The Charleston Police Department (CPD) is awaiting the implementation of an Elder Abuse Specialist as elder abuse awareness day comes and goes.
On June 15th, North Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the observation of Elder Abuse Awareness Day along with many other government offices around the country, with North Carolina fairing third worst in the US in elder abuse protections in a recent study from the personal finance company WalletHub. The study compared elder abuse protections in US states looking at 16 indicators ranging from exploitation complaints to financial elder-abuse laws.
On Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Wilson’s office recommended elderly investors give the name of someone they trust as a contact on their investment accounts in order to minimize elder financial abuse.
“It is a sad truth that there are fraudsters looking to prey on unsuspecting investors, and all too often, they target older individuals,” Wilson said in a statement released on Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
In partnership with the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network, a peer-to-peer training bringing together law enforcement, victim advocates, social workers, nursing staff and legal staff, and faith leaders will also be hosted at North Charleston City Hall on June 29 in observance of elderly abuse awareness day.
In April, Charleston City Council took a big step in attempting to increase the elderly abuse support at the Charleston Police Department by approving a request for CPD to apply for an estimated $140,000 grant under the Victims of Crime Act to fund an Elder Advocate Specialist Position that would act as a victim advocate for anyone over 50, Molly McBride reports for WCSC-TV Live 5 News.
Shortly after funding was approved in April, CPD successfully hired an Elder Advocate Specialist on staff.
“That person is currently on staff and providing critical support to our elder population here in Charleston,” CPD Inspector Michael Gillooly told The Crime Report.
The Bureau of Statistics projects the U.S. elderly population will increase by more than 50 percent from 2012 to 2050 adding to the reasons elder abuse is expected to become more prevalent, experts say.
The National Council on Aging which is advocating for legislation to stop elder abuse before it happens estimates 1 in 10 Americans over 60 have experienced elder abuse.
“Up to five million older Americans are abused every year, and the annual loss by victims of financial abuse is estimated to be at least $36.5 billion,” the Council said in a statement on its website.
With a significant portion of elder abuse cases said to be unreported due to factors such as the majority of perpetrators being family members according to the National Center on Elder Abuse, making resources accessible for the elderly is often an integral part of the work of many elder abuse advocacy organizations.
In 2012, Denver, Colorado’s District Attorney’s Office successfully assisted in creating the Denver Forensic Collaborative for At-Risk Adults which strives to “improve support for the investigation and prosecution of elder abuse cases,” and provide resources for the most vulnerable.
Among those observing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day nationally, was US Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Southern District of Louisiana who urged vigilance against fraudulent schemes and financial exploitation. In a statement released by Evan’s office, he highlighted the importance of reporting elder abuse to empower law enforcement officials to investigate.
“Elder fraud causes devastating losses to its victims. With the cooperation of our investigative partners, we will continue to hold the perpetrators of elder fraud schemes accountable. Today, on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), our office reminds seniors and their caregivers to be constantly vigilant to detect and report fraudulent schemes that target the elderly and other vulnerable consumers,” Evans said in a statement.
Evans also noted the COVID-19 pandemic’s further isolation of elderly people creating more opportunities for people to defraud elderly populations.
The Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative has had some recent wins when it comes to prosecuting elder fraud. Last week Evan’s highlighted the February 1 sentencing of former bank teller Karen Farrell Tigler, a 40-year-old from Marrero, Louisiana, who was sentenced to 27 months in prison for bank fraud and making false tax returns. Tigler embezzled approximately $349,556 from a client’s account by using her position at the bank.
Dane Campbell, a 25-year-old resident of Jamaica, was sentenced last year to 10 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Campbell participated in a scheme that targeted elderly victims, falsely telling them that they had won lotteries or sweepstakes. He acted as a “money mule” by receiving payments and either keeping them or sending them to unknown individuals in Jamaica.
