Indian Government Urges States to Implement Old People's Maintenance Act (INDIA)

The Indian government is forcing all its states to bring into immediate effect an act that will benefit older people. All the states, apart from six, have implemented the act.

According to D. Napoleon, India's minister of state for social justice & empowerment, all the states and union territories excepting Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Sikkim have brought the Maintenance And Welfare of Parents And Senior Citizens Act, 2007 into force.

The remaining states have been urged to immediately notify and implement the Act.

The minister also informed that the Scheme for Integrated Programme for Older Persons that was revised in April 2008 will prioritize sensitizing programs for children in schools and colleges.

The government is also in the process of providing financial assistance to non governmental organizations to aid in the construction of old age homes and running and maintaining the same.

Mathew Cherian, CEO, HelpAge India says, "The government says that one old age home is to be maintained in every district. However, the funding is not enough to fulfill that criteria."

Cherian also feels old age homes are not the solution. "The government should strengthen its pubic health system and sensitize children to look after their parents. Otherwise in a vast country like India, it is impossible to accommodate all the old people in old age homes," Cherian says.

People over 65 years constitute 5.3% of the Indian population. This number is expected to grow to 170 million in the next 25 years. According to HelpAge India, 47.3% of elders are abused by their own children.

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act was passed in 2007 to protect the rights of the elderly. The Act makes it a punishable offense to abandon parents who are unable to maintain themselves.

However, as Cherian says, the law only talks about punishment. There should be instead a system of incentives. "Looking after the old can be expensive. The government should provide some kind of incentive in the form of maybe tax breaks to children who look after their parents to encourage them."

He adds, "The law is against the very ethos of India. No parents will ever lodge a complaint against their children unless pushed to the extreme. So, it is not like atrocities do not hapen - but very few gets reported."

SOURCE:    All Headline News

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Alleged Elder Abuser Scheduled For A Plea Hearing (MN. USA)

Larson Hearing Is Slated For December

By Sarah Stultz 

 Albert Lea Tribune

November 23, 2009

Nineteen-year-old Ashton Larson, one of the two young women charged with alleged elder abuse at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea, is scheduled for a plea hearing Dec. 17 in Freeborn County District Court.

At this hearing, Larson will enter a plea for her charges, which include two counts of fifth-degree assault, five counts of criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult, two counts of disorderly conduct of a vulnerable adult and one count of mandatory failure to report.

The hearing will come a month after Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab issued a written order denying the motion made by Larson’s lawyer to dismiss the criminal complaint against his client for lack of probable cause.

In the order, he stated the case should be scheduled for trial by jury as early as possible.

Charges in the case came in December 2008 after an investigation into the allegations of abuse by local and Minnesota Department of Health officials; however, details of the allegations surfaced August 2008 after the release of the Department of Health’s report.

The report concluded four teenagers were involved in verbal, sexual and emotional abuse of 15 residents at the nursing home in Albert Lea from January through May 2008. The residents suffered from mental degradation conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Co-defendant Brianna Broitzman pleaded not guilty to similar charges in August. Her jury trial has been scheduled for April 2010.

Larson’s hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 17.

The case once garnered national attention from media outlets such as NBC’s “Today,” The Associated Press and “Paul Harvey News and Comment.” The spotlight on the case likely will return at trial.

Abridged
SOURCE:     Albert Lea Tribune, MN. USA

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Abuse of The Elderly Soars (UK)

Abuse of the elderly soars

23rd November 2009

Exclusive By James Connell

ABUSE of vulnerable elderly and disabled people in Worcestershire has increased dramatically in the space of a year, according to a shocking new health report.

Figures show that there were 442 referrals of vulnerable adults to social care services in Worcestershire in 2009/09, a 72 per cent increase on the previous year when there were only 257 referrals which in turn increased from 97 referrals the year before that.

Sandra Rote, director of clinical development and executive nurse lead with NHS Worcestershire, said the rise should be seen positively as it showed that more people were reporting abuse so something could be done about it.

Abridged

SOURCE:    The Worcester News, UK

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Congress Targets Senior Abuse (USA)

Congress Targets Senior Abuse

By Rick Schmitt

KHN Staff Writer

NOV 23, 2009

When it comes to political, social or health causes, elder abuse has not had the star power of some other movements focusing on the rights of vulnerable people.

Last month, actress Nicole Kidman headlined a congressional hearing on violence against women, and stars of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" appeared at a Capitol Hill rally for child-abuse victims. An event sponsored by a coalition of elder abuse groups, meanwhile, featured ordinary senior citizens, recounting in sometimes aching detail how they or their loved ones had been physically and emotionally abused or financially exploited. 


Committee on Aging, is a co-sponsor of the Elder Justice Act. (The median age of her constituents back home is also one of the highest in the nation.)

Supporters say elder abuse should be addressed in healthcare overhaul legislation because it pushes up healthcare costs and because financial exploitation of the elderly leaves many destitute and reliant on public assistance.

"This is prevention, which is a healthcare issue," says Robert Blancato, who heads the Elder Justice Coalition, an umbrella group for more than 500 groups that support the legislation. They include AARP, the American Bar Assn., and industry groups representing nursing homes and long-term providers, among others.

Abridged
SOURCE:     Kaiser Health News
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Minister Breaks The Silence On Elder Abuse (New Zealand)

Press Release: New Zealand Government

HON JOHN CARTER

Minister for Senior Citizens   

23 November 2009

Media Statement

Minister breaks the silence on elder abuse

Senior Citizens’ Minister John Carter is taking the “It’s Not OK” message on the road, travelling to Wairoa today to raise awareness of elder abuse and neglect.

Speaking at the Breaking the Silence Hui, Mr Carter says the detection and prevention of elder abuse is one of his top priorities – and one all communities need to be involved in.

“It’s fantastic to see community groups here in Wairoa coming together to raise awareness about domestic violence and elder abuse.

“One of the most effective ways in which we can protect the rights and interests of older people is by raising awareness of elder abuse and neglect. Sadly, many of those experiencing abuse are suffering in silence – and this has got to change.”

Research shows up to 50,000 older New Zealanders may be suffering abuse, which is most likely to occur at the hands of a family member.

“We have to wake up to the different signs of elder abuse. Often, there are no cuts or bruises to see – but someone you love may be suffering abuse nonetheless.

“Using older people’s money without consent, treating older people like children, and hurling verbal abuse at them – these are all utterly unacceptable forms of ill-treatment.”

Mr Carter says Age Concern and the Campaign for Action on Family Violence have produced a booklet, Take the time … value older people, which sets out common forms of elder abuse and illustrates how family members, friends and carers can best protect, and enhance the dignity of, older New Zealanders.

“I hope as many Kiwis as possible read this booklet – because the longer we ignore elder abuse, the longer our older family members and friends will suffer in silence.”

SOURCE:   The Scoop, New Zealand

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Care Home Let Gran, 90, Wander Out and Freeze to Death (UK)

By Nick Owens

 22/11/2009

'No one noticed for three hours'

A woman of 90 died from hypothermia after she wandered away from her care home for 16 hours.

Former nurse Margaret Titchmarsh froze to death when she disappeared on a bitterly cold night in a thin summer dress.

An investigation has revealed how the shocking failings by carers at the Holme Dene home in Halifax, West Yorks, were ultimately responsible for grandmother Mrs Titchmarsh's death.

The basement door she wandered out of had no lock on it. And staff had no system in place to count residents, which meant it took three hours to notice Margaret had gone and raise the alarm. By then it was too late.

Yesterday Margaret's son Martin said his mother's death was another example of the disturbing lack of dignity shown to elderly people in care homes across the UK.

Martin, 60, an education adviser from Royston, Cambs, said: "When my mum went missing, no one had a clue where she was.

"The home had no system to count residents. They had a penny-pinching owner who wouldn't pay for anything.

"My mum had cared for people all her life. But at the end of her own life she was not cared for properly and was let down. She deserved better... we simply must show more dignity to the elderly."

Abridged

SOURCE:     The Mirror, UK

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ID Theft And Elder Abuse Suspect Convicted (GA. USA)

ID theft and elder abuse suspect convicted

Nov 20, 2009

By WTOC staff

A case of identity fraud and elder abuse wrapped up in court on Thursday.

Tamera Bascine Smith has been convicted of over 30 counts of identitiy fraud, computer thefts, and elder abuse for crimes committed while working at the Tara Nursing Home in Thunderbolt. Smith plead guilty to all the charges a few weeks ago.

Thursday, a superior court judge sentenced Smith to a six year sentence, five of which will be in prison.

Defendant Tamara Bascine Smith was employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Tara Nursing Home in Thunderbolt from July 2007 to January 2008. Prior to that, Smith was employed at Westview Nursing Home in Port Wentworth.

Abridged
SOURCE:     WTOCTV

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Seven Arrested In $150 Million Real Estate Fraud Investigation (CA. USA)

Seven arrested in$150 million real estate fraud investigation

DESERT SUN WIRE SERVICE

 NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Seven people suspected of perpetrating a $150 million securities and mortgage fraud scheme that victimized hundreds of Riverside County residents are facing around 250 felony charges, prosecutors said today.

``They stole millions of millions of dollars from individuals who live in our community, banks and financial institutions,'' said District Attorney Rod Pacheco. ``They also damaged neighborhoods and substantially contributed to the economic collapse of our real estate market.''

The alleged mastermind of the scheme, James Benjamin Duncan, 38, is in custody, as are alleged co-conspirators Charlie Sung Muk Choi, 34, Thuan Nhan
Du, 33, Cindi Gayle Kelly, 33, Maurice McLeod, 37, and Helen Moreno Pedrino, 47.

They're being held on varying bail amounts at county jails in Riverside and Murrieta, according to Pacheco.

Another defendant, Hendrix Moreno Montecastro, 37, remains at large.

According to the criminal complaint, the crimes occurred between 2005 and 2007 and involved securities fraud, grand theft, identity theft and financial elder abuse.

There are 36 named victims, but Pacheco said they comprise a ``representative class,'' and the actual number of victims ranges into the hundreds.

At the heart of the scheme were two companies -- Pacific Wealth Management and Stonewood Investments, headed by Duncan, prosecutors allege.

The defendants relied largely on Internet advertisements, investment seminars and word-of-mouth reviews to reel in victims, the District Attorney's Office alleges.
According to Pacheco, the defendants promised a 19 percent annual return on real estate investments, but most of the money received was pocketed by the alleged scam artists or teased out to original investors in a Ponzi scheme.

Abridged
SOURCE:     MyDesert.Com

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Sentencing in Elder Abuse Case Reset (MI. USA)

Sentencing in elder abuse case reset

By Kelly Dame

November 20, 2009

The sentencing of a Midland man charged in connection with a case of elder abuse is being rescheduled, and will include additional witnesses and documents for a judge to consider.

Jonathan Philips Nelson, 54, entered no contest pleas to charges of embezzlement of $20,000 or more from a vulnerable adult, second-degree abuse of a vulnerable adult and a habitual fourth offender status. The charges were filed after Nelson’s 84-year-old mother suffered a fractured ankle in the spring which became a more complicated injury when she continued to walk. The injury, combined with other health problems, resulted in the amputation of her right foot.

Prosecutors accuse Nelson of ignoring his mother’s medical needs; his attorney, Scott Isles of Midland, states Nelson honored his mother’s wishes by waiting to take her to her family doctor rather than the emergency room. She died in September.

Nelson appeared Friday morning before Midland County Circuit Court Judge Jonathan E. Lauderbach at what was to be his sentencing hearing, and Isles requested an evidentiary sentencing hearing, including testimony of witnesses on behalf of Nelson, be held.

The evidentiary sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7.


Abridged
SOURCE:    Our Midland News
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Melrose's EPOCH Abuse Case Continued Without a Finding (CA. USA)

By Daniel DeMaina

Nov 19, 2009

A former certified nurse aide at Melrose’s EPOCH Senior Healthcare nursing home, who in August pled not guilty to charges that she punched and pushed down an 83-year-old resident of the nursing home who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, changed her plea last month and asked for the case to be continued without a finding, which the judge granted, according to the state attorney general’s office.

On Oct. 1 in Malden District Court, the judge also ordered Marie Michel 54, of Medford, to serve one year of probation with the condition that she not work with the elderly or disabled and that she not contact the victim or the victim’s family, according to Jill Butterworth, spokeswoman for the state attorney general’s office.

Butterworth said that the state had been seeking a guilty plea with a one-year probation period that carries the same conditions imposed on Michel last month.

“As long as she abides by the terms of probation in the next year, this won’t be on her record,” she said, explaining the legal meaning of ‘continued without a finding’

Abridged
SOURCE:     The WickedLocal.Com

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