News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
They are among society's most vulnerable populations - and they are a prime target for scam artists and other types of predators. Seniors are vulnerable to a range of abuses, from financial exploitation to physical harm.
One of the most common forms of exploitation is the financial scam, often originating overseas.
Detective Merlin Toney with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office cites a classic scam: Someone contacts a senior claiming that a family member is in trouble, often in a foreign country, and needs funds to get out of a legal fix. Or, you've won a lottery and they need information and a little cash to get you your winnings.
"Any time you get a letter or anything that asks you to send money back, it's more than likely a fraud," Toney says.
People collecting for police or fireman funds should be carefully scrutinized.
"(Seniors) love their police, they love their firemen and they'll send money, no questions asked," Toney says.
Scammers know this and they'll often use police, fire, or veterans' causes as a front.
"They (seniors or their family members) need to do some background before they send money," Toney says. The first step is confirming that the organization being represented even exists.
Any request that seeks personal information such as social security or bank information should be regarded as illegitimate and dangerous.
One of the uglier forms of financial exploitation comes at the hands of family members who misappropriate funds of elderly parents, grandparents or other relatives.
"They start using it for personal reasons, and that's elder abuse," Toney says. "It's very common."
In other cases, a non-relative will insinuate him or herself into a senior's life - doing favors and running errands and helping out. Then the relationship turns sinister.
"They get in the door through minor steps and start ripping them off," Toney says. "A lot of times it's a guilt-trip" - as in, "I do all these things for you, you should help me with money..."
Such rip-offs can be devastating to an elderly person living on a fixed income.
"Financial well-being is just as important as physical well-being," Toney notes.
Predators - even family members - just don't care.
"They have no feelings whatsoever," Toney says. "It's all about me and my lifestyle."
Often, that lifestyle includes drug abuse, and elderly relatives are exploited to support a habit.
Of course, there are some people who are genuinely concerned for the welfare of seniors and are legitimately trying to help out. It is disheartening to have to worry that what appears to be a Good Samaritan may be a predator.
How do you distinguish what's legitimate interest and what's not?
Isolation is a red flag. If a caregiver, relative or non-relative, seems to be cutting a senior off from contact with family or friends, there might be a problem.
"Really, the best thing people can do is make sure they're in touch with their elderly family members and know what's going on," says Deputy District Attorney Katie Clason of the Deschutes County DA's office.
Det. Toney says that people should be suspicious if there is no reason for attachment.
"Be very curious about somebody who has suddenly taken an interest in your mom or dad who is elderly," he says. "Most often, that person has an ulterior motive. Sad to say, that's what happens."
Crimes against seniors can also extend to physical abuse and neglect. Such episodes can sometimes be fatal.
The Oregon Department of Human Services has a list of warning signs of physical abuse:
• Cuts, lacerations, punctures, wounds.
• Bruises, welts, discolorations, grip marks.
• Any unexplained injury that doesn't fit with the given explanation of the injury.
• Any injury incompatible with the person's history of unexplained injuries.
• Any injury which has not been properly cared for (sometimes injuries are hidden on areas of the body normally covered by clothing).
• Poor skin condition or poor skin hygiene.
• Dehydration and/or malnourishment without illness-related cause.
• Unexplained loss of weight.
• Burns, possibly caused by cigarettes, caustics, acids or friction from ropes or chains.
• Soiled clothing or bed linens.
What do you do if you suspect an elderly person is being abused?
"Don't turn your back on it," Det. Toney says. "You need to notify law enforcement. We'd just as soon you not knock on the door to see what's going on. You never know what you're dealing with."
Potential abuse is often investigated by DHS. New laws enforce mandatory reporting for many professionals and public officials. State law protects the confidentiality of all individuals reporting abuse.
Enhanced awareness and reporting can bring potential abuse to light, but such cases remain tough to prosecute.
According to Clason, elderly people are often reluctant "to get a family member in trouble."
If that family member has power of attorney, it's difficult to get around it.
And there are challenges inherent in dealing with seniors.
"When you have Alzheimer's or other memory issues, that makes it difficult, too," Clason says.
The Deschutes County DA's office has put a priority on maintaining an active Senior and Disabled Adult Multidisciplinary Team consisting of law enforcement agencies and a variety of groups that work with seniors. The goal is to foster communication between agencies, and share information and resources to combat a problem that is only expected to grow more significant as the population
ages.
The Oregon Department of Human Services has extensive information on the warning signs of elder abuse, legal definitions and senior services at www.oregon.gov/DHS/spwpd/abuse/index.shtml.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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