NCEA Newsfeed 7-18-13

NCEA Newsfeed – Thursday, July 18, 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, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, July 15, 2013
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Announces New Senior Hires
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/pressreleases/consumer-financial-protection-bureau-announces-new-senior-hires/
Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is announcing the addition of several members to senior positions within the Bureau. These positions are: the Chief Operating Officer; the Chief of Staff; the Assistant Director for the Office of Older Americans; and the Program Manager for Servicing and Securitization Markets. The new hires represent a diverse background, including elder justice.

2.         NATIONAL, Forbes, July 18, 2013
Financial Elder Abuse By A Broker-Dealer For Mom
http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolynrosenblatt/2013/07/18/financial-elder-abuse-by-an-advisor/
The author details the dishonesty by her mother-in-law’s financial advisor. She then discusses the new rigor with which the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the state regulator in Massachusetts are cracking down on exactly the kind of nontraditional, illiquid investment the financial advisor sold to her mother-in-law.

3.         NATIONAL, Huffington Post, July 16, 2013
Elder Abuse and Technology
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mehroz-baig/elder-abuse-and-technolog_b_3605646.html
According to a 2012 Pew Research study, 53 percent of Americans aged 65 or older use the Internet or email. It is likely that more and more older adults will begin to use the Internet and use it more extensively as our demographics shift towards an older population. This article discusses how technology has impacted the methods of elder financial abuse.

4.         ARIZONA (Phoenix), AZ Family, July 15, 2013
Quartzsite family charged with animal, elder abuse in Phoenix
http://www.azfamily.com/news/Quartzsite-family-charged-with-animal-elder-abuse-in-Phoenix-215621131.html
Police made a gruesome discovery in a van on Monday: dirty crates with layers of food, feces and other filth. In 13 cages lived 12 dogs, 22 cats and one pigeon, and they were all piled to the ceiling of a 1996 Dodge Ram van found in Phoenix. The wife and mother of the suspects was found dead inside the same van. Three suspects have been charged with animal cruelty and elder abuse.

5.         ARIZONA (Phoenix), Arizona News Zap, July 16, 2013
Financial planner sentenced for elder-targeted scheme
http://arizona.newszap.com/westvalley/124043-114/financial-planner-sentenced-for-elder-targeted-scheme
Phoenix resident Jay Kevin Perry, 38, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 44 months in prison for engaging in a bankruptcy fraud scheme that targeted elderly investors.

6.         ARIZONA (Tucson), ABC 15, July 17, 2013
2 accused of elder abuse at S. Arizona care facility
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_central_southern_az/tucson/2-accused-of-elder-abuse-at-s-arizona-care-facility
Two people have been arrested after a 93-year-old woman was injured at an assisted care facility north of Tucson. The staff reported that the two employees separately, but on multiple occasions, had struck the woman with an open hand and fist, hit her with a remote control unit and other objects.

7.         CALIFORNIA (Menlo Park), In Menlo, July 18, 2013
Menlo Park Police Department warns about elder fraud
http://inmenlo.com/2013/07/18/menlo-park-police-department-warns-about-elder-fraud/
The Menlo Park Police Department would like to make the public aware of fraud that targets the elderly. 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. The Menlo Park Police Department currently has an ongoing investigation into this matter.

8.         CALIFORNIA (Pleasanton), Pleasanton Weekly, July 18, 2013
Two guilty, two in court for elder fraud in Pleasanton
http://www.pleasantonweekly.com/news/show_story.php?id=11640
With one recent Pleasanton case of senior abuse closed, another is continuing to wend its way through the court system. On July 12, an Auburn woman was allowed to go free after serving 10 months in jail for working with her husband to steal nearly half a million dollars from his 86-year-old mother.

9.         CALIFORNIA (San Francisco), Reuters, July 18, 2013
Ex-broker for Wells, Morgan Stanley indicted for check fraud
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/18/broker-indicted-idUSL1N0FO1O720130718
A former broker for Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Morgan Stanley has been indicted for defrauding an elder client out of $1.8 million by forging checks on her accounts, federal prosecutors said.

10.       DELAWARE (New Castle), Delaware Online, July 18, 2013
Police: Woman abused father in wheelchair
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130718/NEWS01/307180084/Police-Woman-abused-father-wheelchair?nclick_check=1
The daughter of an infirmed man in a wheelchair was arrested late Wednesday following an argument with her father that turned physical, police said today. The suspect is facing charges of intentional abuse, neglect, exploit or mistreatment of an infirmed adult, assault, malicious interference with emergency communications, menacing, offensive touching and criminal mischief.

11.       FLORIDA (Pinellas Park), Tampa Bay Times, July 16, 2013
Pinellas Park woman accused of elder abuse
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/pinellas-park-woman-accused-of-elder-abuse/2131775
A caregiver is accused of elder abuse when her client was found emaciated and laying in a filthy bed with multiple bed sores and maggots. Investigators believe the man had been in poor condition for months, as his tibia was fully exposed.

12.       FLORIDA (Pinellas Park), Daily Mail, July 17, 2013
Wife charged with abuse after her disabled and 'rotting' husband is found covered in flesh eating maggots
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2367096/Sharon-Tillman-charged-abuse-disabled-husband-covered-flesh-eating-maggots.html
A Florida woman has been charged with abuse after her disabled husband was found covered in maggots with wounds that were bone deep. Paramedics found the suspect’s husband living in his own excrement with severe body sores covering his body.

13.       FLORIDA (Safety Harbor), Safety Harbor Patch, July 15, 2013
Elderly Abuse Charges Filed in Safety Harbor Case
http://safetyharbor.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/elderly-abuse-charges-filed-in-safety-harbor-casze
A Safety Harbor couple faces charges of elderly abuse, after deputies say they housed an older man in their garage without running water, toilet or adequate food. The case involves felony charges of abuse or neglect of an aged or disabled person at their Swan Lake residence.

14.       NORTH CAROLINA (Swain County), The Smoky Mountain Times, July 17, 2013
County looks to expand welfare fraud program
http://www.thesmokymountaintimes.com/articles/2013/07/17/news/6.27.13.news03.txt
Swain County commissioners are looking to step up efforts to stamp out welfare fraud. Social Services Director Sheila Sutton said initial efforts are under way to deal with welfare fraud cases in-house, rather than rely on the court system. Social service case workers oversee child support, Medicaid, in-home service care, Adult Protective Services, two energy assistance programs for low-income families, Work First, and Food and Nutrition Services.

15.       PENNSYLVANIA (Hollidaysburg), We Are Central PA, July 16, 2013
Third Person Sentenced in Elder Abuse Case
http://wearecentralpa.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=480502
A Blair County woman who entered a guilty plea to neglect of a care-dependent person in March was sentenced to three years' probation Tuesday morning. In addition to probation, the woman must pay a $400 fine, additional costs, and is prohibited from working in a healthcare related field.

16.       TEXAS (Calhoun County), Port La Vaca Wave, July 16, 2013
APS confirms 31 cases of elder abuse in county
http://portlavacawave.com/news/article_44b82f0c-ee18-11e2-ad55-0019bb2963f4.html
“It’s everyone’s business to prevent elder abuse,” said Mary Walker, media specialist with the Department of Family and Protective Services, which includes Adult Protective Services.APS completed 64 investigations in Calhoun County last year, and confirmed that 31 were valid allegations, Walker said in a press release

17.       TEXAS (Laredo), Pro 8 News, July 17, 2013
Volunteers Helping Prevent Elderly Abuse
http://www.pro8news.com/news/local/Volunteers-Helping-Prevent-Elderly-Abuse--215848791.html
Nursing home residents have rights, and to make sure these rights are meet volunteers of the Texas Department on Aging and Disability Services visit nursing homes to make sure their rights are protected.

18.       VIRGINIA (Richmond), The Legal Examiner, July 14, 2013
New Virginia Law Aims to Help Elderly Victims
http://virginiabeach.legalexaminer.com/nursing-home-elder-abuse/new-virginia-law-aims-to-help-elderly-victims/
A new law, which was implemented as of July 1, 2013, creates a criminal penalty for those who aim to take financial advantage of seniors. The law specifically states that it is a crime to financially exploit any mentally incapacitated adults.

19.       WISCONSIN (Platteville), SW News 4U, July 18, 2013
Trial Scheduled in Elder Theft Case
http://www.swnews4u.com/section/123/article/14638/
A 48-year-old Platteville man will go to trial on eight felony theft charges for allegedly stealing money from a nursing home resident.

20.       INTERNATIONAL (Auckland, Australia), Stuff.co.nz, July 17, 2013
Talking about elder abuse
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/central-leader/8923705/Talking-about-elder-abuse
An Auckland organisation is helping South Asian seniors stand up against abuse as the number of reported incidences of elder mistreatment continues to climb nationwide.

21.       INTERNATIONAL (Sydney, Australia), ABC, July 18, 2013
Ita Buttrose vows to shame governments into acting on aged care after nursing home abuse revelations
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-19/buttrose-to-shame-governments-into-aged-care-action/4829834
Alzheimer's Australia president Ita Buttrose says she will shame governments into acting on aged care. The comments from Ms Buttrose, who is the 2013 Australian of the Year, come after recent revelations on the ABC's Lateline program of widespread abuse in Australian nursing homes. "I'm going to put a plea out to our consumers to write to us with further stories of their less-than-adequate care," she said.

 

ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES

1.         MARYLAND (Baltimore), WUSA 9, July 18, 2013
Caregiver Sentenced For Assaulting Man With Disability
http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/266904/189/Caregiver-Sentenced-For-Assaulting-Man-With-Disability
A caregiver who assaulted a man last year at a facility for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities won't serve jail time, according to Maryland Attorney General Doug F. Gansler. Thirty-seven-year-old Nnamdi Adiegwu of Baltimore will be on probation for a year and nto be allowed to work with "vulnerable adults" after having his 364-day jail sentence suspended, according to Gansler.

2.         MICHIGAN (Lyons), Field and Stream, July 17, 2013
$18,000 Worth of Gear Stolen from Disabled Veterans Hunting Group
http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/field-notes/2013/07/gear-stolen-disabled-veterans-hunting-group
An attempt to help disabled veterans get back into the woods to hunt in Lyons, Michigan has been thwarted by thieves who stole nearly $18,000 worth of gear.

3.         MINNESOTA (Burnsville), Eagan Patch, July 15, 2013
Burnsville Man Spends Six Days in Jail for Molesting Eagan Woman
http://eagan.patch.com/groups/editors-picks/p/burnsville-man-spends-six-days-in-jail-for-molesting-eagan-woman
A 51-year-old Burnsville man has been convicted of sexually molesting a vulnerable adult in Eagan.

4.         NEW YORK (Westbury), CBS Local, July 17, 2013
Victim Of A Cruel Prank, Disabled Man Finally Gets His Wheelchair Back
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/07/17/victim-of-a-cruel-prank-disabled-man-finally-gets-his-wheelchair-back/
After weeks of agony a disabled Long Island man finally has his state-of-the-art wheelchair back. It was stolen and vandalized by teenage pranksters. As CBS 2’s Jennifer McLogan reported, the chair was found and fixed for Wednesday’s big return.

5.         OHIO (Columbus), The Columbus Dispatch, July 17, 2013
Four people charged in forced-labor case of mentally disabled woman
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/07/17/four-people-charged-in-forced-labor-case.html
Three people accused of enslaving a mentally disabled woman and her daughter beat the woman, denied her food, sexually assaulted her, threatened her with dogs and snakes, and hit her badly enough to require a hospital visit for pain medicine, which they took from her, according to an indictment announced yesterday. A fourth suspect is accused of punching the woman in the face, slamming her hand in a door, kicking her in the hip and smashing her hand with a rock, forcing her to seek treatment and receive pain medications, which the four confiscated

6.         OHIO (Columbus), Fox News, July 17, 2013
Man to plead guilty in Ohio slave labor case involving mentally disabled woman, daughter
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/17/man-to-plead-guilty-in-ohio-slave-labor-case-involving-mentally-disabled-woman/
A man plans to plead guilty to charges he helped enslave and beat a mentally disabled woman and her daughter and steal her pain medication, his attorney said Wednesday as a judge scheduled a hearing for a plea.

7.         PENNSYVLANIA (Chester), Philly.com, July 13, 2013
Help with managing finances for people with disabilities
http://articles.philly.com/2013-07-13/news/40538505_1_disabilities-cerebral-palsy-cents-and-sensibility
Cents and Sensibility is a free money-management guide for people with disabilities. Susan Tauchau, executive director of the nonprofit Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation, joined with several professors at Widener University in Chester to create this resource to protect adults with disabilities from financial exploitation.

8.         WASHINGTON (Tacoma), Komo News, July 17, 2013
Woman charged with fraud after scamming disabled vet
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Veteran-charged-with-fraud-after-stealing-from-disabled-vet-215924461.html
A Tacoma military veteran is charged in federal court with stealing thousands of dollars from a fellow disabled vet. Investigators claim the suspect stole a fellow veteran's identity, then hit banks and ATM's while the victim lay in a nursing home bed. Prosecutors say the suspect doesn't know the victim who is currently under 24-hour care.

9.         INTERNATIONAL (Tel Aviv, Israel), The Jerusalem Post, July 17, 2013
Disabled woman raped, robbed at knife-point inside TA house
http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Disabled-woman-raped-robbed-at-knife-point-inside-her-house-in-Tel-Aviv-320093
A disabled woman was raped and robbed at knife-point inside her house last week in Tel Aviv, a court cleared for publication on Wednesday.

RELATED ISSUES

1.         NEW JERSEY (Trenton), NJ.com, July 18, 2013
Christie signs bill banning hospitals and doctors from denying disabled people organ transplants
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/07/bill_banning_hospitals_and_doctors_from_denying_disabled_people_organ_transplants_now_law.html
Hospitals and doctors would be prohibited from taking a patient's mental or physical disability into account when being considered for an organ transplant under a bill Gov. Chris Christie signed into law today.

 

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Funding Opportunities:

  • 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 American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, with other ABA cosponsors, is presenting the webinar, “When Adult Guardianship Crosses State Lines: A Uniform Act to Address Jurisdictional Issues.” The webinar will be on Tuesday July 30, 2013 at 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Time. For more information http://apps.americanbar.org/cle/programs/t13uag1.html  

·       The 2nd Annual Summit on the Prevention of Elder Financial Fraud and Abuse will be hosted by the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation on July 31, 2013 at the Chicago Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort. To register: http://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/DOA/conferences/APAconf.html

·       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 3rd Annual Sexuality, Intimacy & Aging Conference will be called “Helping to Navigate Challenges in Sexuality & Aging” and will be hosted at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania September 27-28, 2013.  For more information http://saconsortium.eventbrite.com/

·       The 33rd Annual Mental Health & Aging Conference, “Innovative Perspectives on Mental Health & Aging,” will be held on October 8, 2013 at The Double Tree in Sacramento, California.  For more information visit www.sacmhac.net.

·       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

·       The 3rd World Congress on Adult Guardianship will be convened on May 28-May 30, 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  

 

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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