Successful task forces are built on the premise that to effectively protect older adults, the aging services network and law enforcement must work cooperatively in identifying and responding to elder victimization.  Victims need to not only receive protective services to cope with the harm that has been done to them, but they also need to have the ability to seek restitution and justice.  Professionals from the many different agencies that work with victimized older adults bring different but equally valuable knowledge and perspectives to achieve these goals.

The Institute on Protective Services has always worked collaboratively with local area agencies on aging to establish elder abuse task forces and does not recommend any single model.  This is done in that the political and governmental structures are different in every jurisdiction, and the mechanisms for meeting elders’ needs vary from locality to locality.  Today there are more than thirty task forces of varying structures throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Read more »

During the 2011-12 training period, will be offering ten enrichment trainings, two sessions of the basic PS trainings, a solicitors’ training, a nurses’ training, and three supervisor trainings. Below you will find a full listing of our trainings as well as a link to training and registration information. Read more »

Starting in October, banks and credit unions in Maryland will be required to report suspected financial exploitation of Marylanders age 65 and up. They must convey their suspicions within 24 hours by phone to Adult Protective Services — part of the state’s Department of Human Resources — or law enforcement and must follow up in writing. Financial institutions that fail to do so will face a penalty of as much as $5,000.

Click here to read the full article by The Baltimore Sun

The Bucks County Crimes Against Older Adults Task Force sponsors this annual William J. Neff , Sr symposium to bring together law enforcement officers, health care and social service professionals to provide education, heighten awareness and facilitate communication.  This year’s event will be held on May 22, 2012 from 8:30am to 4:00pm at the Bucks County Community College, Newtown Campus.  The event is free.  For more information contact Mandy Mundy by email.

A Middletown woman agreed to forfeit her inheritance as part of her guilty plea Monday in Montgomery County Circuit Court after she embezzled about $300,000 from her ailing mother.

According to Roslund, Sandra Shores gained power of attorney over her mother, who suffered from dementia, in 2005 to ensure her mother would live comfortably in her home, 4701 Coachway Drive, Rockville. The house in Rockville was fully paid for and Joan Shores received an income of about $2,275 per month from Social Security and a pension, along with two bank accounts with Bank of America and Capital One, Roslund said.

“By the summer of 2011, all of the victim’s cash assets were gone and the defendant had made several attempts to get a reverse mortgage on her mother’s Coachway Drive house,” Roslund told McCormick.

A state adult protective services investigation was launched into Joan Shores’ finances because of the rapid expenditures, ultimately finding that, while Sandra Shores had spent nearly $100,000 from 2008 to early 2011 for the care of her mother, she also had spent about $284,430 of her mother’s money on herself, including paying rent on her own home, medical bills for her pets, an Alaskan cruise and trips to the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town, W.Va., Roslund said.

Click here to read the full story by Gazette.Net news

The Dauphin County Elder Abuse Task Force announced an arrest in one of its largest cases since it formed in 2004.  Investigators say Kevin Marcy stole $379,132.62 from his 89 year old great aunt, a retired teacher.  He was her only relative, lived with her and had her power of attorney.  Authorities say Marcy cashed his great aunt’s pension and social security checks.  The woman is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Marcy is being charged with theft.

See the full news story from Fox 43 News

May 15 to 18, we are offering Protective Services Basic Training in Harrisburg.

This 3 ½ day course is the mandatory training for staff that will conduct protective service investigations. The training is focused on the basic knowledge and tools that AAA staff need to know to conduct thorough and comprehensive investigations. Training modules are based on OAPSA and related regulations. Participants must complete all 3 ½ days of training. Read more »

On May 22nd, we are offering the training Financial Exploitation Investigations in Mars. This training is open to Area Agency on Aging staff and provides protective services enrichment credits.

This newly developed hands-on curriculum will lead investigators through the process of gathering, organizing and assessing evidence in financial exploitation cases. Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to more effectively and efficiently make substantiation determinations. The training will include resources to assist in financial exploitation cases. Linda Mill, Certified Fraud Examiner, will be providing the training.

Read more »

The month of May has been dedicated to the spread of Silver throughout all of Schuylkill County. In conjunction with “National Older Americans Month”, SEAPA will be distributing silver ribbons in an effort to bring awareness of the crime of elder abuse to all citizens of Schuylkill County.

For more information on this initiative and all the work of SEAPA, click here.

The newly created National Adult Protective Services Resource Center (NAPSRC), funded by the US Administration on Aging, provides resources and technical assistance to adult protective services (APS) professionals nationwide.
Current NAPSRC Objectives

Identify evidence-based best practices for APS programs and interventions & determine replicability
Establish national baseline data on “state of APS” in 2012
Identify and promote evaluation of novel but unevaluated APS practice with potential to strengthen APS work
Compile and synthesize research that informs APS programming and interventions
Provide specific and targeted technical assistance to state and local APS programs to facilitate implementation of identified best practices and research findings
Evaluate project activities and technical assistance needs

To sign up for the newsletter, listserve or learn about other NAPSRC initiatives, click here.

On May 8, we are offering the training Investigating Self-Neglect. This training is open to Area Agency on Aging staff and provides protective services enrichment credits.
Read more »