Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse in California

By Heidi Richardson, Program Specialist, Sacramento County Adult Protective Services

A young woman and her 89 year-old great-grandmother, who barely weighed 90 lbs., entered the bank to withdraw cash from the older woman’s account. As they left, the teller watched the young woman treating the older woman harshly while impatiently pushing her into the car. The teller reviewed the account and found suspicious transactions. She reported her concerns to APS. When APS visited the home, they found a malnourished and isolated woman with serious untreated medical conditions and almost no food in the home. She required hospitalization.

The National Elder Mistreatment Study found that one in ten adults over age 65 reported experiencing at least one form of mistreatment — emotional, physical, sexual or potential neglect — in the past year.

The case described above is an example of a report investigated by Adult Protective Services (APS). In fiscal year 2012/13, APS programs in California received 125,653 reports of financial abuse, physical abuse, neglect, isolation, abandonment, abduction, and psychological abuse of elders and dependent adults. County APS agencies investigate these reports and arrange for services such as advocacy, counseling, money management, out-of-home placement, or conservatorship. APS can connect victims with medical providers, community services, and trusted family members in hopes of helping the older or dependent adult regain their health and independence.

Raising Awareness About Elder Abuse

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

After the death of her husband, eighty-six-year-old Mrs. Jones was befriended by Nancy, a local nurse. Since Mrs. Jones’s only family was out of state, Nancy began helping Mrs. Jones run small errands, such as grocery shopping and trips to the bank. Before long, Nancy had convinced Mrs. Jones to let her move in to help take care of her. Nancy began recommending expensive home improvements, ensuring Mrs. Jones that they were best for her. She even suggested that Mrs. Jones buy an expensive new sports car, an item Mrs. Jones had no interest in. Sometimes Nancy would lose her temper with Mrs. Jones and hit her or tell her she was useless.

A study by the National Research Council estimates that only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse ever comes to the attention of authorities - The National Center on Elder Abuse

Mrs. Jones’s case is a prime example of elder abuse. There are several different types of elder abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect and abandonment. Unfortunately, these cases often go unreported by the victim because he or she is fearful, incapable or ashamed to ask for help. Like Mrs. Jones, a victim may not even be aware that abuse is taking place.

In an effort to bring attention to this growing problem, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was established on June 15, 2006. It encourages communities to promote awareness about elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) lists several ways to get involved in the prevention of elder abuse and instructions on how to report it. Learn more about how you can help at http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/.

Signs of elder abuse may be missed by professionals working with older Americans because of lack of training on detecting abuse. The elderly may be reluctant to report abuse themselves because of fear of retaliation, lack of physical and/or cognitive ability to report, or because they don’t want to get the abuser (90% of whom are family members) in trouble.
- The National Center on Elder Abuse

Elderly victims who are physically or emotionally abused can also seek financial assistance from the California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP), which provides compensation to victims of violent crime. CalVCP provides assistance with medical and dental treatment, mental health services, income loss, funeral and burial expenses, home security, crime-scene cleanup and other crime-related expenses. If you are victim of elder abuse or would like more information about CalVCP, you can visit calvcp.ca.gov.

In 2050, it is estimated that 20% of the United States’ population will be over 65 years old, a 17% increase from 2010. This means 17% more people will be vulnerable to elder abuse. Please help to keep our elderly community safe by spreading the word and reporting abuse.

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.

Elder Abuse in 2012

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

The Seventh Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day will be observed on June 15, 2012. This is a day that recognizes the horrendous problem of abuse of the elderly, including financial, assault, false imprisonment, neglect, exploitation, even rape or homicide. These crimes can happen to anyone. Actor Mickey Rooney and his family were in the news recently because of their experience with elder abuse. Californians aged 65 or older are projected to be the fastest-growing age group between 2000 and 2020, according to the Center for Budget Policy. By 2020, California will be home to the largest population of older adults in the United States, making it critical that we find increased and better ways to assist the elderly.

Seniors can be physically or sexually abused, but they are more likely to have their money or possessions stolen, which can be devastating on many levels. According to the California Attorney General, the financial abuse of seniors is so rampant it is being called “the crime of the 21st century.” For these seniors who have been so victimized, it can make them feel violated, angry, stupid or depressed. Seniors are hesitant to report these crimes because they don’t want their friends and family to think less of them or their decision-making abilities. Many financial abuse victims had led a long and happy life, but died feeling miserable because of the financial abuse they suffered.

Los Angeles County leads the way with approximately 160,000 cases of elder and nursing home abuse every year with most of these cases going unreported. Physical elder abuse is commonly committed by individual employees against patients in elder care facilities. These crimes include homicide, rape, false imprisonment, assault and battery. LA County alone represents 25% of all cases in California, followed by Orange County at approximately 53,000 cases, or 8.4% of the state’s cases of elder abuse. Just five of our 58 counties account for over half of all elder abuse cases: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside and Santa Clara. Health care professionals, social workers, nursing home workers, employees of banks and credits unions and members of the clergy are required to make reports to Adult Protective Services or law enforcement if they suspect elder abuse.

On Elder Abuse Awareness Day, individuals and organizations are urged to raise awareness of the various types of abuse to which older individuals are subjected. This year, take a stand in the fight against elder abuse and take a stand for dignity and respect of our elders.

NOTE: Each county has an Adult Protective Services (APS) agency to help elder adults (65 years and older) and dependent adults (18-64 who are disabled) when they are unable to meet their own needs, or are victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation. Contact your local county APS.

The following website has information on where to report instances of elder abuse: http://www.dca.ca.gov/consumer/seniors/elder_abuse.shtml

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB), appointed in 2008. VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: June 15th, 2011

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

This week we observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th. Elder abuse is a very disturbing topic and one that must be addressed as our senior population continues to grow. Each year, one to two million elderly people are injured, exploited or mistreated by someone they depend upon for care or protection. Elder abuse can include physical, psychological, financial, emotional abuse or simply neglect. The sad irony is that those chosen to protect the elderly are usually the ones who cause the abuse.

Here are some important statistics:

• In 2010, California led the country with 632,693 cases of reported elder abuse, accounting for nearly 11% of all elder abuse cases.
• Two-thirds of offenders are family members or caregivers.
• The elderly (65+) population will more than double, from 3.6 million in 2000 to 8.3 million by 2030 in California.
• By 2030, one in every five persons in the country will be a senior citizen.

One county that is taking a proactive approach is Napa County. Recently, they adopted an ordinance that requires caregivers to pass a criminal background check and pay for an annual permit in order to care for seniors or disabled persons. Other counties are sure to follow their lead in developing new methods to help prevent elder abuse and ensure the safety of our senior citizens.

There are reporting agencies in each state to receive and investigate allegations of elder abuse or neglect. If you suspect an elderly person is being abused, please call the National Center on Elder Abuse at 1-202-898-2586, or call your county Adult Protective Services agency. And if someone you know has been a victim of elder abuse and they cannot pay for crime-related expenses, please call the CalVCP Victim Helpline at 1.800.777.9229.