Pacific Grove, CA Financial Elder Abuse Hit Record During Pandemic

A pile of money sitting next to stacks of cash.


year, a result of so many people being stuck at home and in front of their consumers.  Total consumer losses to online thieves in 2020 surpassed $4.2 billion, with almost half of that amount lost to those over 50 years old.  Unfortunately, since there is so much wealth in Monterey County—in Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach in particular—seniors here are disproportionately targeted.  Be suspicious anytime someone you don’t know calls or emails you. (AARP Bulletin May 21, P6).

Pebble Beach, CA Online Scams Abound : Elder Abuse Fundraising Scams Abound

An old woman with a bruised eye and hand on her face.


here was a sad story in The New York Times recently about how some fundraisers—including many politicians—trick people (particularly senior citizens) into donating more than they want to.  The story profiled Steve Vaughn, who started to go through his fathers bank statement after he died and was shocked to see 400 donations totaling more than $11K over just a four month period.  There were donations to Donald J. Trump, Mitch McConnell, Tim Scott, Steve Scalise and many others.  There were notes with the bank statements showing the 90-year old had repeatedly try to dispute the charges with his credit card company—all to no avail.  Here is how the scam works.  Fundraisers will call you and ask you for a donation and once you agree, they will enter them into the system as a recurring payment.  Instead of taking a fixed amount, say $100, out of your account, they will take out $100 every month or sometimes every week.  They are hoping people aren’t diligent about going over their bank statements, so pay attention!  Many of them are targeting high-income areas of Monterey County like Carmel, Pacific Grove & Pebble Beach.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/26/us/politics/recurring-donations-seniors.html

C

Monterey, CA Financial Elder Abuse Hit Record During Pandemic

A woman with glasses and a tie dye shirt smoking.


An FBI report said that Americans were victimized by cybercriminals at a record rate last year, a result of so many people being stuck at home and in front of their consumers.  Total consumer losses to online thieves in 2020 surpassed $4.2 billion, with almost half of that amount lost to those over 50 years old.  Unfortunately, since there is so much wealth in Monterey County—in Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach in particular—seniors here are disproportionately targeted.  Be suspicious anytime someone you don’t know calls or emails you. (AARP Bulletin May 21, P6).

Prunedale Resident Facing Nine Year Prison Sentence For Elder Abuse

A pile of money sitting next to stacks of cash.


Severiano Negrete, Jr., 24, of Prunedale, plead guilty to assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury, battery causing serious bodily harm and attempting to dissuade a victim from prosecuting a crime.  He faces a nine year prison sentence.  On April 1, 2020, he was arrested by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office for assaulting his 64-year-old father.  He punched him in the face multiple times causing a nasal fracture and other serious injuries.  From jail, Negrete repeatedly called a third party and asked her to contact his father and request that he drop the charges against him.  He called her again and asked her to take him to the sheriff’s office to drop the charges before he went to court.  Let’s hope he gets the maximum sentence.  Sadly, most elder abuse cases are done by family members, caregivers and others who the victim is intimately involved with.  If you see elder abuse happening, please call Adult Protective Services.

Prunedale Resident Facing Nine Year Prison Sentence For Elder Abuse

A pile of money sitting next to stacks of cash.


Severiano Negrete, Jr., 24, of Prunedale, plead guilty to assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury, battery causing serious bodily harm and attempting to dissuade a victim from prosecuting a crime.  He faces a nine year prison sentence.  On April 1, 2020, he was arrested by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office for assaulting his 64-year-old father.  He punched him in the face multiple times causing a nasal fracture and other serious injuries.  From jail, Negrete repeatedly called a third party and asked her to contact his father and request that he drop the charges against him.  He called her again and asked her to take him to the sheriff’s office to drop the charges before he went to court.  Let’s hope he gets the maximum sentence.  Sadly, most elder abuse cases are done by family members, caregivers and others who the victim is intimately involved with.  If you see elder abuse happening, please call Adult Protective Services.

Carmel, CA Online Scams Abound : Elder Abuse Fundraising Scams Abound

An old woman with a bruised eye and hand on her face.


There was a sad story in The New York Times recently about how some fundraisers—including many politicians—trick people (particularly senior citizens) into donating more than they want to.  The story profiled Steve Vaughn, who started to go through his fathers bank statement after he died and was shocked to see 400 donations totaling more than $11K over just a four month period.  There were donations to Donald J. Trump, Mitch McConnell, Tim Scott, Steve Scalise and many others.  There were notes with the bank statements showing the 90-year old had repeatedly try to dispute the charges with his credit card company—all to no avail.  Here is how the scam works.  Fundraisers will call you and ask you for a donation and once you agree, they will enter them into the system as a recurring payment.  Instead of taking a fixed amount, say $100, out of your account, they will take out $100 every month or sometimes every week.  They are hoping people aren’t diligent about going over their bank statements, so pay attention!  Many of them are targeting high-income areas of Monterey County like Carmel, Pacific Grove & Pebble Beach.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/26/us/politics/recurring-donations-seniors.html

Salinas, CA Elder Abuse Alert Related To Roku Devices

An old woman with a bruised eye and hand on her face.


There was a story in USA Today about a woman who fell for the latest scam and lost $190.  While setting up her new Roku device, a message flashed on the TV screen telling her to call an 800 number to activate service.  When she called the 800 number, they offered her a lifetime full service plan for about $190, which she signed up for.  Months later, the person that she had spoke to on the 800 number called her and threatened her if she didn’t give another $190.  At this point she realized it was a scam.  How her smart TV was infiltrated with software having her call scammers remains a mystery.  However, scammers continue to target those on the Monterey Peninsula since areas like Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach have a much higher net worth than the average household.  Be on the lookout!

https://www.freep.com/story/money/personal-finance/susan-tompor/2021/03/31/roku-activation-setup-tech-support-scam/6996289002/

AARP Fighting Elder Abuse In Assisted Living And Nursing Home Facilities

A woman and two men sitting on the couch


AARP’s Legal Team is fighting in the courts for the health and safety of residents of nursing homes.  We have all heard of the horrific stories of seniors being abused in assisted living facilities and rehab centers, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought this once again to the surface.  AARP first started its suit in January, and in April the team won a judgement in California on behalf of Gloria Single, a nursing home resident who was barred from returning after a stay in the hospital.  There are now four other lawsuits pending, and I hope they are successful.

Pacific Grove, CA Financial Elder Abuse Abounds Amidst Pandemic

A woman with grey hair sitting in a chair.


AARP The Magazine recently ran an article about financial elder abuse, which, unfortunately, is often done by a family member.  Liz Loewy, former chief of the Elder Abuse Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and now chief operating officer of a financial-monitoring company EverSafe said these crimes are all too prevalent.  Sadly, many cases go unreported.  A study of New York residents found that only 1 in 44 elder abuse cases were reported to authorities.  “They may start out helping a parent, with good intentions, and then, after the parent exhibits signs of diminished capacity, start diverting funds,†Lowey said.  “It often starts small, then progresses into ‘I wrote a few checks to pay for Johnny’s college.  lways said she wanted to help with tuition.’  Or beyond that, home improvement or a new car,†she said.  If you believe that you are witnessing elder abuse, please call Adult Protective Services.  Unfortunately, with the wealth on the Monterey Peninsula residents of Carmel, PG and Pebble Beach are often targeted.

http://mcdss.co.monterey.ca.us/aging/

Monterey, CA Family inHome Caregiver Blog : Elder Abuse Series 6, Article 2 : Physical Elder Abuse

An old woman with a bruised eye and hand on her face.


As an owner of a Home Care Organization serving senior citizens, I hate to see them being taken advantage of and abused.  Unfortunately, on the Monterey Peninsula this is all too common.

 

What You Should Know About Senior Abuse

There are, unfortunately, myriad ways that seniors can be abused.  It’s often at the hands of a trusted friend or family member, or even a professional or family caregiver.  I will be exploring all 7 types of abuse over several blogs, the first of which appeared here:

https://familyinhomecaregiving.com/monterey-ca-family-inhome-caregiver-blog-elder-abuse-series-article-6-0-financial-elder-abuse/

The 7 types of elder abuse are: Financial, Physical Abuse, Sexual abuse, Emotional or Psychological Abuse, Neglect, Abandonment, and Self-neglect. In this second blog on Abuse we will discuss physical abuse.

What Is Physical Elder Abuse?
Physical elder abuse is any form of violence or harm that leaves an older person significantly injured. These injuries may require months of recovery or even contribute to an elder’s death.
Physical abuse against the elderly may be perpetrated by family members, friends, nursing home staff members, or other residents. This form of elder abuse may happen regularly or just once. Sadly, since older people’s bodies are weaker, even a single instance of abuse can lead to long-term health problems or even death.

Did You Know?
Physical elder abuse can be hard to recognize, but telltale signs include strange injuries or negative behavioral changes in an older person.
To prevent physical abuse, trusted family members should keep a close watch on their elderly loved ones who receive care from others. Any possible signs of physical abuse should be reported to local authorities.

Quick Facts About Physical Elder Abuse

  • 9.3% of nursing home staff members admitted to physically abusing elderly residents, according to a 2017 study analyzed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), only 1 in 20 cases of physical elder abuse is reported to authorities.
  • In a Connecticut study on aging, researchers found that just 9% of seniors who were physically abused or neglected were still alive after 13 years, compared to 40% of those who weren’t abused.
  • The Office of Women’s Health (OWH) claims that physical elder abuse is more likely to come from spouses or romantic partners.

Types of Physical Elder Abuse
Any type of intentional harm that comes to an elder from another person may be considered physical abuse.
Types of physical elder abuse may include:

  • Bruising
  • Hitting
  • Kicking
  • Punching
  • Pushing/shoving
  • Restraining
  • Scratching
  • Slapping

What Causes Physical Elder Abuse?
There is not one overarching cause of physical elder abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  A couple of different factors may cause caregivers to abuse the elderly.

Caregivers may be more likely to commit abuse if they: 

  • Abuse drugs or alcohol
  • Live with the caregiver
  • Have a criminal history
  • Have a mental illness
  • Rely on the caregiver for money or emotional support
  • Were exposed to abuse as a child

Physical abuse may be the culmination of years of stress placed on the caregiver, especially if it is a family member. Or, in the case of nursing home abuse, overworked staff members may feel the need to take out their stress on residents.
That being said, there is never an excuse for elder abuse. Elderly people deserve to live out the end of their lives with the best care possible.

Risk Factors for Physical Elder Abuse
While any older person under the care of another may be abused, some elders may run a greater risk than others.

Common risk factors for physical abuse include:

Mental or Physical Illnesses: The Alzheimer’s Association notes that people with mental impairments are at a higher risk of abuse. These seniors often require extra attention or more intensive care, which can frustrate their caregivers.

Isolation: Seniors who live in remote areas or far away from their relatives may be abused by a caregiver. Abuse may also cause seniors to become withdrawn and to limit their social activities, preventing others from noticing warning signs of abuse.

Disabilities: According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), adults with disabilities suffer from interpersonal violence at higher rates than those who are not disabled.

Many of these factors are directly out of an older person’s control. Yet, abusers may blame the senior for the abuse, adding insult to injury.

Signs of Physical Elder Abuse
To spot physical elder abuse, the first place to look is often the senior’s body.

Physical signs of elder abuse include:

  • Burns from appliances or cigarettes
  • Bruises, especially around the arm
  • Broken bones
  • Dislocated joints
  • Hair or tooth loss
  • Sprains

It is important to keep a lookout for emotional changes, too. While the physical effects of elder abuse directly harm the body, nursing home residents can also become emotionally traumatized from abuse.

Emotional signs of physical abuse include: 

  • Failure to explain how an elder was injured (such as hesitation or changing stories)
  • Strained relationships between caregiver and elder
  • Withdrawal from social activities they normally enjoy

Finally, take note of the senior’s wounds over time and if they heal properly. If their wounds do not heal properly — or new wounds continue to appear — they may be suffering from abuse.

Health care signs of physical abuse include:

  • A delay in receiving medical care for an injury the elder receives
  • A past history of hospitalizations, often for similar injuries
  • Trips to various emergency rooms to avoid detection of abuse

Any of these signs could indicate that an elder has been abused — and that they still could be in danger.

Treating Physical Elder Abuse
Elderly loved ones who have been physically abused should be taken to a doctor or emergency room as soon as possible. Older people typically have frailer skin and bones, and without prompt treatment, a simple injury could have life-threatening complications.

Further, family members should also make sure that their loved one is in a safe environment after they receive treatment. Do not take them back to a place (such as a nursing home) where they could be abused again.

How to Prevent Physical Elder Abuse
There are steps that family members and seniors can take to prevent elder abuse. If possible, family members should visit their older loved ones frequently and take note of any of the warning signs listed above.

Family members should also look at the overall quality of the resident’s care. Is their home or nursing home in good shape? Do the elderly relative, other residents, and the staff seem happy? If not, the risk of abuse or neglect may be higher.

Elders without physical or mental impairments (such as dementia) may also be able to prevent abuse against themselves. They should stay in touch with family and friends to ensure they have visitors as often as possible. Seniors who believe they are being abused should reach out to someone who can help, such as a trusted relative or the police.

Reporting Physical Elder Abuse: Protect Your Loved One
It is always best to report elder abuse even if you are not sure that it has occurred. It is better to speak up than to have your loved one suffer.

Responsible family members are the first line of defense when it comes to health care. For example, elders suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia may not be able to self-report incidences of abuse.

Did You Know
Even seniors who can speak for themselves may choose not to out of fear of retaliation. Therefore, it is important for family members to report elder abuse on behalf of their loved ones.

Sadly, elder abuse still goes unreported today, meaning many seniors suffer without any reparation.

If you believe your loved one has suffered from physical elder abuse, in addition to reporting it to authorities you may want to se an attorney. You may be able to receive financial compensation for your loved one’s injuries.

Take Care and Stay Healthy
Richard