Recognizing and preventing the ongoing issue of elder abuse

Elder abuse includes sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect, abandonment and financial exploitation.  My purpose in writing this article is to help you better understand what elder abuse is, how to recognize the signs of abuse, and how we as a law enforcement agency can work together with the community to address the issue.

Elder abuse is defined in the California Penal Code as follows: Any person who knows or reasonably should know that a person is elder or dependent adult and who, under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any elder or dependent adult to suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any elder or dependent adult, willfully causes or permits the person or health of the elder or dependent adult to be injured, or willfully causes or permits the elder or dependent adult to be placed in a situation in which his or her person or health is endangered is guilty of elder abuse. In California, elders are defined as persons 65 years and older.

There are many types of elder abuse. The following are some of the most common types:

• Abandonment: The desertion of an elder by someone who is a caregiver.
• Financial Abuse: The illegal or unethical exploitation and/or use of an elder's funds, property, or other assets.
• Mental Suffering: The infliction of fear, agitation, threats, harassment or any other forms of intimidating behavior directed towards the elder.
• Neglect: Failure to fulfill a care-taking obligation such as assisting in personal hygiene, providing food, clothing or shelter, or preventing malnutrition.
• Physical Abuse: The infliction of physical pain, injury or sexual assault.

One of the important keys in recognizing elder abuse is the behavior of the elder. Some behavior indicators that abuse is occurring are agitation, anger, anxiety, confusion, depression, fear and helplessness. Is the elder reluctant to talk openly? Are you recognizing implausible stories or contradictory statements? Are they worrying or having anxiety for no obvious reason? All these signs might indicate possible elder abuse is occurring.

Another important key is being able to recognize physical abuse or neglect. Does the elder have unexplained accidents or injuries, bruising or abrasions? Do they appear malnourished, dehydrated, have weight loss for no apparent reason, or poor hygiene? Are they dodging questions or coming up with stories that aren't plausible for their injuries? Are they irritable, upset, or have episodes of unexplained crying? Do they have a fear of someone being close to them? These signs are important in recognizing physical abuse as well as neglect.

One form of abuse currently on the rise is financial elder abuse, commonly referred to as "senior fraud.” Some examples of senior fraud are telemarketing, e-mail/mail and credit card fraud. Credit card fraud is a wide-ranging term for theft and fraud committed using or involving a payment card, such as a credit card or debit card. The purpose of credit card fraud is to obtain goods by using another individual’s account information or obtain funds from an account illegally.

Most "senior fraud" occurs by telephone. Some of these phone calls include scammer's calling and stating they are distant family members in need of money. Some will impersonate a business asking them to make investments in their "company.” Unfortunately, in some circumstances "senior fraud" occurs within the family. The elder may be victimized by their children, grandchildren, siblings or caregivers. It may involve the unauthorized use of the senior's funds or properties, stealing cash, income checks or household items, or forging the signature of the elder for property or money and even threatening not to care for the senior unless he signs over property or money.

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, there are as many as 6 million elder abuse cases in the United States every year. The same study from National Center on Elder Abuse concluded 11 percent of elder abuse cases in America occur in California. When it comes to elder abuse, California leads the nation. Studies show as many as 14 out of 15 elder abuse cases go unreported. Other studies show approximately 33% of elder abuse cases occur within the family.

I hope this article provided essential information to help you understand what elder abuse is and the potential signs of elder abuse. The following are several resources you can contact if you suspect elder abuse is occurring.

• Adult Protective Services (APS)
• California Department of Health Services (DHS)
• California Department of Aging Ombudsman Programs
• California Attorney General Bureau of Med-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse
• Local Law Enforcement Agency

It's easy to forget how vulnerable elders are to elder abuse. It's up to us as a community and department to work as one to prevent and report suspected elder abuse.  

Officer Kody Rogers

Lemoore Police Department

657 Fox Street

Lemoore, CA 93245

Phone: 559-924-9574

Email: kody.rogers@lemoorepd.com