Published: July 05, 2009 07:54 pm      

Group fights elder abuse

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — This month kicks off the fifth annual statewide “Break the Silence” campaign to raise awareness about elder abuse, and local officials want residents to not only recognize the signs of elder abuse but know how to make a difference.

“The elder abuse program responds to alleged abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of a person 60 years of age or older,” explained Jean Bonhoff, executive director of Senior Services of Jefferson County. “The program provides investigation, intervention and follow up services to victims.”

The Effingham County Committee on Aging is the provider agency for elder abuse in Jefferson, Marion, Clay, Fayette and Effingham counties, Bonhoff clarified, which has seen an increase in reports of elderly abuse.

During the month of June, there were 15 reports of elderly abuse in Mt. Vernon alone, she said, and numbers are increasing all the time.

“Maybe family members are coming back home due to loss of employment and need mom to help and maybe she says no, so sometimes that can start abuse,” she said. “It can become emotional abuse, verbal abuse, threats or intimidation.”

Bonhoff reports that statistics state between 1 and 2 million Americans ages 65 or older are abused each year.

“They [the elderly] are vulnerable. Abuse can be caused by economic or emotional dependence,” she said.

In most cases, Bonhoff says the abuser is a family member, and elderly females averaging 79 years of age are abused most often.

“A lot of times, along with physical abuse — believe it or not — there is sexual abuse, along with passive neglect, a case where the son or daughter is actually the caregiver to an older person and fails to see that individual has necessities of life — no clothing, food, shelter or the proper medications. A lot of times they like to take the elder person’s money and worry about their own habits before taking care of mom and dad.

According to a 2006 report, Bonhoff said of the elderly abuse reports made in Illinois, 58 percent of reports were of alleged financial exploitation, 22 percent were physical abuse and the balance was emotional abuse.

“It exists everywhere and is what some consider as a way of life,” she said.

The Illinois Department of Aging states the following indicators may point to problems of abuse:

n Untreated injuries, sprains or dislocations, scratches and cuts;

n Sudden changes in behavior and/or withdrawal in social settings;

n A caregiver’s refusal to allow visitors;

n Dehydration, malnutrition, poor personal hygiene, untreated health problems, hazardous or unsafe living conditions; and

n Sudden changes in bank account or banking practices, the inclusion of additional names on a victim’s bank signature card, unauthorized withdrawal of the victim’s funds using the victim’s ATM or credit card and abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents.

Residents who suspect elder abuse are encourage to report it to authorities.

“You can call and make an anonymous report and an investigation will be started,” Bonhoff added. “We will go out and talk to the alleged victim and upon getting their consent, we hope to eliminate any abuse that’s going on.”

If you suspect elder abuse, you may contact the state’s 24-hour Elder Abuse Hotline at (866)-800-1409.