NCEA Newsfeed – Friday, April 18, 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, Consumers Union, April 17, 2014 Pension Poaching: The Latest Threat to Veterans' Financial Security (Blog)
An important warning about unscrupulous individuals intimidating Veterans to apply for a legitimate Veterans Affairs program in order to gain access to the veteran's personal financial information. Additionally, these individuals - typically lawyers and/or insurance agents - may then offer the Veteran expensive financial and legal products that may not be in the Veteran's best financial interest. Veterans do not need to purchase assistance to apply for VA support since that assistance is already offered to them at no charge.
CALIFORNIA, (Paso Robles), Paso Robles Press, April 18, 2014
http://www.pasoroblespress.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=10455
A 73-year-old woman was reportedly being taken advantage of by her son. It is believed that the son was allowing his friends uncontrolled access to his mother’s home to use drugs, such as heroin and other illegal substances.
COLORADO, (Colorado Springs), AP/9News, April 15, 2014
No Prison in Colorado Springs Elder Abuse Case
http://www.9news.com/story/news/crime/2014/04/15/elder-abuse-case/7735013/
66-year-old woman given a four-year deferred jail sentence, unsupervised probation and 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty to charges of neglecting her mother and harming an at-risk adult. The woman was arrested after her mother was found dead in her home which the police described as “unlivable” with trash piled three feet high, and feces from rats, mice, cats, and dogs everywhere.
ILLINOIS, (Aurora), The Beacon-News, April 16, 2014
Caregiver from Aurora Accused of Stealing From Elderly Employer
25-year-old caregiver accused of stealing more than $10,000 from her elderly employer.
MASSACHUSETTS, (Quincy), The Patriot Ledger, April 15, 2014
Grand Jury Investigating Stoughton Elder Abuse Case
http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20140415/NEWS/140417867/12333/NEWS
Pretrial hearing concerning alleged case of permitting serious injury due to neglect to an elder.
MICHIGAN (Detroit), Lansing State Journal, April 17, 2014
Delete, Avoid and Hang Up When It Comes to Spring Scams
U.S. Attorney’s Office holds an elder fraud summit to inform local citizens about potential scams, including e-mail, phone call or direct solicitations, and how to protect themselves.
MICHIGAN, (Escanaba), Daily Press, April 16, 2014
Woman Gets Jail Term for Embezzlement
An Escanaba woman was ordered to spend time in jail and pay nearly $16,000 in restitution for embezzling from a vulnerable adult.
MINNESOTA, (Coon Rapids), ABC Newspapers, April 16, 2014
Coon Rapids Woman Sentenced for Swindling Elderly Man
http://abcnewspapers.com/2014/04/16/coon-rapids-woman-sentenced-for-swindling-elderly-man/
A Coon Rapids woman was sentenced for financial exploitation an elderly man out of over $65,000, jewelry and a vehicle. Her accomplice was previously sentenced.
PENNSYLVANIA, (Wilkes-Barre), The Citizens’ Voice, April 17, 2014
Some Charges Dropped in Nursing Home Assault Case
http://citizensvoice.com/news/some-charges-dropped-in-nursing-home-assault-case-1.1669699
Two charges of simple assault were dropped, but the charge of neglect held against a nursing home employee who allegedly held an elderly patient down by the arms and put a pillow over her face.
VIRGINIA (Alexandria), The Connection, April 18, 2014
Attorney General Speaks to Seniors about Fraud Prevention
New law in Virginia (July) increases consumer protection from individuals who seek to take advantage of others, including seniors. Article outlines resources for seniors to address cases of fraud, abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
INTERNATIONAL - CANADA (Montreal), CBC NEWS, April 16, 2014
Report Following Abuse Charges at Retirement Home Released
The Monteregie Health Agency is giving a long-term care facility 30 days to comply with recommended changes after two caregivers were arrested last December and charged with mistreating elderly patients at the CHSLD in Saint-Lambert sur-le-golf.
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES NEWSFEED
ARIZONA, (Tucson), Arizona Daily Star, April 17, 2014
Disabled Victim Says Couple Forced Her to Stay Outside of Home, Drink from Hose
Report concerning an on-going court case against a husband and wife accused of keeping two developmentally disabled adults who lived with them outside of their home between 5 A.M. and midnight, and only allowing them access to a shower once a week.
MICHIGAN, (Ottowa County), MLive/The Grand Rapids Press, April 15, 2014
Former Mental Health Worker Sentenced for Embezzling Thousands from Vulnerable Man
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/04/former_mental_health_worker_se.html
A former Community Mental Health worker will spend 30 days in jail for embezzling more than $4,500 from a vulnerable man in Ottawa County. She had the 62-year-old man sign blank checks and then used the money for herself.
OHIO, (Lancaster), The Columbus Dispatch, April 15, 2014
Man Gets 2 ½ Years for Beating Disabled Brother to ‘Push the Gay Out’
A Lancaster man (38) who was caring for his disabled younger brother (26) was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison for punching him and threatening to slice off his genitals to “push the gay out of him.” The victim went to live with his brother after being abused in a group home. The elder brother was given charge of the younger even though he had already served prison time for domestic violence.
INTERNATIONAL: ENGLAND, Lincolnshire Echo, April 15, 2014
Lencolnshire & District Mencap Theft Couple Peter and Alison Childs Jailed for Three Years Each
A husband and wife were sentenced to three years each for stealing more than £200,000 from the disabled people they were purportedly assisting. The pair worked for a charity set up to help disabled people in the community. Instead, they took the disability living allowance benefit monies and cold weather payments that were intended for those disabled individuals.
RELATED ISSUES NEWSFEED
CALIFORNIA, (San Francisco), SFGate, April 17, 2014
Lee Pledges $5.4 Million to Fix Elevators in Public Housing
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Lee-pledges-5-4-million-to-fix-elevators-in-5408482.php
San Francisco mayor Ed Lee plans to announce on Thursday that he’ll spend $5.4 million for immediate repairs to the constantly malfunctioning elevators in public housing high-rise buildings that have left some senior and disabled tenants stranded for days at a time.
KENTUCKY, (Lexington), Lex18.com , April 15, 2014
Coroner: Couple Found Dead in Frankfort Home Died of Natural Causes
http://www.lex18.com/news/coroner-couple-found-dead-in-frankfort-home-died-of-natural-causes
A husband (76) and a wife (55) were found dead in their mobile home on March 14, 2014. Although the coroner ruled the deaths due to natural causes, local officials reported being worried about the couple’s living conditions for some time. Local law enforcement personnel had been making visits to the home and were concerned by the number of space heaters used in the home and the gallons of fuel also stored in the home. They also reported finding the couple living alongside cat urine and feces. Adult Protective Services had been notified about the couple.
CALIFORNIA, (Los Angeles), CBS2/KCAL9, April 15, 2014
Man With Dementia Goes Missing in North San Gabriel Area
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/04/15/man-with-dementia-goes-missing-in-north-san-gabriel-area/
A 53-year-old man who suffers from dementia and is in need of his medication is missing. Jose Mendoza is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 130 pounds, with blue eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans in the North San Gabriel area. Anyone with information on the man’s whereabouts is asked to contact authorities at (626) 285-7171.
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Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):
• 2nd Annual Michigan Elder Justice & At-Risk Adult Summit "The Big Idea" is May 1, 2014, at the Lansing Center in Lansing, MI, presented by the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Human Services. Speakers include; Dr. Scott Model (Victims with Developmental Disabilities), Robert Spada (Current Trends in Vulnerable Adult Abuse Investigation and Prosecution), David Tanay (The Attorney General's Role in vulnerable Adult Abuse Investigation), Catherine Emerson (Human Trafficking of Vulnerable Adults), and Dr. Kevin Foley (The Aging Brain: Cognition and Capacity). For more information click here: http://www.ciclt.net/sn/events/e_signup.aspx?ClientCode=paam&E_ID=500183&RegType=ATT
• 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 Florida Attorney General’s Office and The Florida Bar Elder Law Section’s Committee on Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation are pleased to present “Confronting Elder Financial Exploitation”, May 12 – 14, 2014, in Altamonte Springs, Florida, at the Embassy Suites Orlando North. This 3-day class encourages participants to “think outside the box” in formulating successful investigations and legal remedies. Elder law attorneys, prosecutors, and investigators are partnering in their communities with other subject matter experts to successfully expose and prosecute those who abuse our elder citizens. This interactive class encourages an exchange of information and creative resolutions. For more information please click here: http://www.fcpti.com/fcpti.nsf/forms/0B2C44BA5D93CE2885257C0C004735CB or call (850) 414 -3360.
• 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
• 17th Annual Kern County Elder Abuse Prevention Conference Wednesday, May 21, 2014 8:15 am - 3:30 pm At Hodel’s Country Dining (Liberty Rm) 5917 Knudsen Drive Bakersfield, California. “When is a Bruise Not a Bruise: Forensic Wound Identification and Documentation of Possible Abuse and Neglect” Speaker Daniel J. Sheridan, PhD, RN, FAAN. For more information: http://www.co.kern.ca.us/aas/pdf/2014_Elder_Abuse_Conf.pdf
• 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 annual Gulf Coast Elder Abuse Conference, “Don’t Let the Light Go Out,” will be held on June 16, 2014 from 8:00 AM-4:45 PM in Slidell, Louisiana. The conference will include six hours of continuing education credits for nurses, and credit is pending for lawyers, social workers, professional counselors, bankers, facility administrators and physical therapists. A partial list of topics includes: Recognition of Injuries, the Elder Justice Act, Competence & Capacity, Domestic Violence Grown Old, The Role of Banking in Preventing and Responding to Elder Financial Exploitation and Elder Abuse and the LGBT Community. Presenters include: Donald D. Akers Jr., JD; Harold S. Bartholomew Jr., JD; Jenefer Duane; Dean Hawley, MD; Candace J. Heisler, JD; Suzy Ritholz, PhD; Daniel Sheridan, PhD and Jane Thomas, JD. For details, e-mail WEAAD@STSALT.ORG. A complete list of topics, further details and registration information are available here: http://www.stsalt.org/GulfCoastElderAbuseConference.html.
• 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
• The Office for Victims of Crime released a solicitation yesterday under which it will fund up to ten awards of $150,000 to $750,000 to support organizations that use technology creatively to provide outreach and direct assistance to victims, particularly those who have never been served or for whom services are not readily available, nationally and/or internationally (for Americans abroad). OVC plans to fund three categories of projects: National-Scope Victim Service Initiatives, National Scope Victim Service Initiatives Proposing To Serve Underserved Victims Identified by the Applicant, and Victim Service Initiatives for American Victims of Domestic Violence and/or Sexual Assault Abroad. Deadline: May 15, 2014. Link to the solicitation: http://ojp.gov/ovc/grants/pdftxt/FY14_V21_UsingTechnology.pdf. For questions, see contact information on page 2 of the solicitation.
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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