June 15 Is Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Pasadena

Elderly Care (Photo – sabinevanerp)

By News Desk

At the June 12 Pasadena City Council meeting, Mayor Victor M. Gordo proclaimed June 15, 2023, Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Pasadena. Purple flags have been placed on the lawn of the Public Health Department to signify the number of abuses reported by Pasadena residents, and to honor those who have been affected by elder abuse.

“Elder abuse is a serious issue affecting one of the most vulnerable groups in our nation,” said Manuel Carmona, acting director of Pasadena Public Health Department. “Older adults deserve to live with dignity, security, and appreciation.”

In 2022, Pasadena Police Department received 31 reports of elder abuse in Pasadena. Elder abuse comes in many forms, including neglect or financial, emotional, sexual, or physical abuse. “We have a collective responsibility to protect senior residents by recognizing and reporting elder abuse when it occurs,” said Police Chief Eugene Harris. “Anyone with questions concerning elder abuse is urged to call the special victim unit supervisor, Sgt. Brian Bulaon, at (626) 744-3863.”

Help prevent and address elder abuse by reporting it to authorities as soon as it is suspected. This also includes reporting any suspected abuse pertaining to nursing homes and residential care facilities. Physical injury, neglect, and/or emotional or behavioral changes are all telltale signs of abuse that could be exhibited by a loved one and should compel you to take immediate action. 

Learn about scams and stay informed.

1. Sign up for AARP’s Fraud Watch.
2. Check out AARP’s interactive national fraud map.
3. Review FBI Common Scams and Crimes.

In 2006, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations (UN) launched the first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) in an effort to unite communities around the world in raising awareness about elder abuse. WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for our communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders, and reaffirm our country’s commitment to the principle of justice for all.

To report elder abuse in Pasadena, call the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241.

By doing all that we can to strengthen the social support structure, we can reduce social isolation, protect communities and families against elder abuse, and build a community that lives up to our promise of justice for all.

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June 15 Is Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Pasadena

Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Recognizes June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day

News Provided By

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance

June 11, 2021, 17:29 GMT 

 

NASHVILLE – Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) is warning seniors and their families to be on the lookout for signs of elder financial abuse, including potential exploitation by guardians.

Tennessee’s older adults are oftentimes the targets of scammers, financial con artists, bad actors and other abusers intent on causing them harm or stealing their financial resources and dignity.

Every year, an estimated one in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. Research suggests that as few as one in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities. The Government Accountability Office recently estimated that seniors lose an estimated $2.9 billion annually nationwide to an ever-growing array of financial exploitation schemes and scams.

To help draw attention to the importance of protecting senior Tennesseans, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed Tuesday, June 15, 2021, as Elder Abuse Awareness Day. In support of Governor Lee’s proclamation, TDCI is joining other state departments to highlight the importance of learning the red flags of fraud and elder abuse and the steps senior Tennesseans and their guardians can take to prevent abuse.

“I am proud to join Governor Lee to highlight the importance of protecting the dignity and financial independence of Tennessee’s elder population on Elder Abuse Awareness Day,” said TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence. “Consumers who have questions when it comes to investments or insurance policies should contact our team so that we might provide assistance.”

To assist consumers and raise awareness about elder abuse and fraud, TDCI provides the following resources for seniors and their families.

TDCI urges consumers to be on the lookout for signs of elder financial abuse, including potential exploitation by guardians.

A guardian, whether publicly funded or privately appointed, has a legal obligation to act in the best interest of a protected individual. Guardians often are granted extensive access and control of a protected individual’s assets.

Financial abuse or exploitation by guardians could occur if the guardian improperly uses the protected individual’s funds, securities, property or other assets.

To assist seniors, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), of which TDCI’s Securities Division is a member, has developed resources to help call attention to the red flags of fraud and suspected guardian financial abuse.

The NASAA’s “Guarding the Guardians” publication provides examples of exploitation and information on how to report suspected elder financial abuse. Examples of suspected guardian abuse include:

• The guardian takes money from the protected individual’s investment portfolio to buy a new car for personal use.
• The guardian overcharges for a caregiving service, such as billing the estate hourly for wait time to file paperwork in-person when it could have been submitted online.
• The guardian does not take the protected individual to medical appointments or purchase their necessary medication.

The publication as well as other resources to help seniors are available on NASAA’s “Serve Our Seniors” website.

Identity Theft Prevention Tips

• Never buy an insurance policy, make an investment or give money to a stranger who calls or visits unannounced.
• Shred all paperwork containing any identifying information, healthcare information, banking information or passwords.
• Monitor bank and credit card statements.
• Monitor your credit report.
• Use direct deposit for benefit checks to prevent checks from being stolen.
• Never give your credit card, banking, Social Security number, Medicare number or other personal information over the phone, unless you initiated the call.
• If someone calls you and threatens you with arrest or harm unless you pay them via wire transfer or a gift card, hang up immediately. You’re dealing with a scammer. Report the call to your local law enforcement agency.

If you suspect that you or a loved one might be a victim of securities or insurance fraud, or if you would like to file a complaint or speak with an investigator, please contact the Tennessee Securities Division – Financial Services Investigations Unit at (615) 741-5900 or visit our website.

Other types of elder abuse involving abuse, neglect or exploitation should be reported to the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services Unit by phone at (888) 277-8366 or online.

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Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Recognizes June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Court Authorized Exploitation under Guardianship-Senior Abuse

Source:
Court Authorized Exploitation under Guardianship-Senior Abuse

Elder abuse is a growing problem

 To the editor,

 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 turns public attention to elder abuse. Famous victims include multimillionaires “Top 40” DJ Casey Kasem, Peter Falk of “Columbo,” and New York socialite Brooke Astor, whose grandson, Philip Marshall, successfully stopped her financial exploitation and psychological abuse.

However, with 10,000 elders retiring daily and 50 million elders projected to be 65 and older by 2020, the number of vulnerable elders with lesser incomes and assets is soaring.

Too often, elders lose their civil rights, their homes, and lifelong savings through undue influence and coercion, intimidation, isolation and misrepresentation. There may be questionable dementia or incapacity diagnoses and misuse of health care proxies, powers of attorney, guardianships and conservatorships.

Elder abuse circumstances often are improperly dismissed as purely “family” matters. In reality, families may face systemic abuse in which elders, their families and their assets, properties and homes are targeted by multiple outside parties, sometimes for years, to benefit the abusers.

These abusers may include financial, legal or medical professionals and those in the courts, government agencies, law enforcement, protective services, the clergy, long-term care and real estate businesses. Fighting these networks of abusers through the legal system can be protracted and expensive. Once the elder’s assets are depleted, the elder’s “usefulness” has passed and the elder dies.

 Often isolated, the elder may have been needlessly medicated with antipsychotics, opioids or, sometimes, lethal doses of morphine. Abusers know the likelihood of being held accountable for their collective actions is slim.

Elder justice is slow. An October 2014 Massachusetts Legislative Special Commission report on elder protective services cites a severe lack of training in financial exploitation and the screening out of abuse complaints without investigation.

In March 2015, the Maine Attorney General’s “Task Force Report on Financial Exploitation of Elders” went further; besides adult protective services, the Maine report includes judges and their court system, law enforcement, and prosecutors among those who lack training. Little has changed in Maine, the state with the highest per capita elderly in the country, and in Massachusetts.

Financial exploitation of elders and their families and the premature turnover of elder assets has become a lucrative industry nationally with unscrupulous players cashing in on the lack of oversight, protections and consequences.

In 2015, Georgia passed RICO legislation making conspiracy and racketeering to exploit an elder a felony. I have been working on similar legislation with Massachusetts lawmakers. Please contact me at PO Box 2496, Woburn, MA 01888 with examples of elder financial exploitation and abuse. Thank you to those who already submitted their examples.

Kendra Cooper Esq.
Elder advocate

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Elder abuse is a growing problem

Awareness Day aims to end financial abuse of the elderly

Marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day next week, hundreds of awareness and information sessions will take place throughout the United States, and across the globe, observing the theme of “Understand and End Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue.”

“As we see the proportion of elderly increase in all societies, the strain on the usual forms of care becomes intense,” said Dr. Christiaan Morssink, executive director for the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia.

“In such scenarios, the opportunity to exploit the frailty of the elders among us increases.

Heartbreaking stories can be told from police and medical records in each country on this planet. It is with a bit of sorrow that I need to applaud the United Nations and the world community for declaring a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day,” said Morssink.

In 2002, the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 66/127, designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Elder abuse is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.

Statistics from the National Council on Aging show that 1 in 10 Americans 60 and older have experienced elder abuse, and there is broad consensus that the crime is significantly under-reported. One study estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of abuse are reported to authorities. Elder financial abuse and fraud costs older Americans $36.5 billion per year and financial exploitation is self-reported at rates higher than emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or neglect.

“Banks are on the front line for detecting signs of financial abuse, such as changes in typical banking patterns, uncharacteristic attempts to wire large sums of money and sudden insufficient funds,” said Joseph Snyder, director of Older Adult Protective Service at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging and a former president of the National Adult Protective Services Association.

Collaborating with law enforcement, social workers, banks and community agencies is essential to prevent senior financial exploitation, according to Snyder. Along with the Philadelphia Financial Exploitation Prevention Task Force, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging will sponsor “Safe banking & financial management tips for seniors,” a free forum for seniors and caregivers at West Philadelphia’s Ralston Center.

In the mid-west, the Minnesota Elder Justice Center will host its 11th annual Minnesota World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center.

“It’s designed for professionals, but it’s absolutely open to the public,” said Elder Justice Center Outreach coordinator Katie Behrens. “Anyone with an interest in working to eliminate elder abuse” is welcomed to attend the conference, “Accelerating Towards Justice,” which focuses on professionals who work with older adults.

AARP Maryland and Baltimore County Restoring Elder Safety Today (BC-REST) will host a forum and document shredding event at Baltimore County’s Randallstown Community Center, one of many AARP and its network are hosting throughout the nation commemorating the Day.

“Here in Virginia, the Department of Social Services Adult Protective Services is charged with investigating reports of elder abuse, including acts of financial exploitation, and assisting seniors who may be victims of abuse and their families to obtain help,” said Elizabeth Boehmcke. a lawyer practicing estate planning.

“As practitioners within the elder law community, we also run across situations in which a family member expresses concern about how their loved one is being treated by a neighbor, caregiver or sometimes even other family members. Determining when it is appropriate to call APS to report suspected elder abuse in our clients can be a difficult dilemma,” said Boehmcke.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day represents the one day in the year when the whole world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted to some of our older generations. This year’s theme underscores the importance of preventing financial exploitation, in the context of elder abuse, to the enjoyment of older persons’ human rights.

Through the many events and activities acknowledging World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the public will have ample opportunities to improve its understanding of this form of elder abuse and discuss ways of ensuring the participation of older adults themselves in ending victimization.

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Awareness Day aims to end financial abuse of the elderly

Our view: Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is Thursday, June 15. On that day, communities across the world will sponsor events to highlight the growing tragic issue of elder abuse. One such event is being planned in Jefferson County.

On June 12, from 2 to 3 p.m., the public is invited to attend the Jefferson County Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Interdisciplinary Team meeting at the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Jefferson County, 1541 Annex Road, Jefferson. Speakers will include Lauren Hamvas on the Elder Rights Project and Sue Konkel and Sue Torum on the Dementia Care Training for Crisis.

It is a shame we have to even talk about elder abuse, let alone have programs to bring attention to the situation.

Elder abuse can be prevented if everyone would treat older Americans with respect and care, according to Sharon Olson, ADRC division manager in Jefferson County.

Every day in the United States, 10,000 people turn 65 years of age. And that trend is going to continue for the next 20 years. Demographics are shifting and soon there will be more elderly people in the U.S. than ever before. At the same time that the population is growing, a startling number of elders face abusive conditions, Olson said. Every year an estimated 5 million or 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. And that’s only part of the picture, she added. Experts believe that for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported, as many as 23.5 cases go unreported.

Elder abuse can be physical, emotional, financial and sexual. Elders who are abused are twice as likely to be hospitalized, four times as likely to go into a nursing home and three times as likely to die. Most abusers are family members, although trusted professionals and complete strangers may also target older adults, Olson said.

During June, a banner promoting the Awareness of Elder Abuse will be displayed in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse along with purple pinwheels that represent the number of cases the Jefferson County Adult Protective Services Unit responded to in 2016.

Learning the warning signs of abuse and knowing how to report is another step toward prevention. Adult Protective Services in Jefferson County can be reached at 920-674-3105 or any local police department can be contacted for assistance and information on elder abuse.

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Our view: Elder Abuse Awareness Day