NCEA | Newsfeed Collection

NCEA Newsfeed – Friday, August 9, 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.

 ***************************************************************************************

ELDER ABUSE NEWSFEED

 

1.         ARIZONA (Phoenix), Courthouse News Service, August 7, 2013
Hospital Tech Accused of Seducing Patient
http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/08/07/60055.htm
A medical health technician seduced a mother of six at a psychiatric hospital, then got her to leave her family and "borrowed" $1,000 from her, the woman and her husband claim in court. The family seeks damages for breach of fiduciary duty, medical negligence, elder abuse and infliction of emotional distress.

 

2.         ARIZONA (Phoenix), Maricopa Monitor, August 6, 2013
Court: Ariz. Hospitals can be sued under ‘elder abuse’ law
http://www.trivalleycentral.com/maricopa_monitor/health_wellness/court-ariz-hospitals-can-be-sued-under-elder-abuse-law/article_d4715f8a-feba-11e2-bedc-0019bb2963f4.html
Arizona hospitals are subject to being sued under the state’s “elder abuse’’ laws, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. Without dissent, the judge rejected the arguments by attorneys for two major hospitals that the laws are designed to give individuals and their families a way to bring suit against nursing homes and assisted care facilities

 

3.         CALIFORNIA (Dixon), Daily Mail, August 5, 2013
Elderly woman with dementia in jail for nearly a week because she attacked fellow nursing home resident
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385132/Elderly-woman-dementia-jail-nearly-WEEK-attacked-fellow-nursing-home-resident.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
A 77-year-old dementia patient has spent nearly a week languishing in prison after allegedly stabbing a woman at her senior care facility with a comb. Police arrested the woman at California's Solano Life House, a home for dementia patients, following reports the grandmother stabbed an elderly woman in the face and head nearly a week ago.

 

4.         CALIFORNIA (Montclair), San Francisco Gate, August 8, 2013
Montclair banker guilty in client thefts
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Montclair-banker-guilty-in-client-thefts-4718398.php
A banker who once led a merchant group in Oakland's upscale Montclair neighborhood pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing millions from clients, many of whom are elderly, and is expected to be sentenced to 12 years behind bars. Linda Foss, 62, the former president of the Montclair Village Association, entered guilty pleas in Alameda County Superior Court to five counts of elder theft, two counts of grand theft and one count of money laundering.

 

5.         CALIFORNIA (Oxnard), Noozhawk, August 8, 2013
Oxnard Plumber Arrested on Charges of Elder Abuse
http://www.noozhawk.com/article/oxnard_plumber_arrested_for_elder_abuse_20130808
Authorities believe there could be more victims of an Oxnard plumber who allegedly worked without a contractor’s license and targeted the elderly. Oxnard police arrested a suspect, 46, in late July on charges of elder abuse after a months-long investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office and the Contractors State License Board, according to Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Kelly Hoover.

 

6.         CALIFORNIA (Sonoma County), Sonoma County Gazette, August 1, 2013
County-wide “Kick-Off” Event Held For Federally Funded Sonoma County Elder Abuse Grant
http://www.sonomacountygazette.com/cms/pages/sonoma-county-news-article-1777.html
A kick-off event was held for a federal grant to fight elder abuse in Sonoma County. The event was held at the Sheriff’s Department training room, where approximately fifty community leaders from government and private agencies met to discuss the future.

 

7.         FLORIDA (Collier County), Florida News Zap, August 8,2 013
Seniors open to circumstances, exploitation
http://florida.newszap.com/immokalee/124633-113/seniors-open-to-circumstances-exploitation
The elderly are some of the most vulnerable members of society. According to Supervisor of the Victim and Senior Advocacy Unit of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Angela Larson, they make up 27 percent of Collier County residents. With the Baby Boomers coming on strong, that number is only increasing.

 

8.         FLORIDA (Tallahassee), FCIR.org, August 8, 2013
Head of Agency Meant To Protect Nursing Home Residents Resigns Amid Controversy
http://fcir.org/2013/08/08/jim-crochet/
Jim Crochet, Florida’s long-term care ombudsman, turned in his resignation papers this week as the Department of Elder Affairs continues to conduct an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing.

 

9.         ILLINOIS (Bloomington), Pantagraph, August 7, 2013
Man, 63, arrested in exploitation scheme
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-arrested-in-exploitation-scheme/article_fa064254-ff70-11e2-b9fe-0019bb2963f4.html
A 63-year-old Bloomington man was arrested Tuesday and charged with financial exploitation of the elderly after a year-long Normal Police Department investigation. The suspect is accused of crimes that occurred between 2009 and 2012 and involved an amount exceeding $50,000. He also is accused of theft by deception.

 

10.       ILLINOIS (Chicago), Credit Union Times, August 9, 2013
League Feted for Work on Illinois Law Protecting Elderly From Financial Abuse
http://www.cutimes.com/2013/08/09/league-feted-for-work-on-illinois-law-protecting-e
The Illinois Credit Union League  was honored at the second annual Summit on the Prevention of Elder Financial Fraud and Abuse by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and Illinois Department on Aging for supporting legislation protecting elderly credit union members from financial abuse.

 

11.       INDIANA (Vigo County), My Wabash Valley, August 8, 2013
Two Arrested In What Vigo Co. Sheriff Says Is Worst Neglect Case He’s Seen
http://www.mywabashvalley.com/story/two-arrested-in-what-vigo-co-sheriff-says-is-worst-neglect-case-hes-seen/d/story/hcnF0U5IcUyaBBhV1y8zOg
Authorities are investigating a neglect case that the Vigo County Sheriff says is the worst he's ever seen. Two children, ages 2 and 6 months, were found with animal feces on them and were removed from a home. A 74-year-old woman was also removed by Adult Protective Services.

 

12.       MINNESOTA (Byron), Post Bulleton, August 7, 2013
Daughter pleads not guilty to financial exploitation
http://www.postbulletin.com/news/crime/daughter-pleads-not-guilty-to-financial-exploitation/article_8ccecdde-e5b0-5e5a-b89f-cab0933ed069.html
A Byron woman has pleaded not guilty to charges that she financially exploited her mother. The suspect, 46, was charged Dec. 5 in Olmsted County District Court with two felony counts of financial exploitation-vulnerable adult.

 

13.       MISSOURI (Cape Girardeau), Southeast Missourian, August 7, 2013
Monia faces 11 new felony charges
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1991768.html
A Cape Girardeau man now faces 15 felony charges in two counties in connection with a series of cases in which he is accused of defrauding nine people of $567,500. The suspect already faced two counts each of forgery and financial exploitation of the elderly and a civil suit in connection with a pair of cases in which he is accused of defrauding three people of about $300,000 by telling them he was going to invest the money in annuities for them.

 

14.       NEW YORK (Batavia), The Daily News Online, August 8, 2013
Openings available for Scam Prevention program
http://thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_68f271b6-006a-11e3-9845-0019bb2963f4.html
The Genesee County Office for the Aging says there are still spaces available for a Scam Prevention Presentation at 1 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church on Lewiston Road.

Lifespan of Greater Rochester in partnership with the church’s Older Adult Ministry Team is offering this opportunity for individuals to learn how to protect themselves from scams. The panel includes Art Mason, director of the Elder Abuse Prevention Program at Lifespan in Rochester; Larry Friedman, Genesee County district attorney; Det. Sgt. Patrick Corona, Batavia Police Department; Deputy Sheriff Dehm, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office; and Ann Marie Hurley, coordinator of Senior Medicare Patrol Programs for Lifespan

 

15.       NEW YORK (Manhattan), News One, August 5, 2013
Harper Lee: “To Kill A Mockingbird” Author A Victim Of Elder Abuse
http://newsone.com/2660925/harper-lee-elder-abuse/
Harper Lee, 87, author of the literary classic, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” is battling financial exploitation and elder abuse at the hands of her former literary agent, Samuel Pinkus, reports NYC Elder Abuse Center. Pinkus is the son-in-law of one of Lee’s oldest friends, the late Eugene Winick. According to Lee’s attorney, in 2007, Pinkus tricked the author into signing over royalties from her best-selling book after suffering a dilating stroke.

 

16.       NORTH CAROLINA (Lexington), News & Record, August 8, 2013
Davidson Co. Sheriff’s Office investigates child abuse, elder abuse, school break-in
http://www.news-record.com/news/local_news/article_09814f60-005e-11e3-a253-0019bb30f31a.html
An 18-year-old woman was charged with assault on a handicapped person and property damage. She is accused of assaulting her 62-year-old grandmother at the house, who had several lacerations on her arm and bruising to her legs.

 

17.       SOUTH CAROLINA (Rock Hill), Herald Online, August 8, 2013
State investigating Rock Hill’s Westminster Towers after abuse allegation
http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/08/08/5099697/state-investigating-rock-hills.html
State health officials are investigating Rock Hill’s Westminster Towers Continuing Care Retirement Community after administrators failed to report a nearly year-old abuse allegation.

 

18.       TENNESSEE (Bluff City), Tricities.com, August 8, 2013
Bluff City woman charged with willful abuse, domestic assault
http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_32e52d54-0095-11e3-9df6-0019bb30f31a.html
A Bluff City woman was accused of assaulting her disabled husband after the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office viewed a video showing the incident. The suspect, 62, was charged with willful abuse or neglect and domestic assault Monday, according to a report released by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. She initially asked a relative to record a mess her husband made on July 25, which showed the suspect slapping, beating and verbally abusing the 65-year-old man, the report said. The relative showed the video to a counselor. It was then handed over to the Sheriff’s Office.

 

19.       UTAH (St. George), The Spectrum, August 7, 2013
Woman to appeal elder exploitation conviction
http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20130807/NEWS01/308070017/?nclick_check=1
A St. George woman found guilty of using her friendship with an elderly resident of a retirement home to gain the use of the other woman’s finances will appeal her conviction.

 

20.       VERMONT (Montpelier), Vermont Digger, August 8, 2013
Backlog of Adult Protective Services cases eases, but questions remain
http://vtdigger.org/2013/08/08/backlog-of-adult-protective-services-cases-eases-but-questions-remain/
Lawmakers laid eyes on some hard-won data Thursday. The Health Care Oversight Committee reviewed three months worth of statistics on reports of elder abuse in the state that are filed with the Adult Protective Services (APS) division of the Department of Aging and Independent Living (DAIL). In the past, APS has struggled to investigate reports of elder abuse in an adequate and timely manner. Concerned by backlogs and the unusually low number of allegations that are substantiated, lawmakers asked for a number of changes to the program, including more information on a more frequent basis.

 

21.       INTERNATIONAL (Edinburgh, Scotland), Edinburgh News, August 9, 2013
Vulnerable dementia patient attacked in hospital
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/health/vulnerable-dementia-patient-attacked-in-hospital-1-3033433
A family has spoken of its horror after a defenceless pensioner was attacked as she lay in her hospital bed. The victim, who is partially paralysed down one side of her body and has dementia, was subjected to the terrifying ordeal on Saturday night at Ferryfield House, where she has been an inpatient for eight years. It is believed that a male dementia patient staying in the hospital made his way into the 85-year-old victim’s room and launched the attack, which caused cuts to her face, neck and chest before staff stepped in.

 

22.       INTERNATIONAL (London, United Kingdom), Mirror News, August 7, 2013
Couple accused of stealing dementia patient’s £100,000 life savings to renovate their home
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/couple-accused-stealing-dementia-patients-2137755
A couple accused of stealing a pensioner’s life savings claimed their home renovation plans were for the 91-year-old - even though they included a gym. The suspects allegedly spent the money on a lavish revamp after the spinster was taken into a care home. The couple are accused of taking more than £100,000 from her bank accounts and cashing her benefits after they became responsible for the dementia sufferer’s finances.

 

23.       INTERNATIONAL (St. Ives, United Kingdom), This is Cornwall, August 7, 2013
St Ives care home “not respecting dementia sufferer’s dignity”
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/St-Ives-care-home-respecting-dementia-sufferer-s/story-19619917-detail/story.html#axzz2bW65adFL
A ST IVES nursing home that cares for vulnerable dementia sufferers has been criticised for failing to respect the dignity and privacy of elderly residents by a Government watchdog. A report said some residents at the home were found to be “unkempt” with some men unshaven and some women with facial hair, and that soiled underwear was found in at least two rooms.

 

ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES

 

1.         FLORIDA (Navarre), WEARTV, August 8, 2013
Navarre woman charged with stealing from group home of disabled adults
http://www.weartv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/navarre-woman-charged-stealing-group-disabled-adults-34739.shtml
A Navarre woman is charged with stealing money from two dozen patients at a group home in Fort Walton Beach. According to the arrest report, 64-year-old Linda Walker-Hall worked at a Horizons Group Home. She was responsible for giving the patients their spending money each week.

 

2.         FLORIDA (Navarre), WTVY, August 8, 2013
Woman Charged with Financial Exploitation of Disabled Clients
http://www.wtvy.com/home/headlines/Woman-Charged-with-Financial-Exploitation-of-Disabled-Clients--218886541.html
The Residential Services Director of a local organization that works to help the disabled has been charged with 24 felony counts of exploiting her clients.

 

3.         NORTH CAROLINA (Gastonia), KENS5, August 5, 2013
Maryland mother facing charges after chaining daughter to hotel bed, police say
http://www.kens5.com/news/Maryland-mother-facing-charges-after-chaining-daughter-to-hotel-bed-218381611.html
According to police, a mother left her mentally handicapped daughter chained to a hotel bed while she attended a wedding party. Authorities tell NBC Charlotte the incident happened Saturday night at the Courtyard Marriott on Remount Road.  

 

4.         VERMONT (White River Junction), WCAX, August 9, 2013
Vt. Woman sentenced for abusing children, vulnerable adults
http://www.wcax.com/story/23076673/vt-woman-sentenced-for-abusing-children-vulnerable-adults
Prosecutors say Krista Hudson abused society's most vulnerable, both young children and adults with diminished capacity caring for themselves, who authorities say she lured from out-of-state to live in her Ludlow home.

 

5.         INTERNATIONAL (London, United Kingdom), The Guardian, August 9, 2013
Forced marriage unit deals with 114 cases involving mental disability
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/09/mentally-disabled-forced-marriages-parents
The government dealt with 114 cases of forced marriage last year that involved mentally disabled people – a number government experts admit is only the tip of the iceberg of a horrendous hidden problem.

 

RELATED ISSUES

 

1.         NATIONAL, USA Today, August 4, 2013
Watchdog’s complaint tracking gets results
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/08/04/cfpb-cordray-mortgage-loans-complaint-database/2613413/
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's growing complaint database is a valuable guide for consumers shopping for financial services, says Director Richard Cordray in an interview.

 

2.         COLORADO (Denver), KDVR, August 7, 2013
Police locate missing Denver man who suffers from dementia
http://kdvr.com/2013/08/07/police-search-for-missing-denver-man-who-suffers-from-dementia/
Police have found the Denver man who was reported missing Wednesday morning. Robert “Bob” Thompson, who suffers from dementia, was last seen on Tuesday at about 11 p.m. walking in the 2200 block of West 29th Avenue. Police said he was last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a dark blue sweatshirt with a red-and-white stripe on the side.

 

3.         INDIANA (St. Joseph County), WSBT, August 8, 2013
Fight to keep Dolly’s House open
http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-dollys-house-to-file-rezoning-paperwork-20130808,0,2301887.story
The county says it had to "take action" on a group home that’s not up to code, and the woman who runs that shelter is now fighting to keep it open. After an elderly woman with dementia wandered away from the house on Ireland Road last month, WSBT discovered the house should be zoned as a group residence. It’s currently zoned “single family residential.”

 

4.         NEW YORK (Sleepy Hollow), Mid-Hudson News, August 6, 2013
Vulnerable Adult Missing
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2013/August/06/DeLaCruz_missing-06Aug13.html
Police have issued a missing person alert for a man who has been missing since Sunday. Sleepy Hollow Police said Angel De La Cruz, 37, does not speak. He is five feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.  When he was last scene, DeLaCruz was wearing a white short-sleeve shirt with black stripes, blue jean shorts, gray and orange sandals and an ID bracelet on his left wrist.

 

5.         PENNSYLVANIA (Pittsburg), San Francisco Gate, August 8, 2013
Pittsburg man held in slaying of wife
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Pittsburg-man-held-in-slaying-of-wife-4718372.php
A 51-year-old Pittsburg man was arrested for fatally shooting his wife after the couple broke up, police said Thursday. Kevin Easter shot and killed the 52-year-old victim at a home on the 100 block of Army Street about 11 p.m. Wednesday, said Pittsburg police Lt. Ron Raman. Officers tried to revive the woman but were unsuccessful, Raman said. Her name was not immediately released.

 

 

***************************************************************************************

 

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

 

 

***************************************************************************************

 

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

 

·       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 18^th 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 3^rd 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 33^rd 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 24^th Annual NAPSA Conference to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota October 2-3, 2013, followed by The 4^th Annual NAPSA Summit on Elder Financial Exploitation on October 4, 2013. For more information: http://www.napsa-now.org/get-connected/annual-conference/

·       The 20^th 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 37^th Annual Consume Voice Conference will be held in Arlington, Virginia October 24-27, 2013. For additional information: http://www.theconsumervoice.org/events/annual-meetings

·       The 30^th 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 2^nd Annual National Elder Abuse Symposium, hosted by the California District Attorneys Association, 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 3^rd World Congress on Adult Guardianship will be convened on May 28-30, 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

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!