Taking Care to Stop Elder Abuse

By : Marcy Rein

Standing in line at a bank recently, I noticed an older woman approaching the teller next door with checkbook register in hand. Her voice was very concerned as she asked for help understanding why her register did not match her bank statement. Had someone stolen her money? The teller took her to a nearby table and went item by item to help solve the mystery. The patience, understanding and thoroughness were impressive to witness. By the time I finished my business, the pair had found the source of the difference and all was well.

This woman did a good job protecting herself. She kept her paperwork up to date. She got help when she had questions. However, there are many times when all is not well, especially for our older friends and family.

Financial exploitation is a form of elder abuse. While elder abuse takes many forms, the most common is financial.  Simply put, financial exploitation is theft. It might be taking actual money, or it could be taking items that belong to an older adult. It might also be scamming an older adult into giving out their Medicare number, Social Security number, or other personal information. Then thieves can use that information to take out new credit cards and access services.

Beyond great customer service, that bank teller probably received extra training about financial elder abuse. While anyone can get scammed, this bank teller knew certain people are at higher risk, such as a person who

• Experiences a disability, memory problems or mental illness,

• Does not have access to social support and friends,

• Lives in group housing, or

• Is grieving the loss of a spouse or family member.

Unusual activity in a bank account is a key sign of financial exploitation that the bank teller understood.  Another sign might be suddenly missing important paperwork or property. Sometimes a person exploiting an older adult will make sure they do not see a bank statement so they cannot notice the unusual activity.

When older adults are lonely, thieves can use the need for companionship to get close enough to take advantage. A person trying to exploit an older adult may try to isolate them so that friends and family will not notice those missing things.  What friends and family of the victim might notice is that their loved one has less and less furniture or clothing in the closet.

Older adults can do things to help protect themselves from financial abuse.

• Use direct deposit to get your benefits.

• Keep valuable things and your cash in a safe place.

• Do not sign anything you do not understand.

• If you have ATM debit cards or credit cards you do not use, cancel them.

• Do not give your bank PIN to anyone.

• Look at your bank statements carefully.

• If you have someone to help you with your money, put the details of your agreement in writing.

• Take the time to have someone you trust review paperwork with you.

• Do not answer calls if you do not recognize the number. They can leave a message.

Often, scammers and thieves make it seem like you must hurry and “act now.” You always have time to stop and think and check. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If someone says a family member needs money, call that family member directly. Telephone scammers can fake voices now, so check in with real people.

Sometimes older adults do not report theft or scams because they are embarrassed. It is important to know that you are not alone.  Thieves often take advantage of the best intentions of good people.  It is also important to know there are other good people, like the bank teller, willing to help sort things out.  Reporting a crime is important because it could keep it from happening again.

Friends and family can help older adults keep themselves safe from elder abuse. Know the risks. Remind older adults about how to protect themselves. Know your neighbors and help older adults take part in social activities to keep connected. Report suspected abuse by calling Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services at 1-800-752-6200. To find out more about elder abuse, visit https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dpp/apb/Pages/publications.aspx.

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Taking Care to Stop Elder Abuse

Schimel: Website is latest step to stop elder abuse

GREEN BAY - A new website is the latest tool implemented by the Wisconsin Department of Justice to protect the elderly. 

The site, reportelderabusewi.org, is the next phase of the DOJ's campaign to both raise awareness about elder abuse and encourage people to report mistreatment of seniors.

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel announced the website's launch Wednesday during a news conference at the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Brown County in downtown Green Bay. 

Schimel said the site is a place where people can go to learn what elder abuse is, who is at risk of elder abuse and how to go about reporting elder abuse to the proper authorities.

Green Bay police chief Andrew Smith, along with Todd Delain, chief deputy with the Brown County Sheriff's Office, said the site will help break down barriers that often deter the elderly and their families from reporting abuse, and put them in contact with people who can help. 

The site gives the elderly, their families and other loved ones a voice which, Schimel said, is invaluable when dealing with the seriousness of abuse and exploitation. 

“Elder abuse is drastically under-reported, and it can be deadly,” Schimel said. “Studies show that even modest abuse increases the chance of premature death by 300 percent, and because Wisconsin’s elderly population will increase 72 percent in the next two decades, we have to raise awareness, increase access to support for victims, and strengthen our response to every type of elder abuse.”

The site also lists resources for elder abuse victims such as adult protective services, The Elder Rights Project and more. 

As part of the awareness campaign, advertisements will run online in Wisconsin counties with the greatest number of reported cases of elder abuse as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Devon Christianson, ADRC director, said nearly 300 cases of elder abuse were reported in Brown County in 2017. 

The development of the website is funded by the Victims of Crime Act grant through the United States Department of Justice. The site follows of number of other steps in Attorney General’s Task Force on Elder Abuse Schimel launched in August 2017.

In March, Schimel announced the start of the Safe Seniors Camera Program — a pilot program that allows residents of Brown, Fond du Lac, Outagamie and Winnebago counties worried about potential elder abuse to use a covert camera for 30 days to watch someone they suspect is being harmed by a caregiver at their residence.  

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Schimel: Website is latest step to stop elder abuse

Echo Press Editorial: How to stop elder abuse: Report red flags

It happens too often: An elderly person is financially preyed upon by a con artist, a relative or close friend.

But all the headlines that tell about such crimes should not make people numb to it. Instead, it should spark outrage and spur action and awareness. It starts with reporting any suspected financial abuse and exploitation of the elderly.

“Elder abuse comes in many forms, including physical maltreatment and neglect,” said Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman. “But financial exploitation is considered the most common form of elder abuse, costing victims at least $2.9 billion annually. With a growing senior population and the aging of the baby boom generation, it’s become a leading crime of opportunity in the 21st century.”

Rothman said that seniors have become a prime target for crooks because they control an estimated 70 percent of the nation’s wealth. Age-related factors such as illnesses and cognitive impairment can make many older adults especially vulnerable to financial crimes and scams.

The commerce department has stepped up its efforts to protect Minnesota seniors from financial fraud and abuse. But it can’t address this pressing problem on its own. It needs the public’s help in bringing cases of suspected elder abuse to light.

“While one of the best lines of defense is prevention through education, a continuing challenge is that elder financial abuse is a crime that often goes unreported,” said Rothman. “Greater public awareness is needed to identify these crimes early on and help victims before they lose their hard-earned life savings.”

Rothman highlighted some possible warning signs of financial abuse of older adults:

• Unusual financial transactions that are inconsistent with past behavior.

• Uncharacteristic attempts to wire large sums of money.

• Unusual inability to pay for routine services like utilities or insurance.

• Closing of CDs or financial accounts without regard to penalties or fees.

• Large or frequent financial withdrawals, including maximum cash withdrawals from ATMs.

• A sudden change in the management of the older adult’s finances.

Rothman said that when these red flags show up, it may be a sign that someone is being victimized and it should be reported.

Douglas County area residents can report suspected elder financial fraud to the Commerce Department at 1-800-657-3602.

Minnesotans can also report suspected elder abuse, such as physical maltreatment or neglect, to their county’s designated Common Entry Point. To find a county’s Common Entry Point, people can call the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433.

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Echo Press Editorial: How to stop elder abuse: Report red flags