NCEA Newsfeed 4-9-13

NCEA Newsfeed – Tuesday, April 9, 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!

 

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

  

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

 

1.         NATIONAL, Medical Xpress, April 8, 2013
Increased rates of hospitalization linked to elder abuse, researchers find
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-hospitalization-linked-elder-abuse.html
"Elder abuse is independently associated with increased mortality risk, especially for cardiovascular related mortality. However, the relationship between elder abuse and health services utilization still remains unclear," said Dr. XinQi Dong, a researcher and geriatrician at Rush University Medical Center and the study's lead author. "Despite recent advances in our knowledge of elder abuse, we do not know the rate of health care services utilization among those who are victimized."

 

2.         NATIONAL, Med Page Today, April 8, 2013
All Types of Elder Abuse Hike Hospitalization Risk
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Geriatrics/GeneralGeriatrics/38323
Maltreatment of older adults -- including financial exploitation and psychological abuse -- independently raised their likelihood of ending up in the hospital, a population-based study showed.

 

3.         NATIONAL, Health Magazine, April 8, 2013
Elder Abuse Tied to Higher Hospitalization Rates
http://news.health.com/2013/04/08/elder-abuse-tied-to-higher-hospitalization-rates/
Older people who are abused or mistreated face much higher odds of being hospitalized than those who are not, a new study confirms.

 

4.         ALABAMA (Montgomery), Alabama Public Radio, April 7, 2013
Ala. Bills Make It Easier To Prosecute Elder Abuse
http://www.apr.org/post/ala-bills-make-it-easier-prosecute-elder-abuse
Alabama lawmakers have passed bills that would make it easier to criminally charge people who abuse, neglect or financially exploit the elderly.

 

5.         ALABAMA (Montgomery), San Francisco Gate, April 7, 2013
Ala. Bills make it easier to prosecute elder abuse
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ala-bills-make-it-easier-to-prosecute-elder-abuse-4415781.php
Alabama lawmakers have passed two very similar bills that would make it easier to criminally charge people who abuse, neglect or financially exploit the elderly, and the sponsors say they expect the governor to sign one of them into law.

 

6.         DELAWARE (Lincoln), New York Times, April 5, 2013
Payment for Act of Kindness: 2 Days in Car Trunk at Age 89
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/us/this-land-with-an-act-of-kindness-a-lady-vanishes.html?_r=0#100000002156783
Two young girls locked an 89-year-old woman in the trunk of her own car for 2 long days, without her heart and blood pressure medication, and without her cell phone.

 

7.         GEORGIA (Smyrna), Smyrna-Vinings Patch, April 3, 2013
Smyrna Man Accused of Stealing Thousands from Elderly Pair
http://smyrna.patch.com/articles/smyrna-man-accused-of-stealing-thousands-from-elderly-pair
An elderly man and woman were tricked into giving a homecare worker a heavily inflated salary over a period of 11 weeks. The elderly woman, whose eyesight is failing, did not know that she affixed her signature to 18 checks totaling $41,690, instead of the agreed-upon $1500 bi-monthly salary.

 

8.         GEORGIA (Warner Robins), The Telegraph, April 2, 2013
Warner Robins political activist, others indicted on exploitation charges
http://www.macon.com/2013/04/02/2421823/warner-robins-political-activist.html
Four people have been indicted on exploitation charges in connection with a 2011 investigation into Dusk to Dawn Ministry, which provides services to the disabled and elderly, Houston County court records show. The suspects are accused of failing to provide heated accommodations for five people, of taking Social Security benefits from two people and of withholding prescription medications from one person, the March 26 indictment stated.

 

9.         ILLINOIS (Chicago), CBS Local, April 5, 2013
Caregiver, Husband, Sister Charged With Bilking Dementia Patient Out Of $350K
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/04/05/caregiver-husband-sister-charged-with-bilking-dementia-patient-out-of-350k/
A 94-year-old retired city engineer diagnosed with dementia was bilked out of $350,000 by a nursing assistant who rehabbed her home, gave money to family members, and bought herself a Mercedes-Benz with his money, according to prosecutors.

 

10.       ILLINOIS (Chicago), Chicago Tribune, April 5, 2013
Nursing assistant charged with bilking $350K from man with dementia
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-04-05/news/chi-nursing-assistant-charged-with-bilking-350k-from-elderly-man-with-dementia-20130405_1_victim-prosecutors-dementia
A nursing assistant who was caring for a 94-year-old Chicago man with dementia has been accused of stealing $350,000 from him over the course of three years.

 

11.       NORTH CAROLINA (Wilmington), WECT, April 6, 2013
Local elderly warned they’re targets for abuse
http://www.wect.com/story/21895741/local-elderly-warned-theyre-targets-for-abuse
San Diego's District Attorney has a message for seniors in the Wilmington area: You're a target for abuse. Paul Greenwood, one of the country's leading crusaders against elder abuse was the keynote speaker at a seminar for seniors at the New Hanover County Senior Center.

 

12.       NORTH DAKOTA (Bismarck), The Republic, April 6, 2013
North Dakota measure mandates reporting abuse, neglect of seniors, vulnerable adults
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/4335cdaafb8d47629833ef435888d9fb/ND-XGR--Elder-Abuse
North Dakota's House has endorsed legislation that would require the reporting of abuse or neglect of senior citizens and other vulnerable adults. Backers of the measure say North Dakota and Colorado are the only two states that don't require the reporting of abuse to elders or other vulnerable adults. They say the measure is intended to protect seniors from physical, mental, sexual and financial abuse.

 

13.       INTERNATIONAL (United Kingdom), Express, April 7, 2013
Dementia sufferers robbed of £100m: Callous conmen prey on elderly
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/389971/Dementia-sufferers-robbed-of-100m-Callous-conmen-prey-on-elderly
Charities estimate that crooks are able to con or steal around £100m from elderly and vulnerable adults every year in the UK.

 

14.       INTERNATIONAL (Wales, United Kingdom), Western Telegraph, April 8, 2013
Rule Out Abuse
http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/letters/10340312.Rule_out_Abuse/
Age Cymru’s Rule Out Abuse campaign is calling for older people who may have suffered abuse to have the right to access advocacy services.

 

 

ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES

 

1.         CALIFORNIA (San Diego), NBC San Diego, April 8, 2013
Caretaker Accused of Abusing Autistic Man Appears in Court
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Man-Accused-of-Abusing-Austic-Man-Appears-in-Court-202002151.html
A man accused of severely beating an autistic patient appeared in court on Monday morning to begin trial. He was allegedly caught on tape beating the 23-year-old autistic man under his care. The suspect has pleaded not guilty to seven felony charges of abuse and his bail is currently set at $200,000.

 

2.         SOUTH CAROLINA (Easley), Greenville Online, April 8, 2013
Easley woman faces physical abuse of vulnerable adult charge
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20130408/NEWS06/304080053/Easley-woman-faces-physical-abuse-vulnerable-adult-charge
A 58-year-old Easley woman faces charges in connection with alleged abuse of a vulnerable adult, according to warrants. The suspect faces a charge of physical abuse of a vulnerable adult and a charge of failure to report abuse of vulnerable adult.

 

3.         INTERNATIONAL (Edinburgh, Scotland), Scotsman, April 5, 2013
Disabled mum forced to witness daughter’s rape
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/disabled-mum-forced-to-witness-daughter-s-rape-1-2877327
A man who was jailed for four years and eight months for raping a teenage girl in front of her wheelchair-bound mum was today branded an “animal” who “should never see the light of day again” by an MSP.

 

4.         INTERNATIONAL (Leicestershire, United Kingdom), This is Leicestershire, April 8, 2013
Disabled man is left housebound after wheelchair taken with vehicle
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Disabled-man-left-housebound-wheelchair-taken/story-18636862-detail/story.html#axzz2PvNnGAjL
A disabled man says he had been left virtually housebound after burglars stole his adapted car which also contained his wheelchair.

 

5.         INTERNATIONAL (London, United Kingdom), Homecare.co.uk, April 8, 2013
Adult abuse charity criticises Government’s “very weak” proposals on the protection of vulnerable adults

http://www.homecare.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1559648/chief-executive-of-adult-abuse-charity-writes-to-government-about-very-weak-proposals-on-the-protection-of-vulnerable-adults
The chief executive of Action and Elder Abuse has written to the Government expressing his concern about “very weak” proposals on the protection of vulnerable adults.

 

RELATED ISSUES

 

1.         ALASKA (Juneau), San Francisco Gate, April 5, 2013
Missing vulnerable adults bill passes House
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Missing-vulnerable-adults-bill-passes-House-4412028.php
Alaska may soon have a statewide system to alert the public if a vulnerable adult goes missing. HB59, by Rep. Max Gruenberg, unanimously passed the House this week. The bill would set up a program to notify the public of a missing vulnerable adult, defined in the bill as the elderly and mentally or physically disabled individuals. It calls upon the departments of Public Safety and Military and Veterans Affairs to establish standards on how to trigger an alert and define when someone is considered missing.

 

2.         FLORIDA (Sarasota), Herald Tribune, April 6, 2013
UPDATE: Missing Sarasota woman with dementia reported found
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20130406/ARTICLE/130409753
A 69-year-old Sarasota woman with dementia was reported missing Friday night and was later found. No further details have been released.

 

3.         OREGON (Portland), Oregon Live, April 6, 2013
North Portland 75-year-old with dementia missing, police seeking public’s help
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/04/north_portland_75-year-old_wit.html
Portland police are asking for the public's help in finding 75-year-old Berta Younger, a woman with severe dementia, who walked away from her North Portland home Friday night or early Saturday morning possibly wearing a puffy white jacket.

 

4.         INTERNATIONAL (Belfast, Ireland), Belfast Telegraph, April 5, 2013
Tweeters rally to help find missing dementia woman
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/tweeters-rally-to-help-find-missing-dementia-woman-29175731.html
When a 68-year-old woman with dementia went missing while out for a walk, her daughter turned to social media for help. Hundreds of people on people on Twitter and Facebook shared the woman’s post, and by 6:30pm, the elderly woman had been found.

 

 

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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 15, 2013
    • Kendal Charitable Funds (KCF) is seeking proposals for promising innovations that will transform the experience of aging.  We are interested in ideas that can enhance the lives of an aging population, whether through services, research, and/or developing new understandings and awareness of the issue and opportunities.  We are looking for pilot projects that address one or more of these criteria.  We will give priority to opportunities that have the greatest potential for change and replication, for the greatest number of individuals. 
    • The proposed project must address one or more non-institutionalized populations, focusing on the following topic:
      • Elder Abuse: Identification and/or Prevention of one or more of the following
        • Financial
        • Physical
        • Emotional
        • Sexual 
    • For more information: www.kendalcharitablefunds.org
  • 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

 

 

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Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):

 

·       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 16th Annual Kern County Elder Abuse Prevention Conference will be themed “Self Neglect Topics: Hoarding & Grief, Loss, and Trauma.” The conference will take place on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Hodel’s Country Dining. For more information: http://www.co.kern.ca.us/aas/pdf/elder-abuse-conf-2013.pdf.

·       The National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) Annual Training Conference 2013 will take place at the Westin San Diego in San Diego, California and will feature a keynote on Elder Abuse. The conference will take place from May 29-31, 2013. For more info: http://www.nanasp.org/upcomingconferences.html

 ·       The Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (VCPEA) will hold its 19th annual conference in Virginia Beach at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center on May 29-31, 2013. Conference information was been posted on the VCPEA website at http://www.vcpea.org

 ·       The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Criminal Justice Institute presents an Elder Justice Symposium for attorneys, law enforcement personnel, health care and mental health care professionals, social service providers and victim advocates. The symposium will be on June 27, 2013, at the Almansor Court Banquet Center in Alhambra, California. For more information: http://da.lacounty.gov/cji/ea062713.htm

·       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 24th Annual NAPSA Conference to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota October 2-3, 2013, followed by The 4th Annual NAPSA Summit on Elder Financial Exploitation on October 4, 2013. For more information: http://www.napsa-now.org/get-connected/annual-conference/

·       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 &