Local News
Conference on elder abuse draws crowd to KSU-Ashtabula
ASHTABULA — Most elderly people who are victims of a scam never tell their children, according to Paul Greenwood, deputy district attorney for San Diego County, Calif.
“They are afraid they will stick them in a nursing home,” he said. “They rather lose $50,000 than lose their independence.”
Greenwood’s expertise is criminal prosecution; head of elder abuse, since January 1996, and he was the keynote speaker at the first Ashtabula County Senior Citizens Conference on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation, held Friday at Kent State University-Ashtabula. The event was organized by Ashtabula County Department of Job and Family Services (ACDJFS) and the Ashtabula County commissioners.
“In Ashtabula County alone, the ACDJFS adult protective services received 318 reports for ages 60 and over of abuse, neglect or exploitation in 2007,” said Patrick J. Arcaro, executive director. “Whether you are a senior, a family member, or a professional in a field, as a community we must ensure that proper education is available in order to combat a growing problem.”
Greenwood spoke Friday afternoon to about 50 senior citizens, care givers and local community leaders in a seminar titled, “Break the Silence.”
Using his experience, he presented 10 tips to seniors to reduce the risk of becoming a victim:
n Choose a caregiver with caution. Never place an ad in the newspaper.
“Crooks are the ones who look in ads,” Greenwood said. “Only go to a bonded, insured agency.”
n Keep your jewelry locked up and keep careful inventory of it. He warned of carpet cleaners, fumigators and tree trimmers who will try to get into the house and steal jewelry.
n Buy a paper shredder.
“We call them ‘Dumpster divers,’” he said. “They are people who are trying to learn about you from what you discard.”
n Protect our incoming and outgoing mail. Consider getting a post office box.
n Obtain a credit search two to three times a year.
n Get caller I.D. on your phone.
“If ‘private’ or ‘unknown’ shows up, it may be a crook,” Greenwood said. “Don’t give them any information.”
n You will never win the Canadian lottery. It’s a scam.
n Consider allowing the bank send a duplicate copy of your monthly bank statement to a trusted family member or professional advisor.
n Don’t assume a handyman is licensed.
n Always have a second line of defense at your front door and don’t let anyone in.
Greenwood ended his presentation with a message to seniors: “We respect you, we commit to seek justice for you. We will prosecute with passion, purpose and perseverance.”
Commissioner Peggy Carlo said, “Greenwood was delightful to listen to and certainly informational.”
Seniors also had the opportunity to attend other workshops about Medicare, estate planning, Hospice, Friendly Neighbor Program and the Alzheimer’s Association, to name a few.
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