NCEA | Newsfeed Collection

NCEA Newsfeed – Monday, May 10, 2012 (only 35 days until World Elder Abuse Awareness Day)

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!

 Calendar of upcoming elder abuse and neglect events can be found at the bottom of the newsfeed entries.

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ELDER ABUSE NEWSFEED

1.         NATIONAL, Washington Post, May 7, 2012
Abbot Laboratories agrees to $1.6 billion settlement over marketing of Depakote
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/abbott-laboratories-agrees-to-16-billion-settlement-over-marketing-of-depakote/2012/05/07/gIQAh5098T_story.html
Global pharmaceutical giant Abbott Laboratories has agreed to pay federal and state governments $1.6 billion in criminal and civil fines for illegally promoting unapproved uses of its drug Depakote, including to sedate elderly patients in nursing homes, officials announced Monday.

2.         NATIONAL, Investment News, May 10, 2012
Money changes everything: Financial elder abuse now epidemic
http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20120510/FREE/120519996
Every year, somewhere between 500,000 and 5 million elders are abused, neglected or exploited by others. The estimated range of such crimes is wide, experts say, because the abuse is hard to define and because in many cases, it goes unreported.

3.         CALIFORNIA (Imperial County), KXO Radio, May 10, 2012
Imperial County joins special month
http://kxoradio.com/news/local/3377-imperial-county-joins-special-month.html
This week the Board of Supervisors adopted an Imperial County Proclamation, recognizing May as Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month. The awareness effort is being backed locally by the Adult Protective Services Department, in collaboration with community partners. They are educating the public on the need to stop those who would do harm to the most vulnerable seniors and dependent adults

4.         CALIFORNIA (Los Gatos), Mercury News, May 9, 2012
Game plan set in Los Gatos priest-beating trial
http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_20578514/game-plan-set-priest-beating-trial
A San Francisco man is accused of beating up an elderly Los Gatos priest he claims molested him as a child.

5.         CALIFORNIA (Monterey), Monterey County Weekly, May 10, 2012
The Senior Con: With age comes those who try to take financial advantage of it
http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2012/may/10/sex-and-senior-set-4/
Financial elder abuse is an area of particular concern these days, given the prevalence of mortgage fraud. This article gives several tips to prevent elder financial abuse.

6.         CALIFORNIA (Running Springs), Mountain News, May 10, 2012
Man Pleads Guilty to Elder Abuse
http://www.mountain-news.com/news/crime_log/article_2fae0a64-9ab8-11e1-b599-001a4bcf887a.html
A 47-year-old Running Springs man has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of elder abuse in a case involving allegations that his drunken rage at his mother’s home caused her to suffer chest pains.

7.         CALIFORNIA (San Diego), San Diego Union-Tribune, May 8, 2012
Recognize signs of self-neglect and be prepared to take action
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/08/recognize-signs-of-self-neglect-and-be-prepared/
Self-neglect occurs when adults can’t or don’t take care of themselves properly. Self-neglect puts an already vulnerable adult at risk of serious illness.

8.         CALIFORNIA (San Francisco), San Francisco Chronicle, May 8, 2012
Actor-turned-physical therapist solves problems
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/07/DD931OCF1J.DTL
A former actress found fulfillment when she became a physical therapist. She comments on reporting elder abuse to Adult Protective Services.

9.         CALIFORNIA (Santa Monica), Santa Monica Mirror, May 9, 2012
Caretaker Charged For Elder Abuse After Leaving Senior Unattended In Car For 20 Minutes
http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/Caretaker-Charged-For-Elder-Abuse-After-Leaving-Senior-Unattended-In-Car-For-20-Minutes/34595
A caregiver for a female senior citizen has been arrested on charges of elder abuse for leaving the woman in the car unattended. The caregiver claims that she was only away for about 20 minutes.

10.       CALIFORNIA (Yuba City), Appeal-Democrat, May 9, 2012
Drunken fight in Yuba City leads to elder abuse charge
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/woman-116046-city-yuba.html
A Yuba City man faces a felony elder abuse charge after authorities said he repeatedly punched a partially-paralyzed 78-year-old woman in the head during an alcohol-fueled argument over rent money.

11.       CONNECTICUT (Salisbury), County Times, May 10, 2012
Elder Financial Fraud Seminar Scheduled
http://www.countytimes.com/articles/2012/05/10/life/doc4fac243421a1b382455655.txt
Members of The Connecticut Department of Banking will present an Elder Financial Fraud Seminar at Noble Horizons, a not-for-profit continuum of care retirement village in Salisbury.

12.       GEORGIA (Atlanta), Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 9, 2012
Perils in personal care homes
http://www.ajc.com/news/perils-in-personal-care-1434087.html
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan calls the maltreatment of at-risk adults an “epidemic.”

13.       HAWAII (HONOLULU), Courthouse News, May 9, 2012
Return the Retirees, Embattled Home Pleas
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/05/09/46356.htm
Hawaii removed all of the residents from a family-run retirement home after unfounded allegations of sexual misconduct, the home's operators claim in circuit court. Trouble began in 2007, when one of the residents accused the owner of physical abuse. The accuser later claimed that she had been lying.

14.       ILLINOIS (Kane County), Trib Local, May 9, 2012
Former attorney pleads guilty to theft and financial exploitation charges
http://triblocal.com/elgin/2012/05/09/former-attorney-pleads-guilty-to-theft-and-financial-exploitation-charges/
A former attorney from Elgin entered guilty pleas to two counts of theft and one count of financial exploitation of an elderly person in a case in which authorities alleged he illegally diverted more than $200,000 for his personal use from several people.

15.       KENTUCKY (Barren River), Bowling Green Daily News
Restaurant Day aims to curb elder abuse
http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/restaurant-day-aims-to-curb-elder-abuse/article_fe64f47a-9ab9-11e1-aa5f-001a4bcf887a.html
In an effort to bring awareness to the problem of elder abuse, the Barren River Elder Abuse Prevention Coalition is hosting Silver Ribbon Restaurant Day on Saturday. Participating restaurants will provide customers with information to educate them about elder abuse and how to report it.

16.       MISSOURI (Boone County), Columbia Tribune, May 9, 2012
Suspect in paving-work scam turns himself in
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/may/09/suspect-in-paving-work-scam-turns-himself-in/
The first of two suspects turned himself in to the Boone County Jail on Saturday on five charges of financial exploitation of the elderly and three charges of unlawful merchandising practices.

17.       MONTANA (Great Falls), KFBB, May 8, 2012
Woman Charged with Elder Abuse
http://www.kfbb.com/news/local/Woman-Charged-with-Elder-Abuse-150691475.html
A woman has been charged with drug possession and elder abuse after allegedly stealing medication from the nursing home where she was employed. She could face up to 10 years in prison.

18.       TEXAS (Big Spring), News West 9, May 7, 2012
Big Spring Nursing Home Under Investigation By the State
http://www.newswest9.com/story/18168780/state-nursing-home-under-investigation
A nursing home in Big Spring comes under the state microscope. It all surrounds a complaint that landed the nursing home in non-compliant status. NewsWest 9 has learned that status was just lifted Monday afternoon. Once the investigation is complete, the full details will be released to the public.

19.       WASHINGTON (Bellevue), Bellevue Reporter, May 10, 2012
Help available to combat elder abuse
http://www.bellevuereporter.com/opinion/151037165.html
In June the Bellevue City Council will join groups around the world in recognizing June 15 as the seventh annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

20.       INTERNATIONAL (Kerala, India), The Hindu, May 9, 2012
The new ‘grey market’
http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/society/article3400738.ece
The author of this article speaks on the dark side of aging in India , claiming that elders are not valued as they should be and that nursing homes are not up to par.

21.       INTERNATIONAL (West Cork, Ireland), Irish Central, May 9, 2012
Actress Maureen O’Hara a victim of elder abuse, family claim
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Actress-Maureen-OHara-a-victim-of-elder-abuse-family-claim-150741045.html
A social worker has visited Maureen O’Hara, the star of “The Quiet Man” after abuse allegations were made concerning her care. Among the allegations made were that O’Hara, who has been in poor health, was being forced to make too many public appearances for the foundation, which is seeking to set up a major film school in her name.

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ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES

1.         CALIFORNIA (Fullerton), National Public Radio, May 10, 2012
Cops to Stand Trial in Homeless Man’s Beating Death
http://www.npr.org/2012/05/10/152433263/cops-to-stand-trial-in-homeless-mans-beating-death
Two police officers in the Southern California town of Fullerton have been ordered to stand trial for the beating death of Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill homeless man.

2.         CALIFORNIA (Santa Ana), Boston Herald, May 10, 2012
Two police officers to stand trial in death of homeless man
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/west/view/20120510two_police_officers_to_stand_trial_in_death_of_california_homeless_man/srvc=home&position=recent
Following an emotionally charged hearing, an Orange County judge ruled that two Fullerton police officers will stand trial for the death of a mentally ill homeless man who was beaten in a violent confrontation last summer.

3.         CALIFORNIA (Santa Ana), Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2012
Two California policemen ordered to trial over videotaped beating death
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-beating-policebre8481i0-20120509,0,3170954.story
A judge ordered two California policemen on Tuesday to stand trial on homicide charges in the death of a schizophrenic homeless man who was beaten and repeatedly shocked with a stun gun by a group of officers last July.

4.         OHIO (Columbus), The Columbus Dispatch, May 10, 2012
Disabled man is faced with eviction
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/08/disabled-man-is-facing-eviction.html
A disabled man must search for a new home  after the nursing home he was living in raised their rates.

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

·         The 15^th Annual Kern County Elder Abuse Prevention Conference will be held on May 17, 2012 in Bakersfield, CA. For more information, please visit http://www.co.kern.ca.us/aas/pdf/elder-abuse-conf-2012.pdf

·         Legal Assistance for Seniors presents their 7^th Annual Conference on Elder Abuse will take place on May 21, 2012 at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. Register at http://elderabuseconference.eventbrite.com

·         Providing Trauma-Informed Care to Sexual Violence Survivors in Later Life. A free webinar presented by the Lifespan project of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Presenters will be Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik, PhD, Nancy Newton, MFA, and Karla Vierthaler, MPA. RSVP to kdaugherty@nsvrc.org

·         Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse 18th Annual Conference, May 30 - June 1, 2012, Virginia Beach Resort & Conference Center, Virginia Beach, VA. Online Registration at www.VCPEA.org

·         Tools of the Trade – Building Financial Exploitation Cases, in Orlando, Florida, June 6-8, 2012. Presented by the Florida Attorney General’s Office and the Florida Bar Elder Law Section’s, Committee on Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation. More information at: http://www.fcpti.com/fcpti.nsf/forms/994CFB73522535CA852579CD0072AAA1

●    2012 Florida Conference on Aging (August 20-22, 2012).  Presented by The Florida Council on Aging  (FCOA) and the Florida Association of Aging Services Providers (FASP), in partnership with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA). The theme this year will be Aging: New Game – New Rules http://www.fcoa.org/FCOA%20Sponsor%20Brochure%202012%20FINAL.pdf

·         The Consumer Voice recently announced a brand new "Advocacy in Action" day of training, sharing and advocating, September 10, 2012 in Washington, DC and they will host our day of training in conjunction with the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) National Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference starting September 11th.

●    The 19th Annual New York State Adult Abuse Training Institute will be held October 2-4, 2012, Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Albany , New York . This year’s theme is Broken Trust: How to Recognize and Respond to Financial Exploitation. Oct 2 : Financial Exploitation Summit. More information: http://www.compassionandsupport.org/pdfs/news/10212-AATIConf.pdf

●    2012 NAPSA Conference: Ending Adult Abuse: On the Horizon? (October 16-18).  This event in Phoenix, Arizona will be followed by the 3rd Annual Elder Financial Exploitation Summit on October 19, 2012. Email info@apsnetwork.org for more information.

·         Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, 25th Annual National Summit, Enabling Caring Communities: Promoting Evidence-Based Programs Across the Lifespan, October 24-25, 2012, Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus, GA  For more information go to : http://www.rosalynncarter.org/

·         California District Attorneys Association 2012 National Elder Abuse Symposium (December 4-7, 2012) Guest speakers to include Paul Greenwood, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney, Bob Nichols, Retired Marin County Deputy District Attorney, and many more. More information coming soon

National Center on Elder Abuse

Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect

University of California, Irvine

101 The City Drive South

Bldg 200, Suite 835

Orange, CA 92868

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