Making a difference in a senior’s life starts with calling for help

Elder abuse and exploitation is a serious problem in our community and throughout the country. Many people are unaware of this problem, even though it affects our parents, grandparents, and neighbors. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15.

In recognition, the Lewiston/Auburn Elder Abuse Task Force would like to shed some light on this important issue, to increase awareness of abuse and exploitation of the elderly, and to educate the community on what can be done to help be part of the solution.

The Lewiston/Auburn Elder Abuse Task Force is a community partnership dedicated to ending elder abuse by generating resources, educating the community, and advocating for the needs of elder abuse victims. Several local agencies are represented in the group including: SeniorsPlus; the Lewiston and Auburn Police Departments; Legal Services for the Elderly; Adult Protective Services; Abused Women’s Advocacy Project; Sexual Assault Crisis Center; Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice; Catholic Charities Maine; Volunteers of America; United Ambulance; and the Lewiston and Auburn Housing Authorities.

Abuse and exploitation of the elderly can come in many forms, such as: physical abuse; sexual abuse; emotional or psychological abuse; neglect; abandonment; and financial exploitation. The barriers to recognizing and reporting elder abuse are similar for all types of abuse from home improvement scams to physical abuse.

Victims often do not self-identify as victims of abuse; they often feel a strong sense of loyalty to the abuser (who is often a family member or caregiver), and they are often physically or socially isolated.

Spotting the signs of elder abuse early and reporting concerns to the appropriate agency can be crucial to minimizing harm done to the elder and the damage done to the community at large.

Many people think that elder abuse is not a serious problem in Maine. Consider this: in the year 2000, approximately 12,000 Maine seniors were victims of abuse. It is likely that 75 to 85 percent of incidents of elder abuse in Maine are unreported. As the elderly population grows, so will the number of potential victims of elder abuse and exploitation.

Financial exploitation is the illegal or improper use of a person’s money or property for the profit of another. Some examples include: forcing, or preventing, an adult to change a will, to sign over control of assets, to sell or give away property, or to sign a power of attorney; stealing or misusing social security or other pension money; forging signatures, or grossly overcharging for rent, personal items or services.

According to national statistics, family members are often the abusers in cases of domestic elder abuse and neglect, with adult children being the most frequent abusers of the elderly.

There are some signs of financial exploitation that you should be aware of.

If these signs are recognized and reported early enough, the damage to the elder can be significantly reduced. These signs include large bank withdrawalsl; numerous unpaid bills; checks made out to cash; checks written out of order; elderly person unaware of monthly income or resources; someone lives with elderly person and refuses to leave, or discrepancy between elderly person’s income or resources and living conditions.

If you recognize one or more of these signs of abuse, talk to the elderly person about their finances, and if you still suspect abuse, contact your local police, Adult Protective Services at 1-800-624-8404, or Legal Services for the Elderly at 1-800-750-5353, to find out what to do next.

Elder abuse and exploitation is a problem that affects us all as a community, and it is a problem that has gone on for too long. If we all share the responsibility, watch out for one another, and make reports of suspicious behavior, we can make elder abuse history.

Make a difference, make a call.

Sarah Withers is staff attorney for Legal Services for the Elderly, in Lewiston.