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February 2000 Monthly News

Abuse of elders greatest for over 80 year olds, help is available

By Sue Geary

Approximately 44 million Americans in the United States are 60 years or older, a startling statistic that has caused policy makers grave concern. Issues such as long-term care, affordable housing, health care, and equal access to services for elders are currently being debated in the House of Representatives and the Senate. This public focus on elders is taking place as the abuse and neglect of elders in their own homes continues to go unnoticed.

The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study estimated that "55,000 elder persons were abused or neglected in 1996. Elders 80 years and over are subject to abuse and neglect at a rate two to three times more than the rest of the elderly population. In 90 percent of reported incidences of abuse and neglect the perpetrator was known to the elder as it was a family member, with two-thirds being adult children or spouses."

In 1982 Massachusetts enacted legislation aimed at protecting older adults from abuse by mandating that certain professionals report suspected elder abuse. This law also designated the Executive Office of Elder Affairs as responsible for coordinating the development of a statewide system for Elder Abuse Reporting and provision of Elder Protective Services. A statewide Elder Abuse Hotline 1-800-922-2275 was established to provide for 24 hour per day, 7 days per week reporting of elder abuse.

Elder Services is the local agency providing protective services to Berkshire County elders. Protective Services workers work closely with elders, families, law enforcement, mental health, and other community resources to protect the right of elders. The immediate concern of the protective services worker is to assess whether the elder is being abused or neglected and identify the steps which need to be taken to alleviate the situation.

Protective Service workers respect the rights of the elder to determine whether they want the reported abuse investigated, Information gathered during an investigation is confidential and will not be shared with others without the elders’ permission. Anyone with questions regarding elder abuse and neglect can call Elder Services at 499-0524 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or the Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-922-2275 24 hours per day.