Elder Abuse and Criminal Neglect
by Anne Marie Lardeau
Publisher LA4Seniors.com
Hollywood C-PAB Member

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Prevention, Intervention and Prosecution
A Community-Policing Approach
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	To reduce crime against seniors .
	To reduce the fear of crime .
	To improve the quality of life for seniors and their families through the creation of problem-solving partnerships

Problems Identified Include:

The community is not aware of services available to assist seniors:

	Many seniors do not take advantage of resources that could enhance their quality of life. .
	Many seniors remain isolated and vulnerable. .
	Neighbors and leaders of homeowner associations are reluctant to get involved and do not know where to start. .
	Caregivers often have to start from scratch, during a time of crisis, in their search for resources or their attempts to solve problems. They may never discover the best resources available to assist them. .
	Caregivers under stress and without relief may break down and engage in abusive behavior.

Lack of communication between agencies:

	There is too little communication between the major agencies, public and private, responsible for the welfare and safety of seniors in our community. .
	Due to lack of training and personnel, public agencies are usually unable to create or maintain the partnerships needed to address complex problems affecting seniors and dependent adults that no single agency can resolve. .
	Some private agencies remain isolated and outreach is a continuing process.

Lack of community awareness of Elder Abuse and Neglect combined with a low expectation that something will be done about this crime:

	Criminal Elder Abuse and Neglect goes largely unreported. Experts estimate that at least 4% of all elders age 65 and over in this country are abused. Fewer than one in 5 cases are brought to the attention of authorities. .
	Many community concerns compete for scarce resources. Abused seniors are silent victims. "Survivors" are not around to tell their story. Elder Abuse/Neglect crimes are complex and time consuming to investigate. .
	In the absence of a strong voiced concern from the community, these crimes tend to be considered "low priority" as opposed to violent and visible street crimes or Burglary/Theft from Motor Vehicles. .
	There is now an increased awareness but this crime still goes mostly unreported and less than 10% of confirmed cases of elder abuse reported to law enforcement get prosecuted.

A Community-Policing Approach Should Include:

An effective outreach program to make the community aware of services available to assist seniors and their families.

Multipurpose Senior Centers (MSC) are the primary source of assistance for Seniors and their families.

MSCs are selected and funded through public and private sources. These community-based agencies have the resources and expertise to assess the needs of seniors. MSCs offer comprehensive services and can also give you referrals to other specialized agencies in their community.

Support of Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT)

An MDT lets public and private agencies cooperate to solve complex problems. For example, the LA Metro MDT is a partnership of more than 40 agencies that can address:

	Elder abuse - Physical & fiduciary .
	Abuse in a long term care facility § Self neglect and caregiver neglect .
	Any situation placing a senior or dependent adult at risk

Helping Seniors At Risk

If a senior needs assistance in your community, these general guidelines for first responders may be helpful:

Reporting & Prosecuting Elder Abuse

Elder abuse and neglect can occur in a domestic setting or an institutional setting. Different types of abuse have been identified and a senior or dependent adult can be a victim of multiple types of abuse.

	Physical abuse includes sexual assault such as rape or fondling, and other acts such as beating, slapping, shoving or kicking of an elderly person. .
	Psychological abuse includes verbal harassment, threats, or other forms of intimidation directed towards an elder, such as the threat of placing him or her in a nursing home out of punishment. .
	Financial abuse includes the stealing or misuse of property or other assets belonging to an elder, such as his or her house, bank account, pension funds or Social Security payments. .
	Neglect is defined as the failure to provide an elder with basic necessities such as adequate food, shelter, medical treatment or personal care.

Abused seniors and dependent adults are silent victims. They usually are unable to report the abuse. Unlike abused children who may be discovered through the school system, abused seniors can remain isolated for extended periods of time. If you know or suspect that a senior is being abused or severely neglected ... YOU are his or her lifeline.

Reporting abuse or neglect of an elder or dependent adult in Los Angeles County can be confusing since several agencies have jurisdiction:

Not every case meets the requirements needed for a successful prosecution. A case may be closed/rejected although a problem still exists and a senior is at risk. A complex problem needing the cooperation of several agencies to protect a senior might benefit from a review by the LA Metro Multidisciplinary Team for Consultation on Elders at Risk. Go to the LA Metro MDT page and review the criteria to see if the team can be of assistance to protect an elder.