NCEA Newsfeed – Monday, June 24, 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!
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, The
Enumclaw Courier-Herald, June 24, 2013
Elder abuse and exploitation: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration on Aging
http://www.courierherald.com/business/212690331.html
Millions of older Americans are living in nursing homes or assisted living
facilities and roughly seven percent of complaints on long-term care residences
involve abuse, neglect or exploitation—according to the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging. Better Business Bureau
serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington and the Washington State Attorney
General offer insight on identifying the warning signs of elder abuse and
selecting care facilities.
2. CALIFORNIA
(Aliso Viejo), Aliso Viejo Patch, June 21, 2013
Caregiver Pleads Not Guilty to Elder Sex Abuse
http://alisoviejo.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/caregiver-pleads-not-guilty-to-elder-sex-abuse
An Aliso Viejo caregiver accused of elder abuse and sexual battery says he's
not guilty of the felony. The suspect, 62, is due back in court Wednesday. He
was arrested Monday after a 66-year-old Laguna Woods client told the Orange
County Sheriff's Department she had been abused by the man over the past six
months.
3. KANSAS (Topeka),
The Topeka Capital-Journal, June 23, 2013
BBB: Elder abuse can come in form of scams
http://cjonline.com/news/2013-06-23/bbb-elder-abuse-can-come-form-scams
The Better Business Bureau warns Kansas seniors and their loved ones of common
scams that have targeted older adults.
4. KENTUCKY
(Frankfort), Courier Press, June 22, 2013
LETTER: IF you suspect elder abuse, please report it
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2013/jun/22/letter-if-you-suspect-elder-abuse-please-report-it/
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway asks Kentuckians to join him in raising
awareness of elder abuse, and shares some red flags to look for.
5. MINNESOTA (St.
Paul), Star Tribune, June 23, 2013
In Minnesota, death not a barrier to elder scam suits
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/212701841.html
It was an old-fashioned swindle of a vulnerable adult with a new twist:
Although the victim, who suffered from dementia, died 17 months ago, a new law
will enable his family to seek restitution. Unlike the other estimated 30,000
exploitation cases reported each year in Minnesota involving vulnerable
seniors, this is expected to be the first to test a groundbreaking state law
sponsored by a legislator who is now the prosecutor in this case.
6. NEW YORK (New
York City), The Street, June 24, 2013
Elder Fraud Epidemic: How Banks Are Failing Seniors
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11959792/1/elder-fraud-epidemic-how-banks-are-failing-seniors.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN
Elderly Americans have money. Their numbers grow daily. In some cases their
mental capacities are diminishing. "It a horrible perfect storm for
scams," said lawyer Steve Weisman, who teaches elder planning at Bentley
University in Waltham, Mass. "The elderly are 12% of the population and
30% of the scam victims." "It's bank employees, caregivers, in many
cases it is family members who are stealing from the elderly," said Tod
Burke, a professor of criminal justice at Radford University in Virginia.
7. NEW YORK (Town
of North Hempstead), Port Washington Patch, June 21, 2013
Town’s ‘Preventing Financial Elder Abuse’ Seminar Held Recently
http://portwashington.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/towns-preventing-financial-elder-abuse-seminar-held-recently
The Town of North Hempstead’s “aging in place” initiative, Project
Independence, recently joined with local organizations and county agencies to
host a seminar designed to help seniors protect themselves against financial
abuse. Held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, the
June 14 seminar, “Empowering Seniors to Prevent Financial Elder Abuse,”
attracted more than 100 people. It was co-hosted by the Ryan Janowsky Wealth
Management Group of the financial services firm Janney Montgomery Scott LLC.
8. NORTH DAKOTA
(Grand Forks), Jamestown Sun, June 24, 2013
UND staff putting spotlight on elder abuse
http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/article/id/189407/group/News/
Twenty purple people constructed from
cardboard stand guard around Grand Forks. The text on their chests recounts
incidents that often remain private and the frequency of which researchers have
yet to quantify. A grandfather verbally abused by his grandson. A grandmother
slapped by her daughter. The University of North Dakota aims to bring
much-needed attention to the hidden issue of elder abuse.
9.
OHIO (Marion County), Marion Star, June 24, 2013
Study: Elder abuse more prevalent than statistics show
http://www.marionstar.com/article/20130622/NEWS01/306220042/Elder-abuse
Elder abuse, be it exploitation, physical, emotional, sexual or neglect,
happens more often than statistics show, a longtime social worker, educator and
consultant said. Bede Agner, director for the Marion County Council on Aging,
said she wants the public to be aware of abuse of the elderly “and of the
resources available to bring to those types of situations so folks know what
resources are there to help.”
10.
VIRGINIA (Augusta County), Augusta Free Press, June 21, 2013
Local Council Meets June 20
http://augustafreepress.com/local-council-meets-june-20/
The Staunton Senior Center Local Council met June 20 to discuss member
attendance, the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day ribbon distribution, and the
VPAS budget. The proposed budget will be reviewed at the next meeting July 11 –
the upcoming CDSME program, a proposal to become part of the ‘Adopt-a-Street’
program and the fall dance.
11.
INTERNATIONAL (Adelaide, Australia), World News Australia, June 24, 2013
Silent crime wave targets older Australians
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1781596/Silent-crime-wave-targets-older-Australians
As Australia's aged population grows, so too does crime against them. Elder
abuse is estimated to affect as many as one in ten seniors. A national
conference in Adelaide is urging tougher policies and new laws to tackle what's
often a silent crime wave.
12.
INTERNATIONAL (Muharraq, Bahrain), Bahrain News Agency, June 21, 2013
NIHR Delegation Visits Muharraq Social Welfare Centre
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/566702
A delegation from the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) paid a visit
to Muharraq Social Welfare Centre to get informed about the type of services
provided for the elderly. The visit coincides with the UN celebrations of the
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
13.
INTERNATIONAL (Bangalore, India), New Indian Express, June 24, 2013
35 percent elders in tier I, 39 percent in tier II cities face daily abuse,
finds survey
http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/35-percent-elders-in-tier-I-39-percent-in-tier-II-cities-face-daily-abuse-finds-survey/2013/06/24/article1650138.ece
A 2013 survey by non-governmental organisation Help Age India in 24 cities
across India shows daily abuse of 35 per cent of elders in tier-I cities, which
worsens to 39 per cent in smaller tier-II cities. These, however, are just the
cases that are reported. A shocking 16.19 per cent of those surveyed in Bikaner
and 13.67 per cent in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam said they had been slapped
and beaten mercilessly, but almost all of them had not reported it to anyone.
14.
INTERNATIONAL (Rome, Italy), Zee News, June 22, 2013
Dogs kill disabled 83-year-old woman in Italy
http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/dogs-kill-disabled-83-year-old-woman-in-italy_856799.html
Police have arrested an 83-year-old disabled woman's daughter and her partner
after two dogs allegedly mauled the bed-ridden woman to death at her home in
northern Italy.
15.
INTERNATIONAL (Wellington, New Zealand), Voxy, June 24, 2013
Financial elder abuse offenders ‘not just the young’
http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/financial-elder-abuse-offenders-not-just-young/5/159278
Stealing money from mum or dad is not just limited to younger people with
little or no money, according to Age Concern New Zealand. Age Concern New
Zealand chief executive Ann Martin said the case proved financial elder abuse
could be caused by people who were already well off, as well as the fact they
could be older people themselves.
16.
INTERNATIONAL (Madrid, Spain), Sacramento Bee, June 21, 2013
Spain: ex-nursing home worker jailed for murder
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/21/5514186/spain-ex-nursing-home-worker-jailed.html
A Spanish court has sentenced a former nursing home worker to prison after a
jury found him guilty of murdering 11 elderly residents by forcing them to
drink toxic liquids such as bleach. The northeastern regional court of Girona
has sentenced Joan Vila to a total of 127 years and six months in prison,
although the time to be served will be reduced to 30 years in accordance to
Spanish law.
17.
INTERNATIONAL (Leytonstone, United Kingdom), This is Local London, June 21,
2013
Abusive Whipps Cross health carer who beat elderly dementia patients found
guilty
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/10500126.Abusive_Whipps_Cross_health_carer_who_beat_elderly_dementia_patients_found_guilty/
Three abusive health care assistants who beat and taunted elderly dementia
patients at Whipps Cross Hospital are facing jail. They were found guilty
yesterday of seven charges of neglecting the women in their care.
18.
INTERNATIONAL (Ordsall, United Kingdom), Manchester Evening News, June 24, 2013
Disabled man robbed in his own home in Salford
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/disabled-man-robbed-home-salford-4706465
Police are hunting a robber after he tipped a disabled man out of his
wheelchair in his Salford home. The incident 3.05pm and 3.25pm on Sunday, June
23 at Mount Carmel Court in Ordsall. The offender climbed over the secure
fencing at the back of the sheltered accommodation and entered the rear car
park. He was let in by the victim, who is a vulnerable 60-year-old disabled man
and is confined to a wheelchair.
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
1. NEW MEXICO
(Silver City), Albuquerque Journal, June 23, 2013
Suit: Disabled women kept in ‘servitude’
http://www.abqjournal.com/main/213608/news/suit-disabled.html
For more than 30 years, two developmentally disabled women lived in relative
obscurity at the Silver City area home of Mary Evans, after their discharge
from a state institution. According to Evans’ daughter-in-law, no one from the
state offered to help. There were no attorneys or advocates asking questions.
Now the developmentally disabled women are senior citizens — Josie, who is in
her 80s, still lives at the Evans compound in Grant County; and 66-year-old
A.M., who no longer lives there and, through a guardian, is suing the state of
New Mexico over her treatment under Evans’ care.
2. PENNSYLVANIA
(Lackawanna County), Standard Speaker, June 23, 2013
Disabled man who died was in 18-to-59 care gap
http://standardspeaker.com/news/disabled-man-who-died-was-in-18-to-59-care-gap-1.1509562
Robert Gensiak, a 32-year-old Taylor man with Down syndrome and dependent on
his family for care, died March 20 at Regional Hospital in Scranton of a
massive infection brought on by the failure of his family to treat Norwegian
scabies. The disease severely broke down his skin and left it ulcerated and
cracked, law enforcement authorities said. He weighed 69 pounds when he died.
3. INTERNATIONAL
(Nettleham, United Kingdom), This Is Lincolnshire, June 24, 2013
Disabled police worker assaulted in police station
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Disabled-police-worker-assaulted-police-station/story-19376123-detail/story.html#axzz2XBdvnMa0
A disabled member of police staff has been assaulted in a Nettleham police
office. A man allegedly entered the police box in Scothern Road and tipped over
the wheelchair of a female worker with his foot, causing her to fall backwards
out of the chair.
RELATED ISSUES
1. CALIFORNIA
(Clovis), The Fresno Bee, June 22, 2013
Update: Missing Clovis woman with dementia is found
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/06/22/3356182/clovis-police-seeking-woman-with.html
Clovis police report the missing 81-year-old woman with dementia has been
found. She was reported missing by her family when she walked away from her
granddaughter’s house Saturday morning.
2. FLORIDA
(Osceola), Orlando Sentinel, June 24, 2013
Disabled man missing from Osceola home
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-disabled-man-missing-osceola-20130624,0,7158322.story
A disabled adult has been missing since early Sunday from his Kissimmee home,
according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. Detectives seek the public's
help in finding Adam Ross Smith, 22, who was last seen late Saturday at his
family's home on Old Tampa Highway, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Twis
Lizasuain.
3. FLORIDA
(Rockledge), CF News 13, June 23, 2013
Elderly missing Rockledge man found safe
http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/6/23/elderly_man_with_dem.html
The Rockledge Police Department has located a missing 86-year-old man, who
suffers from dementia. A family member reported him missing, and claimed that
the man had gone missing before.
4. INTERNATIONAL
(New Delhi, India), Times of India, June 23, 2013
Experts debate GPS tracking of dementia patients
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-23/science/40146802_1_dementia-patients-gps-trackers-uk
Last week, Times of India had reported the tragic death of Manohar Lal Sharma,
77, a dementia patient who left his Delhi home on May 30 and was found dead
elsewhere in the city five days later. He couldn't find his way back home and
apparently died of hunger, thirst and dehydration. It is because of incidents
like these, say experts, that the possibility of electronically tracking
dementia patients is being increasingly considered.
5. INTERNATIONAL
(Oldham, United Kingdom), Manchester Evening News, June 22, 2013
Man suffering from dementia missing from home in Oldham
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/man-suffering-dementia-missing-home-4699436
Police are appealing for help from the
public in tracing a dementia sufferer missing from home in Oldham. Raymond
Dailey, 79, was last seen as he dropped his daughter off in Manchester city
centre at 12pm yesterday (Fri).
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Funding Opportunities:
- July 1, 2013
- Applications for the Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation, administered by the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University, with support from the Coca-Cola Foundation. The $100,000 prize will honor a nonprofit organization that best demonstrates Mr. Drucker’s definition of innovation: “change that creates a new dimension of performance.” Organizations classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or sponsored by such a group may apply.
- Additional information is available on the school’s website.
- Contact: Jamie Jones, Claremont Graduate University, Drucker Institute, 1021 North Dartmouth Avenue, Claremont, California, 91711. (909) 607-9212; award@druckerinstitute.com; www.druckerinstitute.com/what-we-do/nonprofit-innovation-award
- July 1, 2013
- The Land O’ Lakes Foundation is currently accepting applications for the 2013 Community Grants program for projects that focus on hunger, youths and education, civic improvements, and arts and culture in rural communities. Typically, the foundation funds national programs and programs in the following twenty states: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin. Grants are restricted to organizations that have been granted tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This year’s application deadlines are April 1 for education proposals; July 1 for hunger/food related proposals; and October 1 for all other proposals.
- Additional information is available on the foundation’s website.
- Contact: Land O’ Lakes Foundation, P.O. Box 64101, St. Paul, MN, 55164; (800) 328-9680; http://www.landolakesinc.com/company/corporateresponsibility/foundation/communitygrants/eligibility/default.aspx
- 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
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Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):
· 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 National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA), the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), and the Academy for Professional Excellence present the webinar, “Involving Elected Officials in Coalitions,” will be held on June 27th, 2013 at 1pm EDT/Noon CDT/11amMDT/10am PST. Please register by emailing academylms@projects.sdsu.edu.
· 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/
· The Illinois Department on Aging’s 2013 Adult Protection and Advocacy Conference will be held on August 1-2, 2013, at the Chicago Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort. On July 31st, Illinois’ 2nd Annual Financial Summit will be held in conjunction with the conference. For more information, and to register, go to http://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/DOA/conferences/APAconf.html
· 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 20th Annual New York State Adult Abuse Training Institute will be held on October 9-10, 2013 at the Albany Marriott Hotel in Albany, New York. Further details to follow.
· 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 30th Annual Adult Protective Services Conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas from November 19-22, 2013. For more information: https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adult_Protection/Adult_Protective_Services_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. Register here: http://www.cdaa.org/training/seminar-conference-registration?regevent_action=register&event_id=154
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
Program in Geriatrics
101 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868