Fraud targeting our elderly is increasing, according to a recent report. The criminals may be relatives of the senior citizen, or just someone who they trust.
In a recent report, crimes against the elderly in the Detroit region included the robbery of an 84-year-old man in his home by two men who said they were utility workers, and a daughter who stole tens of thousands of dollars in a few months from her mother. Her mom had saved the money to pay for residence in an assisted living home.
According to the report, the elder population is a little less than a quarter of Michigan's total. But crimes against them recently have been nearly a third of the state's total.
Many elderly are a little lonely and happy to engage with friendly types. Some are more gullible and naive, even if they were less so when they had many more daily interactions with others.
Criminals see them as easy marks. So do too many relatives, especially when jobs and incomes are dwindling along with caring, respect and morality for seniors.
State Sen. Dennis Olshove, D-Warren, is proposing increasing penalties for those who defraud seniors, perhaps to a maximum of 20 years in prison and three times the amount stolen. House Bill 5011 is cosponsored by Oakland County Democrats Vicki Barnett of Farmington Hills and Vincent Gregory of Southfield.
It should be passed, but preventive measures also are needed.
Fraud, embezzlement and outright robbery against the elderly are a subset of a larger issue, from physical abuse - sometimes even sexual - to neglect, browbeating and bullying.
Health-care providers, social workers, law enforcement employees and even school officials have a legal obligation to report all forms of elder abuse.
The rest of us have a moral one to watch out for the older people among us.
While one sign does not necessarily indicate abuse a pattern of tell-tale signs could indicate elder abuse.
Bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions and burns may be an indication of physical abuse, neglect, or mistreatment. Unexplained withdrawal from normal activities, a sudden change in alertness and unusual depression may be indicators of emotional abuse. Bruises around the breasts or genital area can occur from sexual abuse.
Sudden changes in financial situations may be the result of exploitation. Bedsores, unattended medical needs, poor hygiene, and unusual weight loss are indicators of possible neglect. Behavior such as belittling, threats and other uses of power and control by spouses are indicators of emotional abuse.
Readers can help get the message out to our older family and friends to watch out for fraud schemes and abuse.
They can talk to the senior folks in their families, friends at church and the neighbors next door.
We're heard often enough in recent decades that it takes a village to raise a child. Have we forgotten it takes that same village to care for our elderly?
The elderly have always been a key target for criminals and con men as well as physical and emotional abuse from a loved one because of their vulnerability.
Contact Steven Peck's Premier Legal toll free at 1.866.999.9085 to talk to an experienced elder abuse and neglect attorney and visit us on line at www.premierlegal.org.
