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New Initiative To Prevent Instances Of Elder Abuse
The LEAPS (Leaders in Elder Abuse Prevention) Initiative was created by District Attorney Leone in an effort to pull together agencies and health care providers responsible for the care of senior citizens. Members of the LEAPS program will work together to identify seniors who may be the subject of abuse or who are living in at-risk situations and assure that they are offered the proper care and services to prevent negative situations from developing. The various groups will also engage in trainings and information sessions to assure that all members are up-to-date on proper techniques and strategies to protect elders.
The healthcare providers who
presently have joined this important initiative include:
“When our office sees a case of elder abuse, it is already too late,” District Attorney Leone said. “And all too frequently, there were warning signs that a particular domestic situation could lead to abuse or injury to one of our seniors. Through this program, we are able to bring everyone together to better identify those warnings signs and assure that proactive care is provided to alleviate those negative situations. I want to commend the leadership of Secretary Festa and Elders Affairs as well as all of the health care providers who have joined this program as a way to better protect all seniors that we serve.”
"The key to keeping seniors safe and independent in the community is to prevent incidents of elder abuse and intervene at the first sign of a problem," said Elders Affairs Secretary Mike Festa. "Raising awareness around elder abuse is critical to those early detection and prevention efforts. The Executive Office of Elder Affairs has a great partner in Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone and his staff. Through such public-private collaborations as the LEAPS Initiative, we can ensure that we have a strong, comprehensive safety net for our elders." READ MORE According to the most recent figures from the Massachusetts Office of Elders Affairs, in fiscal year 2008, there were 14,909 reports of elder abuse and 4,423 newly confirmed cases. These numbers represent a significant rise from fiscal year 2005, when there were 11,503 reports of elder abuse (30% increase) and 3,713 newly confirmed cases (19% increase).
In Middlesex County, the District Attorney's office has seen a 71% rise in cases of elder abuse referred to it for investigation and prosecution over the past five years, from 123 in 2003 to 210 in 2007.
According to the World Health Organization, there are common situations that frequently put the elderly at risk of violence, including: a strained family relationship that arises when one person becomes financially more dependant on the other; conflicts between two spouses when their fixed incomes become squeezed by higher costs; and difficulties in coping when the deterioration of one person's mental and physical health make them more dependant. Social isolation is also a significant risk factor, as many elderly people become increasingly isolated through the loss of friends and family members.
Frequently, there were early-warning signs of possible abuse or problematic situations and corresponding services that seniors are entitled to under law that could have helped alleviate the strains of the situation. For instance, the Executive Office of Elders Affairs provides seniors with programs to assist with prescription medications, transportation, and health and food services.
The purpose of the LEAPS initiative is to assure that all members of the group are trained to identify those early signs of abuse and then are aware of the proactive services that can be provided to alleviate those negative situations.
The Middlesex District Attorney's Office in conjunction with Elders Services is in the process of training health care providers, local police, and others on strategies to help identify those warning signs. LEAPS members are also educated on the services that are offered by Elders Affairs so that, if they identify a problem area, they can contact the appropriate resource and help assure that the senior is better cared for.
"This isn't a program that costs additional taxpayer money," District Attorney Leone said. "It's simply a common-sense program that brings people together in a collaborative way to better care for our seniors."
Contact information and resources offered by Office of Elders Affairs includes:
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Elder Abuse Hotline:
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Protective Services
Programs and Services:
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Prescription Advantage:
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Executive Office of Elder Affairs:
This is the second healthcare
collaboration that Leone has created this year. In March, he announced a
partnership with
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