Reminder to report suspected elderly abuse follows SL case

Reminder to report suspected elderly abuse follows SL case

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SALT LAKE CITY — Recently, Salt Lake County prosecutors filed charges against two men accused of abusing and exploiting a 73-year-old man who has Parkinson's disease.

One of the men offered initially to care for the senior, "expressing concern about people who take advantage of the elderly," an arrest warrant stated. Within a matter of months, however, the men began locking the man in his room and withholding his food, documents state.

At one point, the man overheard a conversation that one of the men was planning to kill him, "so he fled the house and began to live on the streets," the documents state.

Many details of the ordeal are not yet known, but the case, advocates say, is instructive. If neighbors, friends or family members suspect something is amiss, they need to alert law enforcement officials or Adult Protective Services.

"We need to understand that we need to pick up that phone and make the call. I would suspect that neighbors or other folks realized that something was weird over there. If something is weird for a vulnerable adult, make a referral to Adult Protective Services," said Peter Hebertson, program manager for outreach and ombudsman programs for Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services.

"If everything's good, great. If not, maybe we can mitigate some of the damage that happened to this gentleman over the years when those folks were living with him."

Photo: Mary Archbold
Photo: Mary Archbold

Because victims of elder abuse are adults, the cases can be more challenging to address. Police and caseworkers rely on information provided by seniors, caregivers and their own observations when they visit a residence. But a senior who is being abused may fear his or her caregiver to the point they may not disclose what is happening. If a senior has developed cognitive difficulties, it may be hard for them to clearly recall events.

But repeated calls to Adult Protective Services at 1-800-371-7897, which are confidential, will flag the case for more attention. "The more details they (callers) can give, the better it can be," Hebertson said.

Utah has a mandatory reporting law requiring anyone who suspects abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult to report to authorities, he said.

According to the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services 2013 annual report, perpetrators of elder abuse or exploitation tend to be younger than 60, with 54 percent male. Victims are people over age 60 with 54 percent of them female.

Most often the abuse or exploitation occurs in the victim's home, the report states. Nearly half of the supported allegations — 48 percent — involved financial exploitation, physical injury, caregiver neglect and self neglect.

Ideally, seniors have family members who live in the community who are in regular contact with trusted friends and loved ones who assist them with their needs.

But it is not uncommon, Hebertson said, for seniors to have few familial or community connections. In the case of the South Salt Lake man, his daughter lived out of state.


If something is weird for a vulnerable adult, make a referral to Adult Protective Services.

–Peter Hebertson, Aging & Adult Services


"I don't know anything about this particular case, but a lot of times we see family-of-origin issues, they can be estranged from their elderly parents or the child has problems so the parents don't want a whole lot to do with them. It's just complicated," Hebertson said.

Even someone who enters a caregiving situation with good intentions can become overwhelmed as a senior's condition changes, Hebertson said.

The county's Aging & Adult Services division has an array of services to assist seniors who may need assistance to stay in their home. The agency can help families locate caregivers from licensed, insured home health agencies or give them occasional respite.

Some services are county-funded, but many are limited to people with very low incomes.

"You may have a lot of money and not be eligible for subsidized programs but you've saved that money for a rainy day. And guess what? It's raining, so let's connect you with a reputable organization that will come in and help provide those needs to keep you in your home," Hebertson said.

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