Elderly couple scammed out of home by grandson gives up fight

LOS ANGELES -- An elderly couple has given up fighting an eviction from the home they've lived in for nearly six decades after their grandson allegedly mortgaged it away and sold it without their knowledge.

Helen and Hank Kawecki are scheduled to leave their home this Saturday.

The Kaweckis, both in their late 80s, have been facing eviction for months after they signed over the deed to the home to their grandson, who allegedly mortgaged the property to the maximum with three loans and defaulted on all of them, the couple said.

The relative also allegedly sold the house without their knowledge.

He persuaded his grandparents to sign the deed over, promising he would take care of them financially, according to a GoFundMe page.

"It's hard, very hard, to leave this. But we don't have any choice. And I didn't ever think my grandson would ever do this to me. Ever," said Helen Kawecki.

The couple will move in to a mobile home in a senior living community, thanks to the generosity of the community and neighbors who helped raise nearly $125,000 on their behalf.

Doug and Linda Emerson, who live across the street from the Kaweckis, created the fundraising page. They first learned of the alleged fraud after a real estate agent introduced her clients to them as the soon-to-be residents of the Kaweckis' house, The Star reported back in July.

That prompted Doug Emerson -- who knew the couple planned to live in their house for the rest of their lives -- to investigate online.

After learning the loans against the home were in default, and knowing that the couple had no money and nowhere else to go, the Emersons helped the couple hire a lawyer to fight back.

The attorney tried to halt the sale, but "the lenders went through the foreclosure process and that could not be stopped," Doug Emerson wrote on the fundraising page.

Although they were given a temporary reprieve, the couple has been evicted from their home and has until Sept. 27 to move out, according to an update on the page.

The Kaweckis are terrified of what the future holds, but are grateful they have some place to go.

"Not used to this," said Hank Kawecki. "I don't know what to say anymore. It's a hard thing."

Local law enforcement and the Ventura County District Attorney's Office have investigated the case, according to the GoFund Me page. KTLA reports that it was not immediately known whether the grandson would face any charges.

The Kaweckis have said they are sharing their story in the hopes that it serves as a warning to other families.

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Elderly couple scammed out of home by grandson gives up fight

Judiciary Committee Advances Grassley-Blumenthal Bill to Curb Crimes Targeting Seniors

PoliticalNews.me - Sep 17,2016 - Judiciary Committee Advances Grassley-Blumenthal Bill to Curb Crimes Targeting Seniors

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation to help reduce crimes against America’s seniors through expanded education, prevention and prosecution tools. The Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, which was introduced by Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, passed the committee by a voice vote without objection.

“Crimes targeting America’s senior citizens are widespread and have impacted families across the country including Iowa. As more and more Americans age and become targets of these crimes, law enforcement, seniors and their caregivers must be better equipped to prevent and respond. The Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act takes meaningful steps to deter criminals seeking to exploit seniors and hold accountable those who do,” Grassley said.

“The unconscionable scourge of elder abuse is all too common in our country. It’s an issue that notably hit home in Connecticut with the tragic case of Purple Heart recipient Robert Matava. This national hero deserved the utmost care during his senior years, but instead he was defrauded by those he trusted most. Our bipartisan legislation, a portion of which is named in Matava’s honor, is now one step closer to raising awareness, improving prevention, and increasing prosecution in order to combat this shameless crime,” Blumenthal said.

The bill (S. 3270) expands data collection and information sharing to better prevent and respond to all forms of elder abuse and exploitation, including financial crimes against seniors.  Specifically, the bill increases training for federal investigators and prosecutors and calls for the designation of at least one prosecutor in each judicial district who will be tasked with handling cases of elder abuse.  It also ensures that the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and the Justice Department will both have an elder justice coordinator.  Further, the bill improves information sharing among government agencies and between federal, state and local authorities to develop best practices in the fight against elder financial exploitation.  Finally, the bill increases penalties for perpetrators of such crimes – including mandatory forfeiture – to deter future offences.

The bipartisan 3,000-member Elder Justice Coalition called the bill, “one of the most comprehensive and meaningful bills ever developed to address the rapidly increasing problem of elder financial abuse in America.” The bill also has the support of the Alzheimer’s Association, the National District Attorneys Association,  Consumers Union, SIFMA, the 60 Plus Association, Leading Age, and the National Center for Victims of Crime, as well as the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators.

Along with Grassley and Blumenthal, the bill is cosponsored by Senators, John Cornyn (R-Texas), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Earlier this year, Grassley chaired a Judiciary Committee hearing to examine how best to protect older Americans from financial abuse. Grassley also launched several inquiries to combat crimes against seniors and worked to raise greater aware for such issues facing seniors. (Click to continue)

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Judiciary Committee Advances Grassley-Blumenthal Bill to Curb Crimes Targeting Seniors

‘Born This Way’ Scores Emmy Win

A reality show following the lives of seven young adults with developmental disabilities has come out on top, winning an Emmy for outstanding unstructured reality program.

The A&E hit “Born This Way” took home the prize Sunday night at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

The show focuses on the everyday experiences of its stars, all of whom have Down syndrome, following them through the ups and downs of dating, employment and the quest for independence.

“Born This Way” debuted late last year and is already in the midst of its second season after seeing viewership increase 67 percent over the course of its initial six-episode run.

The documentary series bested a field of nominees that included Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch,” HBO’s “Project Greenlight” and CNN’s “United Shades of America,” among others, for the award.

“Born This Way” also received two nominations for outstanding picture editing for reality programming, but did not win in that category.

The reality programming awards were among several creative arts Emmys given out over the weekend ahead of the main Emmys, which will take place this coming Sunday. A broadcast of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards will air Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FXX.

“Born This Way” airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on A&E.

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‘Born This Way’ Scores Emmy Win

Warning Signs of Elder Care Abuse

Every year hundreds of thousands of older adults are abused, neglected or exploited.

Sadly, for every report of elder abuse, it is estimated that another 23 cases go unreported. Cases are unreported for a variety of reasons – the victim may be unable or unwilling to communicate the abuse, the victim may feel ashamed, or they may not have a trusted person to confide in.

For the younger generations, it is important to know and understand the definition of elder abuse, the warning signs, and what to do if abuse is suspected.

In general, elder abuse is a term referring to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.   Most elder care abuse takes place where the seniors live – so at home at the hands of relatives or in an institutional setting at the hands of facility employees.  All 50 states have some form of elder abuse prevention laws, however the definitions and laws vary greatly by state.

What is elder abuse?

In broad terms, it can be defined as:

• Physical Abuse—inflicting physical pain or injury on a senior, e.g. slapping, bruising, or restraining by physical or chemical means.
• Sexual Abuse—non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
• Neglect—the failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder.
• Financial Exploitation—the illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a senior for someone else’s benefit.
• Emotional Abuse—inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts, e.g. humiliating, intimidating, or threatening.
• Abandonment—desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.
• Self-neglect—characterized as the failure of a person to perform essential, self-care tasks and that such failure threatens his/her own health or safety.One sign doesn’t necessarily mean abuse is occurring, but advocates should take notice of:

What are the signs?

• Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, and burns may be an indication of physical abuse, neglect, or mistreatment.
• Unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a sudden change in alertness, and unusual depression may be indicators of emotional abuse.
• Bruises around the breasts or genital area can occur from sexual abuse.
• Sudden changes in financial situations may be the result of exploitation.
• Bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, and unusual weight loss are indicators of possible neglect.
• Behavior such as belittling, threats, and other uses of power and control by spouses are indicators of verbal or emotional abuse.
• Strained or tense relationships, frequent arguments between the caregiver and elderly person are also signs. You may be the only advocate for the senior victim. It is important to remember it is not your responsibility to prove abuse – it is only your responsibility to report any suspicious activity.

The most important thing to remember is Be Alert! Oftentimes the suffering is done in silence. If you notice changes in a senior’s behavior or personality, you should question what is going on. If you suspect abuse, file a complaint and have the abuse investigated.

You may be the only advocate for the senior victim. It is important to remember it is not your responsibility to prove abuse – it is only your responsibility to report any suspicious activity.

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Warning Signs of Elder Care Abuse

Elderly Calhoun Couple Found Guilty of Scamming Rome Seniors out of Thousands

Annie Mae Carden & Glen Carden

A Gordon County elderly couple, Glenn Carden, 82, and his wife Annie Mae Carden, 79, were found guilty Tuesday in Floyd County of scamming two elderly people out of $140,000.

They were both found guilty of two counts of felony theft by taking and two counts of felony exploitation of an elder person.

Sentencing will be scheduled for a later date.

The couple ran a hardware store in downtown Calhoun.

Previous:
An elderly Calhoun couple is on trial in Floyd County for scamming two Floyd County residents out of over $140,000. Glenn Carden, 82, and his wife Annie Mae Carden, 79, had been previously told to stop soliciting money for a made up lawsuit in Gordon County before they came to Floyd to do the same thing.

They were charged in Floyd County with two counts of theft by taking and two counts of exploitation of elder persons. They are also facing 67 counts of theft by taking in Gordon County.

Reports stated that the Cardens told people they were assisting another person in paying for a personal injury lawsuit against Budweiser.  They told the victims that they would pay them back with interest, but never did so.  They borrowed the money from elderly people in Rome back in August 2012 and again on January 2014.

The Carden’s lawyer argued that there was no disputing they owed money, but added that their case should be in civil court not criminal court.
 
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Elderly Calhoun Couple Found Guilty of Scamming Rome Seniors out of Thousands

RJ captures top honors at Nevada Press Awards

The Las Vegas Review-Journal raked in 20 first-place awards Saturday at the Nevada Press Association’s annual banquet honoring the best journalism in the state, including top nods for community service and freedom of the press.

The awards were presented at the CasaBlanca in Mesquite.

Reporter Colton Lochhead claimed the community service award for a series of stories that unveiled abuses and a lack of oversight within a Clark County program meant to help some of Southern Nevada’s most vulnerable residents — the old, alone and infirm. Lochhead’s investigation led to the formation of a Nevada Supreme Court commission and a multiagency law enforcement task force to oversee the county’s troubled guardianship program.

“This dogged investigation into how a government program intended to help residents in need went wrong left no stone unturned,” contest judges wrote. “Lochhead’s reporting shined light onto a dark corner of the community and led to reforms that will likely save countless families from the problems that arose with guardianships in Clark County.”

The RJ received the freedom of the press award “for the extent of its doggedness” covering “a stunning (and worrisome) number of issues and legal cases” involving government secrecy and the denial of access to public information, contest judges wrote.

“The Review-Journal’s victories in these two categories are especially gratifying because of the public impact of our work,” Managing Editor Glenn Cook said. “We take our watchdog role seriously. We fought government wrongs and made sure institutions were held accountable for their abuses and failures.

“The number of RJ wins in other categories perfectly reflects the caliber of talent in our newsroom,” Cook said.

RJ photographer Erik Verduzco won Photo of the Year for his photograph titled “Campaign baby,” which captured a man using his cellphone to snap a picture of an infant at a rally for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Other photography wins included best feature photo by Chase Stevens, best illustrated photo by Jeff Scheid and best sports photo by Stevens.

Rick Velotta won Best Business Story for his reporting on a rash of unusual flight incidents and emergency landings by Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air, Christopher Lawrence took first place in critical writing for “strong, colorful opinions,” and Matthew Crowley won the best nonstaff story.

Steve Sebelius was awarded first place for editorial writing. Judges credited Sebelius for “strong language and careful arguments that are well-thought-out with humor, logic and a biting tongue.”

The RJ’s sports desk received top honors in two categories. Steve Carp took first place for Best Sports Story for marking the 25th anniversary of the UNLV basketball team’s Final Four upset loss to Duke, and Ed Graney was named the state’s top sports columnist.

The newspaper’s website, reviewjournal.com, was named the state’s best news website. And its special publication, “One Sure Bet: Death in Las Vegas” was awarded first place in the special section category. The 35-page section examined the ways that Las Vegans put their unique stamp on death.

John L. Smith, a longtime columnist for the Review-Journal, was inducted to the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame.

The RJ’s holiday guide won first place in the special section category for advertising.

Former RJ reporter Bethany Barnes was named the state’s Outstanding Journalist, and former gaming reporter Howard Stutz took first place in Best Local Column. Kristen DeSilva won best platform writing for her online “Knowing Vegas” series. And former RJ staffer Steve Bornfeld took first place in both headline writing and feature writing. The RJ swept the headline writing and feature writing categories, with Crowley and George Riggle taking second and third, respectively, in headline writing, and John Przybys and Keith Rogers taking second and third in feature writing, respectively.

REVIEW-JOURNAL STAFF AWARDS

Best Feature Photo: First place, Chase Stevens

Best Illustrated Photo: First place, Jeff Scheid

Freedom of the Press: First place, Las Vegas Review-Journal staff

Best Special Section (Editorial): First place, Review-Journal staff, “One Sure Bet: Death in Las Vegas.”

Best Nonstaff Story: First place, Matthew Crowley

Best Breaking News Reporting: Second place, Las Vegas Review-Journal staff

Best Special Section or Campaign (Advertising): First place, advertising sales staff; second place, advertising sales staff

Best Business Story: First place, Richard N. Velotta

Best Website: First place, reviewjournal.com

General Excellence: Second place, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Best Sports Story: First place, Steve Carp

Best Explanatory Journalism: Third place, Jennifer Robison

Best Critical Writing: First place, Christopher Lawrence

Best Critical Writing: Third place, Heidi Knapp Rinella

Best Sports Column: First place, Ed Graney

Best Editorial Page: Second place, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Photo of the Year: Erik Verduzco, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Best Multiple Photo Essay: Third place, Chase Stevens

Best Sports Photo: First place, Chase Stevens

Best Headline Writing: First place, Steve Bornfeld; second place, Matthew Crowley; third place, George Riggle

Best Entertainment Writing: Second place, Christopher Lawrence; third Place, Carol Cling

Community Service: First place, Colton Lochhead

Best Platform Writing: First place, Kristen DeSilva

Best Feature Writing: First place, Steve Bornfeld; second place, John Przybys; third place, Keith Rogers

Outstanding Journalist: Bethany Barnes, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Best Editorial Writing: First place, Steve Sebelius

Best Local Nonstaff Column: Second place, Jane Ann Morrison

Best Local Column: First place, Howard Stutz

Best Digital Storytelling: Third place, Rachel Aston

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RJ captures top honors at Nevada Press Awards

A Salute to America’s Elder Care Workers

Back in April, at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., a motley group of social scientists, researchers, artists and activists convened to discuss the value of the work of our nation’s “maintainers.” They’re the unheralded bunch who don’t get showered with attention as innovators (think Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg) do.

To make his point, Lee Vinsel, a conference organizer and an assistant professor at Stevens, argued that the world needs more Mary Poppins. The famed nanny’s story, Vinsel believes, “asserts that the most important thing in life is an ethics of care, that we can only see the world with clear eyes if we choose to value one another, and that an essential way of doing this is by undertaking underappreciated and undervalued mundane, ordinary labor.”

The ‘Maintainers’ Who Keep People Running

With Labor Day still fresh in our memory, I think we should all show respect and admiration for a particular group of “maintainers ”: direct-care workers, known by an array of occupational titles including home care workers, nursing assistants, attendants, and direct-support professionals. Unlike some maintainers who keep our bridges operating and our trains running, these maintainers keep people “running.”

The “maintenance” that direct-care workers provide enables family members to go to work each day knowing their loved ones are cared for. 

Direct-care workers provide the bulk of all paid, hands-on care to those who need assistance due to age or disability. They are the backbone of our nation’s elder care system — helping the oldest Americans bathe, eat, get dressed, remember their medications, get to and from doctors’ appointments and participate in meaningful social engagement. The work they do is essential. Yet even more than other “maintainers” who make technology or government work, they are often invisible and grossly underappreciated.

Home care workers make just over $10 an hour, on average, and work largely part-time, unpredictable schedules. Their annual income is often barely more than $13,000; one in four live below the federal poverty line.

The situation is slightly better for nursing assistants in nursing homes — median wage: over $12 per hour. Yet they suffer injuries at more than three times the rate of the typical American worker. Turnover in this industry is consistently high, too. More than half of the 600,000 nursing assistants leave their jobs every year. Due to high vacancies, nursing homes are short-staffed, workers are overextended and patients may not get the care they need.

Reasons for Their Poor Job Quality

You can point to a host of reasons for such poor job quality: a dysfunctional long-term care financing system, jobs that have historically been associated with unpaid “women’s work,” marginalization of the people who need long-term care and political disenfranchisement of low-income workers, to name a few. (See this recent Next Avenue article for more on this — America’s hidden long-term care problem.)

But like other maintainers, and perhaps even more so, the labor of direct-care workers is mundane and ordinary. They help with some of the most basic activities we all take for granted every day: eating, bathing and sleeping. Basic, yes, but without being able to do these tasks, we fail to thrive, to feel human, to exist.

What They Do for The Rest of Us

The “maintenance” that direct-care workers provide enables family members to go to work each day knowing their loved ones are cared for. A direct-care worker can be the difference between living well, remaining part of a community and being confined — whether in an airless room, a chair or a hospital bed.

In some cases, her work (and it’s generally a “her”) can be the difference between life and death. This is as primal and perhaps as mundane as it gets, but arguably the most important thing we have: the ethics of care.

How to Honor These Unheralded Workers

So let’s tell more stories about these heroic workers and elevate them in our public discourse.

Let’s rethink why we so easily accept direct-care workers living in poverty, despite their giving so much of themselves to maintain the lives of some of the most vulnerable Americans.

Let’s invest our public resources in maintaining people and not just things, ensuring that care is affordable and that those who provide care are paid for the value they bring to our lives.

We must recognize that without direct-care workers and other maintainers, we will not survive, but with an economy that puts value on this type of labor we will thrive.

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A Salute to America’s Elder Care Workers

Jewish Home Family chief named to state task force on elder abuse

Carol Silver Elliott

Carol Silver Elliott, president and CEO of the Jewish Home Family, has been appointed to the New Jersey Task Force on Abuse of Persons Who Are Elderly or Disabled. 

Ms. Silver Elliott, named to the post by Governor Chris Christie, looks forward to continuing to be active in promoting awareness of elder abuse and the importance of providing shelters for victims.

The Jewish Home Family opened New Jersey’s first elder abuse shelter in 2015, under Ms. Silver Elliott’s leadership. SeniorHaven for Elder Abuse Prevention, in addition to offering 90 to 120 days of shelter to victims of elder abuse, has convened professionals from various sectors to educate others on the signs of abuse and best practices to help victims seek shelter.

SeniorHaven is one of 14 shelters nationwide and is part of the SPRiNG Alliance, a network of regional elder abuse shelters with close working relationships.

“Elder abuse is an under-recognized and under-reported problem in our society and it effects millions every year,” Ms. Silver Elliott said. “To be able to help the most vulnerable, to work to assure that every individual has the ability to live a life that is safe and dignified is a vital effort. It is truly wonderful that the state of New Jersey is taking this important leadership step, and I am honored to be a part of it.”

For information on SeniorHaven or elder abuse, or to bring a speaker free of charge to address any audience, email seniorhaven@jewishhomefamily.org or call (855) 455-0555.

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Jewish Home Family chief named to state task force on elder abuse

Dementia Antipsychotics Death Risk Higher Than Previously Thought: Study

Researchers from the University of Michigan indicate that use of antipsychotic medications like Risperdal and Seroquel among patients with dementia may be even more dangerous than previously believed, increasing the risk of death over the subsequent months. 

A study published this month in the medical journal JAMA Psychiatry indicates that the dementia antipsychotics death risk appears to increase with dose, particularly men newer medications and those that include the same active ingredient as the antiseizure drug Depakote are used.

Although there has been a known risk of death associated with antipsychotic use among the elderly, the medications continue to be used as a form of chemical restraint in nursing homes, sedating dementia residents that are difficult to manage.

In this latest study, researchers looked at data on nearly 91,000 veterans age 65 and older with dementia from October 1, 1998 to September 30, 2009. The study looked at the effects on subjects given the drugs Risperdal, Seroquel, Haldol, Zyprexa, and drugs that are based on valproic acid, such as Depakote, Depacon, Depakene and Stavzor.

Researchers examined the risk of death over the next 180 days after the elderly individuals were prescribed the drugs, finding that use of the medications were associated with an overall 3.5% increased risk of mortality. That risk was dose-specific, meaning the higher the dose, the higher the risk of death. Antidepressants also appeared to increase the risk of death, but not to as strong a degree as antidepressants and valproic acid.

The FDA has previously warned against the use of antipsychotics with dementia patients, indicating that the medications provide no benefits and may increase the risk of death. Given what is known about the potential side effects of antipsychotics, use of the medications is often considered a form of elderly abuse when the purpose is to sedate the individual, rather than treat.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in conjunction with other federal agencies and private groups, is already battling antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes through the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and other efforts.

In September 2014, the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care announced that it has set a goal of reducing the use of antipsychotics in long-term care facilities by 25% before the end of 2015. The group hopes to see reductions of 30% by the end of 2016.

“The harms associated with using these drugs in dementia patients are clear, yet clinicians continue to use them,” lead study author Dr. Donovan Maust, a University of Michigan and Veterans Affairs psychiatrist said in a press release. “That’s likely because the symptoms are so distressing. These results should raise the threshold for prescribing further.”

Researchers called for clinicians to look at non-pharmacological strategies first when treating dementia symptoms. However, they said the approach takes more time than writing a prescription and that whether doctors go that route will depend on reimbursement strategies and the actions of policy-makers.

The findings come days after a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that too many elderly patients both in nursing homes and being treated at home are still being prescribed antipsychotics despite the FDA’s warnings that they do little to help and increase the risk of death.

The GAO report found that patient agitation, delusions, and certain setting-specific characteristics led to the use of antipsychotics as chemical restraints. The report found that the lower nursing home staff levels are, the higher the likelihood of unnecessary antipsychotic prescriptions to dementia patients.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has previously accused Johnson & Johnson of engaging in kickback schemes designed to convince doctors to prescribe their antipsychotic medication Risperdal to elderly nursing home patients, knowing that the drug was being used abusively and potentially placing patients’ at risk of death.

In November 2013, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $2.2 billion to the federal government to settle its Risperdal illegal marketing claims.

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Dementia Antipsychotics Death Risk Higher Than Previously Thought: Study