services; improving language access and eliminating implicit cultural bias; employing public libraries as point of access for legal aid; enhancing fundraising outside the legal community; creating partnerships with health care and social services providers, government agencies and other new partners; preserving access for low-income people as courts implement e-filing; and increasing web-based delivery of pro bono services for self-represented litigants. Eligible entities are state Access to Justice Commissions, which are formal entities that bring together the highest level of the state's courts, organized bar, and other stakeholders to support the expansion of access to civil justice for low income and disadvantaged people. Applications for Grants to Promote the Creation of new Access to Justice Commissions are due by February 15, 2013; applications for Innovation Grants are due on May 1, 2013.
- Information: www.ATJsupport.org under “grants.” For additional information contact Bob Echols, State Support Consultant, ABA Resource Center for Access to Justice Initiatives, Robert.Echols@comcast.net
- May 20, 2013
- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for research and evaluation relating to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elderly individuals and residents of residential care facilities. This research furthers the Department’s mission by sponsoring research to provide objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the State and local levels.
- For more information: https://ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl001043.pdf
***************************************************************************************
Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):
· The 2013 Aging in America Conference is presented by the American Society on Aging. The conference will take place from March 12-16, 2013 in Chicago, IL. For more information: http://www.asaging.org/aia
· The Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services will hold their annual conference on March 15, 2013 at The Columbus State Conference Center. The theme this year is “The Evolving Aspects of Elder Abuse.” For more information: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1362455-HWZmxQRixk
· The deadline to submit abstracts for the 2013 Annual Conference of The Gerontological Society of America is March 15, 2013.
To learn more about submitting abstracts: http://www.geron.org/meeting2013/GSA2013CFA.pdf
To learn more about the upcoming conference November 20-24, 2013, titled “Optimal Aging Through Research,” please visit
http://www.geron.org/annual-meeting/future-meetings· The SAFEta Webinar Series will cover three topics this year: Patients with developmental and/or physical disabilities, older patients, and patients who are in the military. The series begins on April 11, 2013. For more information: http://safeta.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=85
· The 13th Annual International Family Justice Center Conference will be held in Ft. Worth, Texas from April 16-18, 2013 at the Worthington Renaissance Forth Worth Hotel. For more information: http://www.familyjusticecenter.org/training-main/annual-conference.html
· Elder Abuse and its Prevention – A Workshop will be hosted by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies April 17-18, 2013 at the Keck Center on Washington, D.C. For more information: http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Global/ViolenceForum/2013-APR-17.aspx
· Registration is now open for Teaming Up Against Elder Financial Exploitation, a course offered in the Orlando area, April 17 – 19, 2013. This course is presented by The Florida Attorney General’s Office (FCPTI) and The Florida Bar Elder Law Section’s Committee on Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation. For more information: http://www.fcpti.com/fcpti.nsf/forms/CF4576CAD96E849C85257A830057911A
· The Academy on Violence and Abuse (AVA) 2013 Scientific Conference will be called “Addressing Violence and Abuse in the Changing Healthcare Environment,” and will take place on April 18-20 in Minneapolis, MN at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites. For more information: http://avahealth.nonprofitoffice.com/vertical/sites/%7B75FA0828-D713-4580-A29D-257F315BB94F%7D/uploads/avabrochure_P20.pdf
· The Greater Augusta Coalition Against Adult Abuse in partnership with the VA Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Blue Ridge Community College is sponsoring a free, day long training for Commonwealth Attorneys, Law Enforcement, Social Workers, and related professionals on “Obtaining Convictions and Restitution for Adult Abuse” on Monday, April 29, 2013. For more information, contact Anne See at (540) 433-1830 or asee@brls.org. Click here to register: http://fs21.formsite.com/ascott/form10/index.html?1358267517475
· The 6th Annual Forensic Investigations Conference to be held from May 15-17, 2013 at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Seminars will focus on a broad array of emerging forensic practices, in sexual assault, interpersonal violence, child and elder abuse in both an urban and rural environment. For more information https://www.saintlukeshealthsystem.org/event/forensic-conference-1
· The Alzheimer’s Association annual conference, titled “Dementia Care @AAIC: Translating Research to Practice” will be held in Boston, Massachusetts from July 13-18, 2013. Learn more here: http://www.alz.org/aaic/
· Changing Aging, The Florida Conference on Aging will be held on August 12-14, 2013 and will be themed, “Aging: New Game – New Rules”
For more information: http://www.fcoa.org/conference.html· The 18th International Conference & Summit on Violence, Abuse & Trauma will be held in San Diego, California on September 8-11, 2013. For more information: http://www.ivatcenters.org/
· The 2nd Annual National Elder Abuse Symposium will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Anaheim, California on December 3-6, 2013. Stay tuned for more information.
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
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.