Legislation and local efforts are being made to protect the senior population against abuse.
State Rep. Jennifer Haase has recently revealed new legislation that takes aim at preventing the mistreatment of senior citizens, whether it's for financial exploitation or physical and sexual abuse.
Sandy Keown, director of the Romeo Senior Center and Washington Senior Center, said the problem isn't very prevalent in the area, but she has seen cases of elderly abuse over the years.
"Seniors are being preyed on so much, especially in this economy, and they are just so trusting, so it's really sad when we see things happen."
She said roughly 30 to 40 percent of the local population is made of seniors, and is growing at an increasing rate as Baby Boomers begin to reach their senior years.
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) say the crime is under reported, estimating more than 73,000 of Michigan's adults are abused each year.
"Senior abuse is a very tough problem because no one wants to admit there's a problem. The seniors are afraid that if they say anything, it gets worse for them, and sometimes it does."
Full Article and Source:
Preventative measures taken to stop elder abuse
State Rep. Jennifer Haase has recently revealed new legislation that takes aim at preventing the mistreatment of senior citizens, whether it's for financial exploitation or physical and sexual abuse.
Sandy Keown, director of the Romeo Senior Center and Washington Senior Center, said the problem isn't very prevalent in the area, but she has seen cases of elderly abuse over the years.
"Seniors are being preyed on so much, especially in this economy, and they are just so trusting, so it's really sad when we see things happen."
She said roughly 30 to 40 percent of the local population is made of seniors, and is growing at an increasing rate as Baby Boomers begin to reach their senior years.
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) say the crime is under reported, estimating more than 73,000 of Michigan's adults are abused each year.
"Senior abuse is a very tough problem because no one wants to admit there's a problem. The seniors are afraid that if they say anything, it gets worse for them, and sometimes it does."
Full Article and Source:
Preventative measures taken to stop elder abuse
6 comments:
Yeah, everybody's studying elder abuse, but why don't they look at what's being done to elders by the "protective" system?
You're exactly right, Anonymous. Perhaps this legislation is paving the road for what's really needed tho.
Elder abuse is a wide term -- too wide. It can be used for "good" or for "bad".
It needs to be defined clearly.
Seniors are easy prey and any legislation to help them is important.
Guardianship is a smokescreen. People perceive this to be an honest system.
Perception is everything.
Guardianship is like quicksand, one step into it and you are sucked up and anyone who tries to help you gets pulled in, leaving a trail of victims for each ward.
I would rather burn all that I own, money too and jump off a cliff before being declared a ward of the state.
Yes, instant poverty and death would be better than having a greedy stranger a guardian or conservator with court approval do it for me.
State Rep. Jennifer Haase: While it's true that many seniors don't want to admit there's a problem - or are perhaps embarrassed - it's also true that many report guardianship abuse and are ignored.
Post a Comment