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Your AgencyYour AgencyPresentsPresents
Exploitation of the Exploitation of the ElderlyElderly
Awareness Workshop Awareness Workshop
Our Objectives Our Objectives
InformInform
Communicate and ReferCommunicate and Refer
INFORMINFORM
Pride – Trust- ShamePride – Trust- Shame
Reasons for Reasons for the elderly not the elderly not reporting reporting ExploitationExploitation
Financial Exploitation of the Financial Exploitation of the ElderlyElderly
Who?Who? What?What? Why?Why? Who are the predators of elderly Who are the predators of elderly
abuse?abuse? What is their goal?What is their goal? Why do they exploit the elderly?Why do they exploit the elderly?
Who?Who?
CaretakersCaretakers RelativesRelatives StrangersStrangers New FriendsNew Friends
What do these predators want?What do these predators want?
ControlControl PowerPower of Attorney of Attorney PropertyProperty Cash Cash JewelryJewelry Social Security Social Security
checkschecks Pension ChecksPension Checks Prescription DrugsPrescription Drugs
Why do these predators exploit the Why do these predators exploit the elderly ?elderly ?
Personal GainPersonal Gain RationalizationRationalization RevengeRevenge OpportunityOpportunity Elderly sometimes seen as being Elderly sometimes seen as being
vulnerablevulnerable
Financial Exploitation of the Financial Exploitation of the Vulnerable AdultsVulnerable Adults
In 1992, persons 65 or older In 1992, persons 65 or older experienced about 2.1 million experienced about 2.1 million criminal victimizationscriminal victimizations
Financial abuse of vulnerable Financial abuse of vulnerable adults accounts for 32.2 percent adults accounts for 32.2 percent of all reported abuse cases. A of all reported abuse cases. A vulnerable adult is any adult over vulnerable adult is any adult over the age of 18 who is not capable the age of 18 who is not capable of taking care of themselves of taking care of themselves physically or financially.physically or financially.
REFER and COMMUNICATEREFER and COMMUNICATE
HELP FOR THE ELDERLY HELP FOR THE ELDERLY
The Criminal Justice The Criminal Justice System Your Sheriff’s System Your Sheriff’s Office , your local Police Office , your local Police DepartmentDepartment
Social AgenciesSocial Agencies Helping YourselfHelping Yourself
INFORM- Questions to AskINFORM- Questions to Ask
Ask questions. For instance: Is there Ask questions. For instance: Is there a caretaker? a caretaker?
Look for signs of neglect, physical or Look for signs of neglect, physical or financial.financial.
Look for signs of Dependence by the Look for signs of Dependence by the Elderly – Is the person a relative?Elderly – Is the person a relative?
What does the caretaker gain from What does the caretaker gain from helping?helping?
INFORM-Questions to AskINFORM-Questions to Ask
Is the caretaker cooperating with the Is the caretaker cooperating with the authorities?authorities?
Is the caretaker being honest?Is the caretaker being honest? Is this caretaker a new interest in the Is this caretaker a new interest in the
elderly subject’s life?elderly subject’s life? Is this caretaker looking to Is this caretaker looking to
disempower the elderly subject?disempower the elderly subject?
Signs of financial abuse includeSigns of financial abuse include
An elderly person is accompanied by An elderly person is accompanied by a stranger who encourages him/her a stranger who encourages him/her to withdraw large sums of moneyto withdraw large sums of money
Unusual bank activity made against Unusual bank activity made against his / her accountshis / her accounts
Someone else cashing checks Someone else cashing checks against his/her accountsagainst his/her accounts
Signs of financial abuse includeSigns of financial abuse include
Power of attorney executed by a Power of attorney executed by a confused elderly personconfused elderly person
(Exceptions may include – Health care (Exceptions may include – Health care proxies )proxies )
New acquaintances who suddenly take New acquaintances who suddenly take up residencyup residency
Elderly person’s appearance is Elderly person’s appearance is unkempt unkempt
Elderly person is not allowed to make Elderly person is not allowed to make his/her own decisionshis/her own decisions
Signs of financial abuse includeSigns of financial abuse include
Questionable signatures on Questionable signatures on important documentsimportant documents
Suspicious activity on credit Suspicious activity on credit cardscards
Elderly person has utilities Elderly person has utilities disconnected in his/her home disconnected in his/her home (electricity, water, (electricity, water, telephone, etc.)telephone, etc.)
Why is Elderly Exploitation Why is Elderly Exploitation prevalent in Society?prevalent in Society?
Why is Elderly Exploitation Why is Elderly Exploitation prevalent in Society? prevalent in Society?
Often, abuse of the elderly Often, abuse of the elderly person’s finances happens person’s finances happens when someone he/she when someone he/she trusts is acting on his/her trusts is acting on his/her behalf. Remember, an behalf. Remember, an elderly victim may be elderly victim may be extremely vulnerable and in extremely vulnerable and in need of your help.need of your help.
How can the Sheriff's Office and How can the Sheriff's Office and Justice System help you?Justice System help you?
How can your Sheriff’s Office help How can your Sheriff’s Office help you.you.
Deputies may be called upon by Deputies may be called upon by neighbors or relatives to check on an neighbors or relatives to check on an elderly person in need. The Deputy on elderly person in need. The Deputy on call should investigate beneath the call should investigate beneath the surface. It is not unusual for surface. It is not unusual for everything to seem OK when it is not. everything to seem OK when it is not. Take some time and talk to the Take some time and talk to the individual to see if anything seems out individual to see if anything seems out of the ordinary. Pride might keep the of the ordinary. Pride might keep the person from talking. So, be aware of person from talking. So, be aware of the person’s body language and the person’s body language and surrounding environment.surrounding environment.
Investigative procedure:Investigative procedure:
Obtaining an affidavit waiver of Obtaining an affidavit waiver of signature. This must be signed by signature. This must be signed by the person filing the complaint. It the person filing the complaint. It enables the detective to talk with enables the detective to talk with representatives of the financial representatives of the financial institutions and other locations institutions and other locations where checks may have been where checks may have been cashed.cashed.
Investigative operating Investigative operating procedures which include:procedures which include:
Running a background check Running a background check on the suspect for prior on the suspect for prior arrest arrest
Asking for any evidence of Asking for any evidence of misappropriation of funds misappropriation of funds (bank statements, canceled (bank statements, canceled checks, missing cash, etc.).checks, missing cash, etc.).
Checking credit card activityChecking credit card activity
Operating Procedures which Operating Procedures which include:include:
Obtaining a search warrant Obtaining a search warrant to access bank records. Even to access bank records. Even though the records can be though the records can be obtained by the holder of the obtained by the holder of the account, the warrant helps to account, the warrant helps to protect the bank from protect the bank from possible legal actions by the possible legal actions by the accused. accused.
Helpful Tips from Sheriff ManfreHelpful Tips from Sheriff Manfre
What do I do when a door to door What do I do when a door to door salesperson/solicitor refuses to salesperson/solicitor refuses to leave?leave?
Answer: Call the Sheriff’s Office or Answer: Call the Sheriff’s Office or your local Police department.your local Police department.
The Solicitor is required by Law to The Solicitor is required by Law to leave when your invitation is leave when your invitation is removed , and can be arrested and a removed , and can be arrested and a Trespass Warning can be issued Trespass Warning can be issued
Helpful Tips from Sheriff ManfreHelpful Tips from Sheriff Manfre
What do I do when Phone solicitors persist What do I do when Phone solicitors persist and call all hours of the night and or ask or and call all hours of the night and or ask or demand personal information?demand personal information?
Answer: NEVER give your date of birth , Answer: NEVER give your date of birth , address, social security number over the address, social security number over the phone to a solicitor. Legitimate sales phone to a solicitor. Legitimate sales personnel will verify your information and personnel will verify your information and not ask you for it. not ask you for it.
Late calls , with invitation withdrawn may be Late calls , with invitation withdrawn may be harassment – Call your Local Sheriff’s Office harassment – Call your Local Sheriff’s Office
How can Industry help avoid the How can Industry help avoid the Exploitation of the elderly?Exploitation of the elderly?
Financial Abuse of Elderly Financial Abuse of Elderly TargetedTargeted Bank Employees To Bank Employees To Receive Training To Combat Receive Training To Combat ExploitationExploitation
Many States provided training Many States provided training to Bank Tellers to recognize to Bank Tellers to recognize Elderly Exploitation Elderly Exploitation
Florida Website in the fight against Florida Website in the fight against elderly exploitation elderly exploitation
http://www.senior-sleuths.org/http://www.senior-sleuths.org/ This is a This is a Website supported by Attorney General Office Website supported by Attorney General Office of the State of Florida Region #3 Director of the State of Florida Region #3 Director /Seniors Vs Crime Project ,Director David /Seniors Vs Crime Project ,Director David BlacklockBlacklock
Flagler County Coordinators for Seniors Flagler County Coordinators for Seniors Vs Crimes Phone 386-437-4116 & E-MAILVs Crimes Phone 386-437-4116 & E-MAIL
1) Deputy John M Gaspar 1) Deputy John M Gaspar [email protected] [email protected]
2) Detective Jeff Stuart 2) Detective Jeff Stuart [email protected]@flcjn.net U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Department of Justice
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/
Elderly Exploitation Elderly Exploitation
If you or another feel that If you or another feel that you are being Exploited you are being Exploited Contact your Local Police Contact your Local Police Department and have Department and have them respond to help you them respond to help you evaluate your concerns.evaluate your concerns.
SummarySummary
INFORM, COMMUNICATE & REFERINFORM, COMMUNICATE & REFER Elderly Exploitation is Elderly Exploitation is
prevented , detected , and prevented , detected , and resolved when the elderly, their resolved when the elderly, their families , communities, families , communities, businesses, financial institutions, businesses, financial institutions, and Criminal Justice System work and Criminal Justice System work together to communicate , and together to communicate , and support the needs of our growing support the needs of our growing elderly population .elderly population .
SummarySummary
Refer elderly abuse to the proper Refer elderly abuse to the proper Law Enforcement AgencyLaw Enforcement Agency
Remember if it doesn’t look Remember if it doesn’t look right, question it.right, question it.
