Newsfeed – Tuesday, March 25, 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
ARIZONA (Congress), The Daily Courier, March 24, 2014
Scam rips off couple in their 90s for almost $14K
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1086&ArticleID=129836
A couple who fell for telephone scams offering a luxury car and gold bars ended up losing $13,600 in the fraudulent schemes, a YCSO spokesman said. A deputy responded to a report of a married couple who believed they had been the victims of a scam, Dwight D'Evelyn said, and met with a man and woman in their 90s who told the deputy they'd lost several thousand dollars.
ARIZONA (Phoenix), Bradenton, March 21, 2014
Ariz. court to review ruling on hospital lawsuits
http://www.bradenton.com/2014/03/21/5059556/ariz-court-to-review-ruling-on.html
The Arizona Supreme Court has agreed to review a lower court's decision allowing lawsuits against hospitals under a state law to protect vulnerable or incapacitated adults from neglect, abuse and exploitation. The Court of Appeals ruled that the law exempts physicians and certain other specified care providers but not hospitals.
CALIFORNIA (La Jolla), 7 San Diego, March 24, 2014
New Allegations in La Jolla Elder Abuse Case
Just days after NBC 7 Investigates first reported about the discovery of a 90-year-old man dangerously malnourished and dehydrated in his own home, two other families have come forward claiming that man’s companion took advantage of two other men -- an 81-year-old and 80-year-old. Family members of the 90-year-old homeowner say the woman they blame for his condition, Victoria Turner, is back in the Avenida De Las Pescas house she shared with Stella.
CALIFORNIA (Middletown), Lake County News, March 20, 2014
Welfare check on an elderly Middletown woman results in standoff, son's arrest
Deputies responded to a residence in Middletown on Thursday morning to conduct a welfare check of an elderly woman, and later took her son into custody after he refused to allow them entry and a standoff ensued. The Adult Protective Services employee had attempted to check the condition of the woman, but her son, would not let him inside the home, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
CALIFORNIA (Redwood City), The Daily Journal, March 22, 2014
Redwood City man accused of elder abuse gets three years in prison
A Redwood City man accused of widespread elder abuse by defrauding people with his tales of domestic and economic woes was sentenced Friday to three years in prison. Prosecutors say Keeton swindled more than $270,000 total from multiple people.
CALIFORNIA (Riverside), CBS Los Angeles, March 20, 2014
Caregiver, 58, Accused In 2012 Murder Of Her Elderly Mother
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/03/20/caregiver-58-accused-in-2012-murder-of-her-elderly-mother/
A caregiver who was charged with taking care of her 85-year-old mother is being charged with the elderly woman’s 2012 murder. Riverside Police Officers responded to the Riverside Community Hospital in December 2012, regarding an elder abuse investigation.
CONNECTICUT, New Haven Register Health, March 22, 2014
4 Connecticut nursing homes fined, 1 for abuse of resident
http://www.nhregister.com/health/20140322/4-connecticut-nursing-homes-fined-1-for-abuse-of-resident
The state Department of Public Health has fined four nursing homes more than $1,000 each for one case of physical abuse and incidents that left residents with cuts, bruises and a broken bone. On Jan. 23, Arden House in Hamden was fined $1,020 in connection with an incident of physical abuse of a resident by a nurse’s aide, DPH records show.
NEW JERSEY (Atlantic County), Philly, March 22, 2014
Two charged with allegedly bilking $2 million from elderly clients
http://articles.philly.com/2014-03-22/news/48443033_1_hoffman-elderly-clients-defendants
A prominent Atlantic County lawyer and a social worker have been charged with preying on elderly clients in South Jersey and bilking more than $2 million from 10 victims, authorities announced Thursday. A 62 year-old woman of Northfield, a lawyer who specialized in elder law, and a 57-year-old woman of Linwood, were arrested Wednesday on charges that included money laundering, conspiracy, and theft, said acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman.
OHIO, The Columbus Dispatch, March 24, 2014
Scams of elderly are on the rise
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/24/scams-of-elderly-are-on-the-rise.html
The agencies that investigate abuse and neglect in Ohio’s 88 counties received 14,646 reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of people 60 or older in the 2013 fiscal year that ended on June 30, according to state officials. The Ohio House recently passed a bill designed to protect older Ohioans from losing their life savings or homes. The proposal expands the definition of elder abuse under Ohio law to include financial harm, neglect and exploitation.
PENNSYLVANIA (Nanticoke), The Sunday Dispatch, March 21, 2014
State Secretary of Aging addresses elder abuse
http://psdispatch.com/news/local-news-news/1268845/State-Secretary-of-Aging-addresses-elder-abuse
State Secretary of Aging Brian Duke was the guest speaker at the forum that featured a panel of experts, including Trula Hollywood, the executive director of Luzerne-Wyoming Area Agency on Aging; Brian McAdarra, supervisor of Adult Protective Services; and Denise Corcoran, executive director of Anthracite Region Center for Independent Living. The panel discussed the importance of recognizing and reporting abuse of those who are elderly and disabled. Incidents have been on the rise and prosecutions have as well, Hollywood and Duke said.
SOUTH CAROLINA (Rock Hill), 10 WISTV, March 19, 2014
Rock Hill Police investigate nursing home abuse allegations
http://www.wistv.com/story/25020234/rock-hill-police-investigate-nursing-home-abuse-allegations
Police in Rock Hill are looking into allegations of abuse at a nursing home and a caregiver is off the job. Police say the caretaker grabbed a resident so hard it caused a wound that required stitches to close it.
TEXAS, My Fox Dallas-Fort Worth, March 21, 2014
Judge rules elderly N. Texas man will stay in state custody
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/25042491/judge-rules
Charlie Fink, an 85-year-old man who made a call for help recently to FOX 4 after the state took emergency custody of him, had a date in court on Friday. At the end of the day, Judge John B. Peyton allowed the emergency protective custody order of Adult Protective Services to stay in place.
TEXAS (Houston), My Fox Houston, March 17,2014
Elderly Exploitation- Caretakers taking advantage
The article states that a 91-year-old woman with dementia was financially exploited by a caregiver. Her house and property were signed over to the caregiver, with her family claiming that the woman’s death months later was due to a "broken heart".
WASHINGTON (Tazewell County), Pekin Times, March 20, 2014
Tazewell County Coroner rules death of elderly Washington woman a homicide
http://www.pekintimes.com/article/20140320/NEWS/140329903
Tazewell County Coroner Jeff Baldi on Thursday announced that the death of an elderly Washington woman in July 2013 was a homicide. At the time of death, Levin weighed only 52 pounds. Her body was stuck to the mattress because of the feces and urine that were allowed to remain for lengthy periods of time. Her diaper was filled with feces and had insects in it.
WISCONSIN (Eau Claire County), Leader-Telegram, March 23, 2014
Fall Creek man faces charges for suspected elder abuse
http://www.leadertelegram.com/local_news/story/article_3bf8a750-b24b-11e3-8525-0019bb2963f4.html
Eau Claire County Judge William Gabler on Friday entered not guilty pleas for a Fall Creek man accused of giving his elderly mother third-degree burns on at least two occasions while he had power of attorney for medical care. Fall Creek police received medical reports of burns the woman received in November and December.
INTERNATIONAL (United Kingdom), Mail Online, March 24, 2014
Travelers persuaded 84-year-old dementia sufferer to drop off wads of cash in lay-bys and bus-stops as they conned her out of £73,500 life savings
Two travelers who persuaded an elderly dementia sufferer to drop off £73,500 in cash at a bus stop or a lay-by have been jailed for a total of eight-and-a-half years. Father-of-six Hughie Doherty, 31, his brother Francis, 36, and the pair's brother-in-law David Young, conned the 84-year-old widow out of nearly all her life-savings by pretending to be solicitors.
NEW ZEALAND (Otago County), Otago Daily Times, March 26, 2014
Cases of elder abuse increasing
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/296513/cases-elder-abuse-increasing
The number of cases of elder abuse and neglect referred to Age Concern Otago continues to rise, those working for the organization say. More than 130 cases were referred to the Dunedin Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention service last year, which was up on the about 100 from the previous year.
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
FLORIDA (Jupiter), The Palm Beach Post, March 21, 2014
Jupiter man denies beating disabled woman, faces charges
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/jupiter-man-denies-beating-disabled-woman-faces-ch/nfH8n/
A 51-year-old Jupiter man is facing criminal charges after police say he beat the disabled woman he lives with. Gregory Wampler was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on Thursday and faces charges of battery causing bodily harm and abuse of an elderly or disabled adult without great harm.
ILLINOIS (Belleville), BND, March 22, 2014
'Felonious neglect': Coroner appalled at Belleville man's horrible condition
http://www.bnd.com/2014/03/22/3123506/felonious-neglect-coroner-appalled.html
St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone said it's the worst case of neglect he's seen in his 40 years in law enforcement. The 52 year old victim was blind and had other mental and physical disabilities. He weighed 60 pounds when he was found dead curled in a fetal position in the bedroom of a Belleville home on March 11.
KENTUCKY (Carroll County), Madison Courier, March 18, 2014
Couple sentenced for abuse of daughter with Down Syndrome
http://madisoncourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=286&ArticleID=82302
A Carroll County judge sentenced a couple Monday for abusing, neglecting and exploiting their adult daughter who has Down Syndrome. Carroll County Circuit Judge Stephen L. Bates sentenced Billy Ray Mertz, 46, to 10 years in prison as part of a plea agreement for the charges of knowingly abusing and neglecting an adult and knowingly exploiting an adult resulting in a total loss of more than $300, both Class C felonies.
MARYLAND (Baltimore County), WBALTV, March 24, 2014
Man gets prison time for hitting vulnerable adult
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/man-gets-prison-time-for-hitting-vulnerable-adult/25137760
A Baltimore County man was sentenced Monday for hitting a vulnerable adult in his care during a December 2012 incident at an Owings Mills medical office. Ronald Barnes, 54, of Lochearn, will serve 90 days at the Baltimore County Detention Center after his conviction on second-degree assault charges in February.
OHIO (Fearing Township), The Marietta Times, March 20, 2014
Caregivers accused of abuses
http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/557945/Caregivers-accused-of-abuses.html
A Fearing Township man who is the caregiver for two siblings with developmental disabilities is being accused of encouraging his brother to assault his sister, along with other abuse and neglect. He was arrested Tuesday along with his wife, who reportedly supervised the beatings.
WASHINGTON, The Spokesman-Review, March 22, 2014
Elder patient nursing assistants penalized
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/mar/22/elder-patient-nursing-assistants-penalized/
Two nursing assistants who worked in north-central Washington lost their certifications to work for at least five years, the state Department of Health announced this week. David J. Lopez, 21, was accused of mental abuse of a vulnerable adult, and Shannon R. Abrams, 46, was accused of using a client’s credit card without permission. Both faced civil charges of unprofessional conduct and failed to respond to the state agency, resulting in suspensions of their license to practice.
INTERNATIONAL (United Kingdom), Gazette, March 20, 2014
Dursley care worker rapist Colin Stokes jailed today was arrested in 2007 - but allowed to return to work
A Dursley care worker jailed today for raping vulnerable residents at a Gloucestershire care home had been arrested for sexual offences six years earlier - but allowed to return to work. Colin Stokes, of St George’s Road, was jailed for 14 years at Gloucester Crown Court for raping three women between January 2012 and April 2013.
RELATED ISSUES
CALIFORNIA (Kelseyville), Record-Bee Lake County News, March 24, 2014
At-risk adult missing
http://www.record-bee.com/news/ci_25411643/at-risk-adult-missing
Dennis Aguilar has been searching for his missing brother since Wednesday. The brother,57, is an at-risk adult and dependent schizophrenic who needs his medication, according to a Lake County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) missing person report.
CALIFORNIA (Sacramento County), The Sacramento Bee, March 24, 2014
Man with dementia remains missing from facility that is target of state license revocation action
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/24/6265203/man-with-dementia-remains-missing.html
A 70-year-old man with dementia and other serious medical conditions remained missing Monday, nearly a week after he walked away from a south Sacramento County assisted living facility that is facing possible loss of its license due to similar incidents.
MASSACHUSETTS (Worcester), News Telegram, March 21, 2014
Worcester woman accused of using family ties to bilk Medicaid of thousands of dollars
http://www.telegram.com/article/20140321/NEWS/303219841/1246
A city woman and her son have been indicted on Medicaid fraud and larceny charges. Attorney General Martha Coakley alleges that the mother and son used family names to falsely bill MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program, for more than $96,000 in personal care attendant services that were never provided and then used the proceeds for their own benefit.
MICHIGAN (Novi), Hometown Life: Observer & Eccentric, March 25, 2014
Police search for missing man
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20140324/NEWS13/303240012/Novi-police-searching-missing-man
The Novi Police Department is investigating a report of a missing 33-year-old vulnerable adult. The man has been known to reside at the Baymont Inn and Suites in Southfield and may be trying to walk to Michigan State University.
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Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):
- 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
· A Webinar on “Nursing Home Admissions Agreements: A Discussion of the Unfair Terms in the Agreements Presented to Elders on Entering a Nursing Home” will be held Wednesday, Apr 2, 2014 2pm EDT. This free webinar is part of a series of National Elder Rights Training Project webinars for the National Legal Resource Center. This webinar will focus on nursing home admissions agreements, identifying the terms that elders and their advocates should be most wary of and explaining the protections that some states afford against enforcement of some of these terms. Though presenters will cover a range of issues, we will focus on arbitration clauses, attempts to hold family members liable for a resident’s bills, purported waivers of a facility’s liability, and improper grounds for eviction. Register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/716487744
- The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and various senior advocacy and criminal justice experts will be speaking on April 10, 2014, for a free, day-long, online event to learn how to spot the warning signs of elder abuse and financial fraud, and how to combat these heinous crimes. This event is available to the public, and seniors, seniors’ caregivers, law enforcement, social services, adult protective services, and people with elderly relatives are highly encouraged to attend. Those who wish to attend can register here: http://engage.vevent.com/index.jsp?eid=2155&seid=268
- The American Psychological Association and American Bar Association will hold a National Conference on Violence, May 1-3, in D.C. This 3-day APA/ABA continuing education national conference will address a broad range of issues related to the exposure of children, youth, and families to violence in and around the home, community, and society. For registration information go here: http://www.apa.org/about/offices/ogc/apa-aba/conference.aspx. For inquiries, email: APAABAViolenceConf@apa.org.
- The 7th Annual Forensic Investigations Conference will be held in the Kansas City Convention Center May 12-17, 2014. The conference will focus on a broad array of emerging forensic issues, including sexual assault, interpersonal violence, ballistics, strangulation, and child and elder abuse in both urban and rural environments. This year’s conference is designed to provide an interactive joint educational opportunity and promising practices when working with victims of violence. To find more information, see here: http://www.saintlukeshealthsystem.org/forensic
- 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. The closing date for the application is April 25, 2014. 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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