Saturday, September 26, 2015
Prattville caregiver steals cancer patient's identity
KMOV.com
AUTAUGA CO., AL (WSFA) - An Autauga County woman has learned her fate after stealing the identity of the elderly cancer patient she was hired to care for.
Sherry Walters was sentenced this week on charges of identity theft and financial exploitation of an elderly person.
The victim was identified as an 82-year-old Prattville man who is a disabled veteran.
“She had been a caregiver in the victim's residence. He was an elderly cancer patient. While caring for him in his residence, she gained access to his identifying information and was able to use his personal information for her personal benefit,” said Jessica Sanders, Assistant District Attorney with Alabama’s 19th Judicial Circuit.
Prosecutors say Walters used the victim's identifying information over a period of six months during a time when he was traveling out of state for cancer treatments.
Walters was placed on 18 months of supervised probation after receiving a suspended prison sentence. She was fined and ordered to pay restitution.
“This type of crime that occurs with someone who you trust to care for you and work in your residence does cause you to feel violated. I think they were disappointed that she could have done this or that she would have done this and they were disappointed to have been placed in this situation at all,” Sanders added.
John Matson with the Alabama Nursing Home Association says elder abuse can take many forms, including physical and mental abuse as well as financial exploitation.
He pointed out that in-home care is different from nursing homes and assisted living facilities where there are many people every day, including employees, other residents and volunteers. If something does happen in one of those locations, it's often much more easily spotted and much more quickly reported.
When it comes to hiring an in-home caregiver, he recommends using an established company.
“If you do go the route of hiring someone on your own or maybe placing an ad in a newspaper or somewhere to find someone to take care of your loved one at home, it's important to do a background check, specifically a criminal background check. You will want to get several references and follow up on those references. Those things can help give you a little peace of mind as you get to know this new caregiver for your loved one,” Matson explained.
He stressed to importance of reporting abuse or neglect to local authorities. (Continue Reading)
Full Article & Source:
Prattville caregiver steals cancer patient's identity
Office of Public Guardian host annual fundraiser
One case manager facilitated the reunion of 40-year-old,
developmentally disabled twins who had been separated for 25 years. The
same case manager led a team in relocating 20 people from an institution
into community settings. Another case manager drove through the night
to reach the bedside of a person who needed emergency surgery.
Working
for the Office of Public Guardian is not a 9-5 job. The North Florida
Office of Public Guardian is the court-appointed legal guardian for
adults who are incapacitated, have no family or friends to assist them
and no income or assets to pay for the services they need. Many of OPG’s
clients are developmentally disabled, afflicted with dementia, mental
illness, or suffering from brain trauma.
“We deal with
adults and all our clients are mentally incapacitated or have some type
of intellectual disability,” said Mary Callahan, program manager for the
Office of Public Guardian in Tallahassee.
“People don’t know what we
do.”
The OPG is a 501c3 organization and is only
partially funded by the Statewide Public Guardianship Office. It relies
on charitable contributions from the community to assist them in
executing its mission.
From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, the
agency holds its Sixth Annual Getaway with OPG designed to raise funds
to meet the basic needs of those it serves. Money is used for: personal
items, Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, clothing, court filing fees, and
burial policies, among other things. There will be food, fun, music, a
silent auction, and volunteer opportunities to support the OPG year
round. The goal is to raise $50,000.
The OPG’s 11-member
staff serves 155 adults throughout 23 counties year round. The services
include: financial management, consent for medical treatment, and
appropriate residential choices. They’ve done it for the last 27 years.
“We
serve over a third of the state of Florida,” Callahan said. “We are
trying to get the word out about what we do. There are people out there
who need help managing their finances and their daily living through our
guardian program. Everything we do is through the courts. So many
people we meet say ‘I’ve never heard of you.’”
A lot people confuse OPG with the Guardian ad Litem program, which deals mostly with children, Callahan said.
“We
get a lot of referrals from guardian ad litem for children who are
mentally incapacitated and are aging out and need guardianship,” she
said.
OPG’s clients, which are called wards of the court,
are vulnerable to exploitation by family members, friends, or neighbors
who recognize that something’s wrong – but instead of helping the
vulnerable adult, they help themselves to their money and other
valuables.
More often than not, this person needs a
guardian — a person who has been appointed by the court to act on behalf
of a ward’s person, property, or both. Once a person is found to be
incapacitated by a court, he is referred to as a ward of the court.
If you go
What:
Office of Public Guardian 6th Annual. There will be food, fun, music, a
silent auction, and vendor and volunteer opportunities available.
Where: Staybridge Suites, 1600 Summit Lake Drive, Tallahassee
When: Sunday from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Admission: Tickets are $10 general admission; $25 VIP admission.
Full Article & Source:
Office of Public Guardian host annual fundraiser
Assisted Suicide Is Not Safe or Compassionate Care
Doctor prescribed suicide is a recipe for elder and disability abuse. It can easily put lethal drugs in the hands of those individuals who are abusers.
An abusive caregiver or relative can always pick up the lethal drugs from the pharmacy and give them to the patient with or without the vulnerable person’s consent. We must keep in mind that existing laws regulating this “choice” do not require a witness to be present.
Can we expect that the government and all insurance companies will do the right thing with regard to costly treatments? Or would they more likely to go with the cheaper “choice” by deciding only to pay for the drugs to end a patient’s life? This is what happened to Barbara Wagner in Oregon, where doctor prescribed suicide is legal.
Most people know someone who has been misdiagnosed or has outlived a terminal diagnosis. Can we trust doctors and insurance companies to know what the future really holds for us?
Laws and public policy regulating and influencing choices about when and how it is appropriate to die can have significant unintended consequences for all of us. In particular the elderly, terminally ill, and disabled can find themselves at a serious disadvantage due to their dependence on others for their care and welfare. Doctor prescribed death or assisting someone to end their life is neither safe nor compassionate care.
– Ryan Verret
Center for Medical Ethics
Louisiana Right to Life
This Letter to the Editor originally published in the September 21, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
Full Article & Source:
Assisted Suicide Is Not Safe or Compassionate Care
Friday, September 25, 2015
Taxpayers foot bill for missing DDS money, reports say
WFSB 3 Connecticut
MANCHESTER, CT (WFSB) - A state agency charged with protecting money for people with disabilities reported thousands of dollars missing and repaid it with taxpayer money.
The Department of Developmental Services is a key link in the daily lives of thousands of people across Connecticut, according to those it serves.
Because its clients face challenges, the trust placed in DDS employees is high.
According to property loss reports obtained by the I-Team, DDS facilities around the state had clients’ money missing.
Most of the losses were small.
In Norwich, two residents lost $10 each. In Middletown, three residents shared $56 in losses. At Waterford Commons in Manchester, it was $40 in group grocery money that disappeared.
On Pine Street in Manchester, however, the problem was much greater.
The reports had $8,231 belonging to six residents missing. One individual resident lost nearly $6,500 in what DDS called “financial exploitation.”
After each internal audit, the thefts were reported to Manchester police. In the cases, the state reimbursed the individuals. That meant in the end, taxpayers bought it and the state lost it.
DDS sent the I-Team a statement that said it takes allegations of financial improprieties seriously and beyond its own investigation, it often refers cases to police.
It also wanted to say that it pushed for a change in state law last year that would allow the department to place people who steal from their clients on the abuse and neglect registry.
Here’s the complete statement from DDS spokesperson Joan Barnish.
"The
Department of Developmental Services (DDS) takes any allegation of
financial exploitation very seriously in order to protect the
individuals we serve. All allegations are investigated by the DDS
Division of Investigations, Audit Division and reviewed by the agency's
Human Resources Division and if necessary, referred to local
authorities. During the 2014 legislative session, DDS advocated for a
statutory change that now allows the department to include the names of
employees who have substantiated allegations of abuse by way of
financial exploitation on the DDS Abuse and Neglect Registry."
Full Article & Source:
Taxpayers foot bill for missing DDS money, reports say
THIS Is Really When Old Age Begins
A 95-year-old Finnish woman may have set the record for the world's oldest woman to complete a bungee jump, according to Daily Mail. Magit Tall, who walks with the assistance of a cane, took a nearly 500-foot plunge, with the aid of a tandem jumper. She said that she wanted to make the jump before she died. Tall's feat is impressive for a person of any age, let alone a nonagenarian.
Let's take a look at what it means to age in a society that has mixed views on aging.
When Does Old Age Start?
At age 68, according a Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends survey.
The survey also found that you're really as old as you feel. Sixty percent of adults aged 65 and over said they feel younger than their actual age, 32 percent said they feel their exact age, and 3 percent said they feel older than their age.
Perceptions of the onset of old age varied widely according to the respondent's age. People under 30 believe that old age strikes before the average person turns 60, whereas middle-aged respondents said that old age begins at 70 and adults aged 65 or older put the threshold closer to 74.
Gender made a difference in the findings too. On average, women said that a person becomes old at age 70, whereas men said that the magic number is closer to 66 years of age.
Ageism Hurts
Princeton University researchers have explored the graying of the population as well as intergenerational tensions in the United States. In seeking explanations for ageism, or age discrimination, the researchers examined prescriptive ageist prejudices, which are beliefs about how older adults differ from others. For example, when older adults do not conform to these beliefs, they are punished by people who discriminate against them.
A surprising finding on ageism is that it can physically injure the elderly. One study found that people who held negative stereotypes toward aging were far more likely to experience heart attacks or strokes (25 percent), as compared to people who did not share these views (13 percent).
Two theories could explain this phenomenon. First, negative expectations can become "self-fulfilling prophecies." In other words, when an older person believes that older people are vital and vibrant, he or she is more apt to take care of him -- or herself. In contrast, when an older person believes that aging equates to sickness and infirmity, he or she may subconsciously become sick and infirm.
Second, genetics may play a role in people's perceptions of aging. For example, people who witnessed their parents age gracefully may have inherited good genes and also developed healthy attitudes and habits.
Baby Boomers Could Redefine What It Means to Grow Old
According to an NBC News report, whether ageism will become better or worse as more Boomers hit old age is unclear. To highlight that aging doesn't mean crippling old age, the report shared the story of a 74-year-old Duke University professor who has written several books on aging. The professor said, "One can say unequivocally that older people are getting smarter, richer and healthier as time goes on."
The professor is living proof that aging doesn't mean sitting in a rocking chair on a porch; he skydives, whitewater rafts, cycles, and gets tattoos. "What makes me mad is how aging, in our language and culture, is equated with deterioration and impairment. I don't know how we're going to root that out, except by making people more aware of it," he said.
60 Is the New 40
The frontiers of aging are not all gloom and doom. After all, 60 is the new 40! Take a look at older female role models: plucky actress, director, producer, and screenwriter Diane Keaton; age-defying celebrity, activist, former fitness guru, and W Magazine cover star, at age 77, Jane Fonda; actress and activist Susan Sarandon; and iconic international beauty Sophia Loren.
According to a columnist for The Seattle Times, Liz Taylor, "most of us age accidentally." Taylor recommends that we embrace aging. She also thinks we should drop euphemisms for aging, such as "old," "seniors," "elders," and "older." She adds that Boomers, many of whom are now seniors, do not respond well to these terms.
Shattering Old Stereotypes to Court the Mature Market
Today's so-called "mature market" flouts conventional stereotypes. After all, the image of a frail, grumpy elder is passé. Just take a look at pharmaceutical advertisements aimed at the mature market. While the ads focus on common ailments related to aging, such as arthritis, the people shown in the ads are vital, active, and engaged.
Some companies are reformulating their marketing strategies to attract older consumers. In Ameriprise Financial's "Dreams Don't Retire" commercial, the late iconic actor Dennis Hopper dispels conventional attitudes toward retirement. Hopper says, "Your generation is definitely not headed for Bingo night." The ad then talks about the Ameriprise Dream Book that offers a financial strategy to make retirement dreams come true.
Other companies are using cognitive age, or subjective age, and not chronological age in the development of their marketing strategies. Consider the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). If you've turned 50, the AARP has probably already sent you a direct mail package aimed at getting you to join. The organization tries to appeal to a wide audience, which presents an interesting challenge: communication messages intended for 50-somethings won't resonate with 80-somethings and vice versa. So the AARP developed ads that feature older adults at various life stages and that explain how the AARP's lifestyle-oriented information and services fit into their lives.
To avoid ageism in marketing, some companies address consumer lifestyles. Do you remember the Taco Bell Super Bowl commercial, "Viva Young"? In this fun ad, a pack of rebellious elders sneaks out of their retirement home to experience a night out on the town. They play pranks, go clubbing, make out, get tattooed, and, of course, stop for Taco Bell. The ad demonstrates that you're never too old to stir things up.
Mark Twain said, "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Anyone for bungee jumping?
Full Article & Source:
THIS Is Really When Old Age Begins
State Attorney Ed Brodsky to discuss exploitation of the elderly
BRADENTON -- Manatee Forum guest speakers State Attorney Ed Brodsky and Assistant State Attorney Lisa Chittaro will discuss scams, exploitation aand other white-collar crimes at a meeting beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Renaissance on 9th, 1816 9th St. W. Dinner costs $22.
White Collar/Exploitation of the Elderly, a specialized unit of prosecutors within the Circuit Court Felony Division, is responsible for the prosecution of financial crimes, including embezzlement, grand theft, schemes to defraud and exploiting the elderly, disabled or vulnerable.
Full Article & Source:
State Attorney Ed Brodsky to discuss exploitation of the elderly
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Search warrants served as police investigate guardianship exploitation
By Darcy Spears
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Breaking news in an ongoing Contact 13 investigation as search warrants are served at multiple locations.
Contact 13 Chief Investigator Darcy Spears has been shining a spotlight on guardianship exploitation for nearly a year.
Now law enforcement is taking an unprecedented step.
"April, it's Darcy Spears from channel 13, would you please come out and talk to me?" Spears called through April Parks' front door. After ringing the bell and knocking and waiting, Parks didn't answer.
"I know you're in there," said Spears through the door. "Why are you avoiding us?"
As of this morning, private guardian April Parks can no longer avoid accountability over allegations of double dipping, misspent money and abuse of power.
Police served search warrants at Parks' home in Boulder City and also at her office on St. Rose Parkway near the 215.
The law enforcement activity spearheaded by the Attorney General's office comes about five months after Contact 13 first exposed allegations against Parks for exploiting her wards.
Rudy and Rennie North.
Mrs. Elizabeth Indig.
Phyllis Moscowitz-Crowe.
They're just a few of the more than 100 people who were made wards of the court with Parks as their guardian.
Now, police are looking at what Parks did with their money and assets.
Investigators from the Nevada Attorney General's office, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and Boulder City Police carted out boxes of documents from Parks' office and spoke to her at her home.
She spoke to us back in May to address concerns raised by wards and their families.
"When I get to that age and somebody tries to put me in a guardianship," Parks said, "I'm probably going to come out kicking and screaming too."
Ever since that interview, Parks has refused to talk.
"You can't hide forever," Spears called through Parks' door today.
The joint law enforcement investigation, which includes the Clark County District Attorney, is the first of its kind and, according to affected families, it's long overdue.
Law enforcement's focus on Parks began in June when Boulder City Police began investigating the disappearance of eight of Parks' wards.
She'd moved them without notice from Lakeview Terrace in Boulder City--leaving a trail of unpaid bills behind.
Contact 13 also caught Parks double dipping into the bank accounts of Rudy and Rennie North, which she spoke about in May.
Darcy Spears: As a responsible steward of their money, you're in charge of every dime these people have in this world.
April Parks: Yes Ma'am.
Darcy Spears: Is it acceptable to be consistently making those mistakes with someone else's money?
April Parks: No it's not.
Just last week, we told the story of Phyllis Moscowitz-Crowe who was left destitute and almost lost her home after Parks became her guardian.
"She's so evil and so vicious even the devil wouldn't have her in his zone," Moscowitz-Crowe said.
Elizabeth Indig's mother did lose her home after Parks let it slip into foreclosure.
It was sold for pennies on the dollar and then Parks sold most of Mrs. Indig's clothing and belongings.
"My mom is now sentenced to a life in a nursing home when we had a trust and we had made plans to keep her in her own home with all of her things until she died," Elizabeth said.
We've asked the court what will become of all the people April Parks has guardianship over--now that police have seized her files, paperwork and computer equipment.
We're still waiting on a response and we will stay on this story as it develops.
Full Article & Source:
Search warrants served as police investigate guardianship exploitation
Woman pleads guilty to financial exploitation
Jill Janette Sheely, 36, entered the plea Thursday in Olmsted County District Court, where she'd been charged with the felony in February. Sentencing has been set for Nov. 2.
The charge stems from an investigation that began in July 2014, when Olmsted County Adult Protection Services received information about the finances of a woman in a nursing home.
The victim's electronic benefits transfer card showed that while $324 in funds had accumulated, $392 in funds had been withdrawn from convenience stores in Rochester and Stewartville. An EBT card is a system that allows public assistance departments to issue benefits electronically; the user then swipes the card to make purchases at participating retailers to purchase food items.
The victim reportedly suspected Sheely, who was her former personal care assistant.
In addition, the woman's debit card was also used several times at a number of businesses and banks in Rochester and Stewartville, and in online transactions, the complaint says. Sheely was clearly the person seen on surveillance video at the bank locations where the debit card was used, the report says.
The cards were used from April through July 2014, while the victim was in a nursing home in Chatfield, the complaint says. She had neither her car nor the ability to shop at the purchase sites; a total of $1,251.73 was missing.
Sheely allegedly admitted to an investigator that she'd used the debit card for some purchases, and owed the entire amount. She also admitted using the EBT card, the complaint says.
Sheely has repaid $100, according to court documents.
Full Article & Source:
Woman pleads guilty to financial exploitation
Initiatives That Could Help Prevent Elder Fraud
At the July 2015 White House Conference on Aging, President Barack Obama announced plans to train more prosecutors to combat elder abuse, including financial exploitation. The program is to be backed by the Department of Justice. That initiative—and possibly the first known utterance of the phrase “elder abuse” by a U.S. president—were viewed by some as evidence that the exploitation of older Americans is finally becoming part of the public discourse. But a problem with so many dimensions needs to be addressed on multiple levels. (Continue Reading)
Full Article & Source:
Initiatives That Could Help Prevent Elder Fraud
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