NCEA Newsfeed – Friday, June 28, 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,
Credit Union Times, June 25, 2013
Threat of the Week: The Elder Fraud Epidemic
http://www.cutimes.com/2013/06/25/threat-of-the-week-the-elder-fraud-epidemic
It happens without a gun, and often even without a computer mouse, but nowadays
one of the fastest growing types of fraud is elder financial abuse, which the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau tabs as a $2.9 billion annual problem, and
it is one that may only get bigger as the 40+ million group of elderly
Americans daily grows in number. The good news for credit unions: many of them
now are taking a significant role in helping safeguard their elderly members’
accounts.
2. NATIONAL, Daily
Freeman, June 24, 2013
Elder Fraud Epidemic: How Banks Are Failing Seniors
http://business-news.thestreet.com/daily-freeman/story/elder-fraud-epidemic-how-banks-are-failing-seniors-0/1
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." Some elder fraud experts say - loudly and in many cases angrily
- that financial institutions could be doing a lot more to prevent a
substantial amount of elder fraud.
3. ARIZONA
(Prescott), The Daily Courier, June 27, 2013
Event encourages learning, reporting signs of elder abuse
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=120612
At a World Elder Abuse Awareness Event in
Prescott, community members were urged to make a pledge to learn signs of elder
abuse and report it when they see it. "Our victims tend to be between the
ages of 70 to 89 years old, white, women who are physically frail or
cognitively impaired," Arizona Attorney General's Task Force Against
Senior Abuse Special Agent/Coordinator Ted Evertsen said. "They are
trusting of others and may be lonely or isolated."
4.
CALIFORNIA (Menlo Park), Almanac News, June 27, 2013
Menlo Park police highlight elder fraud
http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=13917
An elderly Menlo Park couple ripped off in a Jamaican lottery scam is one of
several, police announced on June 24. The con artists ask victims for money or
personal information in exchange for promised prizes, or pose as relatives in
need of emergency help. It's not known how much money the elderly couple lost
to the scam. Sgt. Kevin Paugh from the Menlo Park Police Department, who is
working on the case, was not immediately available for comment.
5.
CALIFORNIA (Menlo Park), Menlo Park – Atherton Patch, June 25, 2013
Menlo Park Police Alert Public to Elder Fraud
http://menlopark-atherton.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/menlo-park-police-alert-public-to-elder-fraud
Law enforcement officials are investigating a scam that is plaguing elderly
Menlo Park residents and asking the public to be on alert. “Monetary scams have
been going on for some time now, and most recently an elderly couple residing
in Menlo Park was victimized by a ‘Jamaican lottery scam’ with ties to a
business named Global International,” said Sergeant Kevin Paugh in a statement
on Monday.
6.
CALIFORNIA (Ventura), Ventura Edhat, June 26, 2013
Elder Abuse Awareness Month
http://ventura.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=116783&nc=1
With June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month, leading in-home care provider Home
Helpers hopes to help raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect and
exploitation. The home care franchise launched a national media relations push
to continue throughout the month of June to foster a better understanding of
this serious issue, recognize warning signs, and find solutions.
7.
FLORIDA (Tampa), My Fox Tampa, June 27, 2013
Help for when elder care becomes overwhelming
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/22707989/2013/06/27/family-of-neglected-woman-appears-in-court
The father and daughters charged in a deadly case of neglect involving their
wife and mother were arraigned Thursday in Hillsborough County Court. A day earlier,
the family members were arrested following an investigation into the death of
Mary Winston, who died late 2012 after being bedridden for about three years
with arthritis. Investigators said her husband and their three children were
supposed to be taking care of the 65-year-old at the family's home. Instead,
she suffered such severe neglect, she developed sores down to her bone, along
with other gruesome issues.
8.
IOWA (Spencer), Spencer Daily Reporter, June 25, 2013
Elder Abuse Awareness Day sheds light on prevalent issue
http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1980763.html
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, recognized on June 15, was started to raise
awareness of this growing - and often underreported - issue. While Iowa has a
law against dependent adult abuse, there is no law specific to elder abuse.
9.
MICHIGAN (Flint), M Live, June 25, 2013
Flint man arraigned on charges of first degree elder abuse of partially blind
mother diagnosed with dementia
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2013/06/flint_man_arraigned_on_charges.html
A 47-year-old Flint man has been arraigned on charges of first-degree
vulnerable adult abuse of his 67-year-old mother after authorities dispatched
to a Flint home said they observed "deplorable" conditions inside the
home, said Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.
10.
MICHIGAN (Flint), WNEM, June 25, 2013
Son accused in mother’s elder abuse case
http://www.wnem.com/story/22684198/son-accused-in-mothers-elder-abuse-case
Law enforcement officials in one local county say one man has been charged with
elder abuse after his mother was found living in a house without running water
that was full of animal feces and garbage.
11.
MINNESOTA (Austin), Post Bulletin, June 27, 2013
Austin pastor accused of bilking $40K from woman with dementia
http://www.postbulletin.com/news/crime/austin-pastor-accused-of-bilking-k-from-woman-with-dementia/article_d03ad24b-ae9e-544f-8f05-6dbcf8284210.html
An Austin pastor faces five felony charges after allegedly bilking an
82-year-old woman with dementia out of more than $40,000. According to the
court complaint, the suspect was appointed the woman's power of attorney on
July 27, 2010. Authorities reviewed "voluminous documentation" during
the investigation and found a number of questionable transactions.
12.
MINNESOTA (Moorhead), Inforum, June 24, 2013
Elder Abuse Awareness Summit set Wednesday
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/404184/group/News/
The annual Clay County Elder Abuse Awareness Day Summit took place from 9 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday here at the Hjemkomst Center. The morning session will
include presentations by Hubert “Skip” Humphrey, assistant director of the
Office of Older Americans, on financial exploitation of elders, and Matt
Greenley, assistant U.S. attorney, on investigation and prosecution of Medicare
fraud.
13.
MISSISSIPPI (Petal), WJTV, June 27, 2013
Petal Woman Arrested In Vulnerable Adult Exploitation Case
http://www.wjtv.com/story/22707499/petal-woman-arrested-in-vulnerable-adult-exploitation-case
A Petal woman has been arrested and charged with one count of exploitation of a
vulnerable adult, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today. The suspect, 70,
was arrested Tuesday, June 26, by the Forrest County Sheriff's Office on a
capias issued by the Forrest County Grand Jury. Attorney General's
investigators with the Vulnerable Adult Unit presented the case to the Grand
Jury alleging that the suspect signed papers naming herself to have Power of
Attorney over the affairs of an elderly woman who was diagnosed with
Alzheimer's, and subsequently took money that was intended for the victim.
14.
TEXAS (Waxahachie), Law Firm Newswire, June 25, 2013
Texas Seniors at Risk from Internet Scams and Other Financial Elder Abuse
http://www.lawfirmnewswire.com/2013/06/texas-seniors-at-risk-from-internet-scams-and-other-financial-elder-abuse/
Seniors in Texas are at high risk from Internet scams and financial elder
abuse. According to the FBI’s 2012 Internet Crime Report, Texas ranked third in
the nation in the number of complaints received about Internet fraud. This type
of scam is just one way that thieves can take advantage of seniors. Older
people are also at risk for in-person and telephone scams and for theft and fraud
by caregivers and other service providers.
15.
UTAH (Salt Lake City), ABC 4, June 24, 2013
Man Arrested for Abuse of Disabled Wife
http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Man-arrested-for-abuse-of-disabled-wife/tGpks_M9zEa1NVjTHmLSlw.cspx
Police are investigating what they regard as one of the worst cases of elder
abuses encountered. A woman with M.S. is currently in the hospital while her
husband is facing charges of elderly abuse and neglect. Prosecutors claim he
refuses to let his grown up children visit their mother.
16.
VIRGINIA (Richmond), NBC 29, June 25, 2013
Law Criminalizes Financial Exploitation of Incapacitated Adults
http://www.nbc29.com/story/22685795/law-criminalizes-financial-exploitation-of-incapacitated-adults
There are close to 1,000 cases of financial exploitation of adults in Virginia
every year, according to Adult Protective Services. Now, a new law could help
curb that number. It establishes a criminal penalty for taking advantage of
mentally incapacitated adults. The law is one of more than 800 set to take
effect Monday, July 1. It makes any attempt to financially exploit a mentally
incapacitated adult a crime, and one Albemarle County woman says it's about
time.
17.
WASHINGTON (Auburn), Seattle Pi, June 27, 2013
Police: Maggots may have kept rotting Auburn woman alive
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Police-Maggots-may-have-kept-rotting-Auburn-4624559.php
An Auburn, Washington, woman accused of doing nothing while maggots gnawed at
her elderly mother now faces a felony elder-abuse charge. “The maggots may have
helped keep (the woman) alive due to the fact that they were eating the rotting
skin that was infected and helping to slow the infection,” King County
Sheriff's Det. Marylisa Priebe-Olson said in court papers, recounting a
statement from a paramedic.
18.
WASHINGTON (Auburn), Q13Fox, June 27, 2013
Maggots may have kept neglected, obese woman alive
http://q13fox.com/2013/06/27/maggots-may-have-kept-neglected-obese-woman-alive/#axzz2XTAp9oMb
Hundreds of maggots eating away at an obese elderly woman’s dead skin may have
kept her alive, slowing an infection allegedly coming after days of neglect
from her caretaker. According to court documents, the 70-year-old woman’s
daughter faces felony elder-abuse charges after King County sheriff’s deputies
found the elder woman stuck to the bedding in her home, with maggots eating at
an open wound and bed sheets “soiled with the byproducts of injury and covered
in bugs.”
19.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Washington Informer, June 26, 2013 (Opinion)
EDITORIAL: Elder Abuse
http://washingtoninformer.com/news/2013/jun/26/editorial-elder-abuse/
Last month, Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry introduced legislation which
punishes those who steal from and abuse senior citizens with fines, jail time
and restitution. And recently, 39 ministers sent a letter to Council member
Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), urging him to schedule a hearing. He relented and the
hearing is set for July 8 at 11:30 a.m., at the John A. Wilson Building in
Northwest.
20.
INTERNATIONAL (Bracebridge, Canada), Cottage Country Now, June 26, 2013
Pick a power of attorney you trust advises local lawyer
http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news-story/3858544-pick-a-power-of-attorney-you-trust-advises-local-lawyer/
June 15 was Elder Abuse Awareness Day. All over the world events were held to
raise awareness and encourage change. The Muskoka Network for the Prevention of
Elder Abuse and the Wellness Initiative for Seniors Engaged held an open house
at McVittie Place in Bracebridge.
21.
INTERNATIONAL (Estevan, Canada), Estevan Mercury, June 26, 2013
Family “disgusted” by Estevan Regional Nursing Home Report
http://www.estevanmercury.ca/article/20130626/ESTMERCURY0101/130629929/-1/ESTMERCURY/family-disgusted-by-estevan-regional-nursing-home-report
The family whose complaints led to an investigation into the Estevan Regional
Nursing Home say they are disgusted by the final report into the matter. In an
interview with The Mercury on June 20, family spokeswoman Maggie Dupuis said
the document they received from the Sun Country Health Region had all
recommendations made by the independent third party investigator redacted from
it. She also felt the remainder of the report focused on smaller matters and
did not look at the bigger issues they have been trying to raise with Sun
Country.
22.
INTERNATIONAL (Richmond, Canada), Richmond-News, June 27, 2013
Richmond volunteers get federal elder abuse cash
http://www.richmond-news.com/news/Richmond+volunteers+federal+elder+abuse+cash/8589532/story.html
MP Alice Wong made her way to Richmond Wednesday morning to announce funding
for Volunteer Richmond Information Services (VRIS). The organization received
close to $25,000 to develop new information material to raise awareness of
elder abuse, including power of attorney rights and responsibilities.
23.
INTERNATIONAL (Vancouver, Canada), Royal City Record, June 26, 2013
Dealing with a new, and rising, problem
http://www.royalcityrecord.com/news/Dealing+with+rising+problem/8579838/story.html
The New Westminster Police department's "innovative" work on elder
abuse cases was recently recognized by Simon Fraser University's gerontology
research centre and in a city with more than 8,000 residents aged 65 and over,
and climbing, according to Statistics Canada, awareness for this type of abuse
couldn't have come at a better time, said Andrea Wright, community counsellor
for the department's domestic violence response team.
24.
INTERNATIONAL (Wellington, New Zealand), The New Zealand Herald, June 27, 2013
The grim truth about elder abuse
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10891632
In the '70s it may have been flippantly referred to as "granny
bashing" but these days the acceptable term is "elder abuse".
According to the Ministry of Social Development's "Elder abuse and/or
neglect" literature review, "Elder abuse or neglect can be either an
act of commission, in which case it is abusive, or an act of omission, in which
case it is neglectful, and may be either intentional or unintentional."
25.
INTERNATIONAL (Wellington, New Zealand), 3News, June 25, 2013
Elderly Kiwis victims of mail fraud
http://www.3news.co.nz/Elderly-Kiwis-victims-of-mail-fraud/tabid/423/articleID/302720/Default.aspx
Thousands of pensioners are scammed out of millions of dollars through fake
lotteries each year. Experts say it's a huge problem amongst the elderly, but
hard to quantify because it's what they call a "silent scam". In
other words, many pensioners are afraid or embarrassed to admit to their
families they've been ripped off. Of $4 million lost in scams each year, it's
thought about 60 percent of victims are elderly.
ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
1.
VERMONT (Montpelier), Vermont Digger, June 26, 2013
Protective Services probe into Shumlin-Dodge affair might never be disclosed
http://vtdigger.org/2013/06/26/protective-services-probe-into-shumlin-dodge-affair-might-never-be-disclosed/
Gov. Peter Shumlin might be under investigation by the state’s Adult Protective
Services program, but the contents of that investigation may never come to
light. The issue at hand is whether Shumlin exploited his neighbor, Jeremy
Dodge, and whether Dodge is a vulnerable adult, as defined in state statute.
2.
INTERNATIONAL (Costa del Sol), Daily Mail, June 27, 2013
First picture of the tragic mother and disabled daughter who were 'shot dead by
her husband in Costa del Sol home before he turned the gun on himself'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2349484/First-picture-tragic-mother-disabled-daughter-shot-dead-husband-Costa-del-Sol-home-turned-gun-himself.html
The full tragedy behind the horror of an expat father who shot dead his wife
and daughter before turning the gun on himself emerged yesterday. Friends told
how Philip Wood was ‘pushed beyond desperation’ after his wife was left
wheelchair-bound with a terminal illness and they were unable to cope with
caring for their brain-damaged daughter.
3.
INTERNATIONAL (Grimsby, United Kingdom), This is Grimsby, June 27, 2013
KEEP OFF: Thieves slammed for nicking disabled man’s washing off line!
http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/Disabled-man-upset-clothes-theft/story-19406791-detail/story.html#axzz2XTFzFyNC
A DISABLED man has condemned thieves who stole his washing – some of which had
sentimental value. Nigel Dunwell, of Hamilton Street, Cleethorpes, hung his
white wash out to dry on Tuesday afternoon. However,
when Nigel – who suffers with Marfan Syndrome and is registered disabled – went
to take it in the following morning, he discovered an Adidas jacket and a
T-shirt had gone.
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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
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