NCEA Newsfeed – Thursday, May 31, 2012 (only 15 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. ALABAMA (Dekalb County), Times-Journal, May 30, 2012
Elder abuse is a serious issue
http://times-journal.com/opinion/article_7af66dc2-aaa3-11e1-9d4c-001a4bcf887a.html
The state of Alabama has put the Adult Protective Services Act in place to help protect victims of elder abuse. Anyone over the age of 18 is covered; however, the adult must have some degree of physical or mental disability requiring them to receive care from a caregiver, either a family member or in some other capacity.2. ALABAMA (Florence), WAFF, May 31, 2012
Governor Bentley signs Elder Abuse Prevention Act
http://www.waff.com/story/18665838/governor-bentley-signs-elder-abuse-prevention-act
The law will create a committee of governmental and non-governmental agencies. The agencies will work together to train and research on elder abuse and work to prevent and prosecute it when it occurs.3. CALIFORNIA (Nevada County), The Union, May 25, 2012
Colfax woman allegedly misrepresented self as attorney
http://www.theunion.com/article/20120525/NEWS/120529805/1053&parentprofile=1053
A Colfax woman arrested on suspicion of financial elder abuse also is under investigation for allegedly misrepresenting herself as an attorney to a number of Nevada County clients. The complaints received by police include allegedly unfinished divorces, botched real estate deals, failure to file civil suits within the statutory time and defective loan modifications.4. CALIFORNIA (Petaluma), Petaluma 360, May 28, 2012
Fighting scams
http://www.petaluma360.com/article/20120528/COMMUNITY/120529563/-1/community?Title=Fighting-scams-
Seniors have become the target of a wide variety of financial scams, including fake school fundraisers, bail money requests, and lottery winnings.5. CALIFORNIA (Sacramento), Times Publishing Group Online Daily, May 31, 2012
Senator Simitian Receives the Donald N. Phelps Visionary Award
http://www.tpgonlinedaily.com/index.php/our-state/350-senator-simitian-receives-the-donald-n-phelps-visionary-award
The Elder Financial Protection Network honored Senator Simitian for his work combating elder abuse and protecting California’s seniors.6. CALIFORNIA (San Diego), SDNews.com, May 30, 2012
Scam targeting elderly sees robbers posing as utility workers
http://sdnews.com/view/full_story/18778192/article-Scam-targeting-elderly-sees-robbers-posing-as-utility-workers?instance=update1
In the wake of several incidents wherein suspects posed as utility workers to gain entrance to a victim’s home, investigators are urging trusting residents to be vigilant when opening their doors. Suspects have been working in pairs to steal valuables from victims’ homes. There have been about seven cases in the past three to four months.7. CALIFORNIA (Santa Barbara), KEYT.com, May 30, 2012
Financial Elder Abuse
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/Financial-Elder-Abuse-155857795.html
Financial elder abuse is being called the “Crime of the 221st Century.” It is so widespread that chances are you, or someone you know has been a victim.8. CALIFORNIA (Tehama County), Red Bluff Daily News, May 30, 2012
Elder care seminar
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_20733434/elder-care-seminar
Experts will speak about the rules and regulations of Durable Power of Attorney documents, reporting protocols for elder abuse, consumer protections when working with a contractor and automotive repair; mail and telephone scams; investment fraud; and how to protect your Social Security and Medicare benefits.9. CALIFORNIA (Victorville), VV Daily Press, May 25, 2012
Woman pleads guilty to fraud, elder abuse
http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/pleads-34694-victorville-abuse.html
A Victorville woman accused of stealing $6,000 from a 72-year-old Crestline woman she befriended at an Apple Valley gym pleaded guilty to elder abuse and fraud Wednesday, court records indicate. The perpetrator had stolen the elderly woman’s checkbook and made several checks out to herself.10. COLORADO (Arvada), 9news.com, May 24, 2012
Team who robbed elderly war veteran sentenced
http://www.9news.com/news/article/269313/222/Team-who-robbed-elderly-war-veteran-sentenced
A couple convicted of robbing an elderly war veteran on Veteran’s Day has been sentenced. The female suspect received three years probation and was ordered to complete 96 hours of community service.11. CONNECTICUT (Stamford), New Haven Register, May 28, 2012
Stamford mother, daughter, fell into dire financial straits before gunshots ended it all
http://nhregister.com/articles/2012/05/28/news/doc4fc37aefa17a7983815758.txt?viewmode=fullstory
A 57-year-old mother who struggled to care for her 85-year-old mother with Alzheimer’s disease, killed her mother with her late father’s shotgun and then used the weapon to take her own life. She had owed tens of thousands of dollars in taxes and other debts, and her house had been auctioned off as part of a tax foreclosure.12. CONNECTICUT (Westport), Westport News, May 31, 2012
Elder-abuse video to premier in Westport
http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Elder-abuse-video-to-premier-in-Westport-3599814.php
A video on elder abuse produced and shot in Fairfield County will premier on Thursday, June 14, at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. The video will be shown at 3 p.m. in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and a discussion will follow, according to a news release issued by the The Jewish Home of Fairfield County, one of the program sponsors.13. FLORIDA (Fort Pierce), TC Palm, May 31, 2012 (Opinion)
Families feel powerless against elder abuse
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/may/31/anthony-westbury-families-feel-powerless-against/
Florida's Ombudsman program — the only program that consistently advocates for patients' rights — has lost nearly half of its volunteers in the past two years since interference from the governor and nursing home lobbyists. Oversight requirements have plummeted while corporate profits have soared.14. FLORIDA (Lakeand), The Ledger, May 30, 2012
Program on Elder Abuse is June 15
http://www.theledger.com/article/20120530/NEWS/120539925
The West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging will give a program June 15 on preventing elder abuse. The agency’s elder-abuse prevention coordinator will provide information on preventing, identifying and reporting elder abuse.15. GEORGIA (Atlanta), Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 31, 2012
Unlicensed homes to face more state scrutiny
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-government/unlicensed-homes-to-face-1449750.html
Unlicensed homes tend to charge less than licensed facilities, but they are often shabbier and offer fewer services, said Mary Twomey, co-director of the National Center on Elder Abuse. Georgia officials say a new law that takes effect July 1 will finally empower them to crack down on rogue operators of unlicensed personal care homes.16. ILLINOIS (Staunton), State Journal-Register, May 27, 2012
Area medical professionals disciplined by state
http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x1898621203/Area-medical-professionals-disciplined-by-state
The license of a nurse from Staunton has been revoked by state officials for financial exploitation of a nursing-home resident in Maryville.17. LOUISIANA (St. Tammany), NOLA, May 30, 2012
Elder abuse prevention seminar is June 11 in Slidell
http://www.nola.com/community/st-tammany/index.ssf/2012/05/elder_abuse_prevention_seminar.html
World Elder Abuse Day will be commemorated June 11 in Slidell through the St. Tammany SALT Council’s presentation of “Stand By Them.” The seminar will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Northshore Harbor Center and will focus on the issue of elder abuse and what can be done to stop it.18. PENNSYLVANIA (Philadelphia), Daily Item, May 25, 2012
Four charged in rip-offs that hurt eight local senior citizens
http://dailyitem.com/0100_news/x915989578/Four-charged-in-ripoffs-that-hurt-eight-local-senior-citizens
Four Philadelphia men have been charged with operating an elaborate scam that targeted hundreds of elderly residents across Pennsylvania. The grand jury investigation identified at least 218 victims in 41 counties. The men allegedly deceived victims into spending thousands of dollars on home security or home care services that were not provided.19. TEXAS (Houston), Medical Xpress, May 31, 2012
SHSU professor investigates trends for elderly and crime
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-shsu-professor-trends-elderly-crime.html
While the elderly represent the fastest growing segment of the population, too little is known about the nature and scope of crime impacting this generation. Victoria Titterington of Sam Houston State University is trying to change that with a series of studies that examine the elderly and crime.20. TEXAS (San Antonio), woai.com, May 30, 2012
Elderly woman’s nose eaten away by flies
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Elderly-womans-nose-eaten-away-by-fleas/-xhDvjcnC0CFVh5Fz1gxsA.cspx
Neighbors are horrified after a Northwest Bexar County elderly woman is hospitalized after fleas ate away at skin all over her body, including most of her nose. They say the 74-year-old woman weighed just 80 pounds and had been living in a house of horrors that was falling apart around her.21. TEXAS (San Antonio), KENS 5, May 30, 2012
Elderly woman eaten by fleas; house infested with cats and dogs
http://www.kens5.com/news/Elderly-woman-eaten-by-fleas-her-house-infested-by-cats-and-dogs-155521795.html
An elderly woman is recovering in the hospital after authorities say her home became so infested with fleas due to an abundance of dogs and cats that skin was missing from half of her nose.22. INTERNATIONAL (Prague, Czech Republic), Northumberland View, May 28, 2012
National News: Awareness is key to ending elder abuse, Minister Wong tells international audience
http://www.northumberlandview.ca/index.php?module=news&func=display&sid=15335
The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) in Canada gave opening remarks at the 7th World Conference and Commemoration of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, hosted by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. She also provided greetings at the 11th Global Conference on Ageing: “Ageing Connects,” organized by the International Federation on Ageing.23. INTERNATIONAL (Papatoetoe, New Zealand), Auckland Now, June 1, 2012
Sculpture to highlight plight of older people
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/7020775/Sculpture-to-highlight-plight-of-older-people
To raise awareness of elder abuse, Age Concern Counties Manukau is creating a sculpture and seating area in its garden for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15.****************************************
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
1. IOWA (Des Moines), Des Moines Register, May 27, 2012
Offender stayed in care facility after admitting sex
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120527/NEWS01/305270041/1029/business02/?odyssey=nav%7Chead
In October 2010, convicted sex offender Adam Woods told state corrections officials he had been violating the terms of his parole by having sex with two fellow residents at an Oskaloosa home for the mentally disabled. Corrections officials didn’t send Woods back to prison for violating his parole. Instead, they let him remain at the Country Life Care Facility for the next 13 months, during which time he allegedly had sex with a third resident of the home inside a barn near the facility.***************************************************************************************
Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):
· National Survey on Abuse of People with Disabilities: Add your knowledge and expertise regarding abuse and individuals with any type of disability across the lifespan. Take the survey then forward it widely, to help in the dissemination effort. Click here to take the survey.
· 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
· “New Federal Efforts to Combat Elder Financial Protection” is a webinar presented by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It will take place on June 6, 2012 at 11:00am PT. Registration is limited, so please register early by emailing your request to academylms@projects.sdsu.edu.
· 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
Program in Geriatrics
101 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
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