No-cost training offered throughout the county to recognize the signs of elder abuse
VISALIA – It is important for family members to take care of their elders who cannot take care of themselves. But sometimes they do not even know when their parents or grandparents are being abused. So this month Tulare County Adult Protective Services invites community members to take part in a no-cost training to increase awareness and honor those senior community members who have suffered as victims of elder abuse.
“Here in California, Adult Protective Services (APS) receives more than 196,000 reports of elder and dependent adult abuse per year, and reports are increasing. It is estimated that only one in 24 cases is reported, and for financial abuse, only one in 44 cases is reported,” notes John Mauro, L.C.S.W., Deputy Director for Adult Services at the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency. “But together we can make a difference and help take care of those who have taken care of us. Through education, recognition, and reporting, we can improve the lives of elders and dependent adults in our community.”
In Tulare County in 2016–2017, there were 2,820 reports—a 1% increase from the 2,737 reports in 2015–2016. Tulare County Adult Protective Services receives an average of seven reports of elder abuse every day.
During June, World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, each report of abuse during 2016–2017 will be represented by one purple flag placed on the front lawn at Visalia’s Government Plaza on South Mooney Boulevard, in addition to a banner to encourage the community to report elder abuse.
Elder and dependent adult abuse can involve neglect, self-neglect, and physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse. It affects seniors across all cultures, races, and socioeconomic groups. Each year, older adults lose billions of dollars in telemarketing fraud, mail scams, and fake lotto schemes.
Dates for the no-cost training are as follows:
June 6 – Exeter Senior Center, 11 a.m., 559-592-5960
June 11 – Woodlake Senior Center, 11 a.m., 559-564-3251
June 14 – Goshen Senior Center, 11 a.m., 559-651-1030
June 18 – Earlimart Senior Center, 11 a.m., 661-849-2232
June 20 – Porterville Senior Center, 11 a.m., 559-782-4725
June 21 – Lindsay Senior Center, 11 a.m., 559-562-5859
Tulare County Adult Protective Services aims to “Protect older and dependent adults from abuse and provide excellent public service to the community.”
Partnerships with the Tulare County Sheriff, Tulare County District Attorney, local hospitals and medical practitioners, and other law enforcement agencies make investigations of elder abuse possible. Your reporting call is completely confidential; please call 559-623-0650 if you suspect a family member, friend, or neighbor is being abused.
For more information or to report suspected elder or dependent adult abuse, call 559-623-0650.
