Respect and protect

In simpler times the reminder to “respect your elders” was about
the only moral compass needed to set the next generation on a
constructive and self-disciplined course.
Today, in too many cases, “respect your elders” has become a
plea to not abuse, cheat or neglect our older citizens, our
parents, grandparents and retired population. What was once a
phrase of time-tested wisdom, sadly, has become a warning not to
break the law.
Wednesday of this week was celebrated as World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day and was marked around Sonoma County with official
proclamations, ongoing information workshops and published reports
similar to the one published in last week’s edition of this
newspaper (“Elder Abuse Becoming Epidemic”).
Few social problems diminish or go away in our society.
Changing, confusing and complicated times begets more complicated
social issues and elder abuse is no exception. And, like related
domestic violence cases, elder abuse can be mostly invisible and
suffered as a family’s private tragedy.
That is why awareness, open community discussions and public
reminders may be our best antidote. We all need to be more aware of
the outward symptoms of elder abuse in our midst and do the proper
thing to call out and report it.
For very many of us, the subject of elders is the subject of
ourselves. Across Sonoma County, we are part of a population of
aging Baby Boomers. Almost 14 per cent of the county’s population
is age 60 or over, and is on a pace to double by 2030.
We are not only growing older, but a rising number of us are
facing longer years of late-life existence on limited, fixed and
shrinking incomes.
These are some of the factors why “financial abuse” is the
leading type of elder abuse today. As staff writer Laura McCutcheon
reported last week, there were 2,300 cases of elder fraud reported
to the county last year. One senior advocate worker called this
“only the tip of the iceberg” because thousands of more cases go
unreported.
At a time when the elderly need more services and added
protection, our local government budget troubles are forcing
officials to make deep funding and program cuts to dozens of local
human service programs that serve the elderly, poor and
disabled.
The county’s current proposed General Fund budget — the subject
of ongoing public hearings this week — includes the elimination of
the Human Services Commission and $600,000 in reduced funding to
local human service agencies and contracts.
Some of these cuts would be made to the Ombudsman Program of
Senior Advocacy Services, In Home Supportive Services and elder
abuse investigators in the District Attorney’s office.
Whatever the final budget outcomes, it is clear we can not
expect government to provide all the services our richer tax roles
once supported. We need to do more for ourselves and each
other.
When it comes to elder abuse awareness, there are a few good
places to get started. And, remember you should officially report
expected cases of abuse or neglect, always leaving it up to the
officials to do the thorough investigation and legal action.
Also:
• Watch for signs of physical and emotional abuse among the
elderly in your extended family, church congregations and meeting
groups. Look for untreated medical conditions, unexplained
injuries, malnourishment and poor hygiene.
• Watch for any elderly person with newly restricted contact or
extra withdrawn from family and friends.
• In cases of suspected financial abuse, look for signs of
unusual banking activity, forged signatures, unpaid bills or
unusual donations to non-local charities, apparent changes in
spending habits or the sudden appearance of a “newfound” relative,
an unknown caregiver or stranger.
To report any suspected case of elder abuse, call the county’s
Adult Protective Services at 565-5940. A report will be taken on
official forms. The Ombudsman Program has a 24-hour emergency line
at (800) 231-4024.
Respect and protect our elders, even in cases when it might be
ourselves.
— Rollie Atkinson