Page 5 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - September 2017 - 24-09

Senior Times - September 2017
Page 5
ARE YOU SUSCEPTIBLE TO ELDER ABUSE?
By: John Grimaldi
Reports of physical and financial abuse of the elderly are on the rise throughout the country. It’s a crime that, experts
say, is largely underreported. But, a
new light needs to be shed on this dirty little secret, says Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
“Older Americans are easy targets
in most cases. Many of them depend on caregivers for survival and that makes them beholden and vulnerable. It also can make them reluctant to let anyone know what is happening to them. You’d think that friends and family would be the first to notice that an aging neighbor or relative is being abused. But, the sad fact is that in too many cases it is a family member or
a friend that is perpetrating the abuse.”
The alarming truth is that for each case of abuse that is reported there are dozens more that are not.
The Elder Justice Roadmap project, supported by the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, has a broad-ranging definition of elder abuse: “physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, as well as neglect, abandonments, and financial exploitation of an older person by another person or entity, that occurs
in any setting (e.g. home, community,
or facility), either in a relationship where there is an expectation of trust and/or when an older person is targeted based
on age or disability.”
If you suspect that someone whom you know is the victim of abuse, check it out. Signs of physical abuse are obvious. They
include unexplained injuries including new bruises and abrasions. If you notice that an aging relative or friend is making too many trips to the bank or is suddenly running
up mysterious charges on a credit card, he or she may be a victim of fraud. And, if you notice unusual weight loss or curious behavior, they could be signs of neglect or emotional abuse.
Nursing homes get most of the blame for elder abuse. But in too many cases, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse, the perpetrators are family members.
“Elder abuse is a much too pervasive problem in America where three and a half million men and women celebrate their 65th birthdays each and every year. And, where each year more people live longer than ever before. It is no longer unusual for us to live to be as old as 80, 90 and 100 years or more these days thanks to healthier lifestyles and the miracle of modern medicine.
With age comes new vulnerabilities that can make any of us susceptible to the crimes of angry and greedy predators. And, that’s why it is up to friends and family to keep a watchful eye open for anomalies that indicate older loved ones may be victims.
Local Learning Opportunities
The Michigan Department of Attorney General will be offering an Identity
Theft presentation at Heritage Commons Senior Center on September 6 from 12-1pm. They are located at 13444 Preston Drive in Marshall. Participants will learn the signs of identity theft and fraud; how to protect personal information online and
off; as well as what to do if becoming an identify theft victim. The program includes lunch and is free to members, or $5 for non-members. Call (269) 558-6150 to reserve lunch.
CareWell Services SW will be offering a free money safety dinner reception entitled, “Keeping Seniors Safe From Fraud” on Thursday, September 21 from 5:30- 7:30pm. The program will be offered at Squirrel Hollow Golf Course located at 12111 Helmer Road S in Battle Creek.
The program will include dinner and an information program and will be offered
at no cost to participants. For more details or to register please call (269) 966-2450.
The Village of Mill Creek is hosting
a consumer education presentation
at 300 Carl Ave in Battle Creek on
Friday, September 22. The program
will feature "Identify Theft" starting at 1pm. For additional information or to register please call (269) 962-0605.
CareWell Services SW will be offering a free dinner reception entitled, “Are You
A Sitting Duck?” on Thursday, September 28 from 5:30-7:30pm. This program will be offered at Dark Horse Brewery at
511 S. Kalamazoo Avenue in Marshall. This engaging presentation will feature Ron Tatro, Vice President at Elder Law of Michigan. For more details or to register please call CareWell Services at (269) 966-2450.
The Village of Mill Creek is hosting a consumer education presentation at 300 Carl Ave in Battle Creek on Friday, October 13. The program will feature "Online Safety" starting at 1pm. For additional information or to register please call (269) 962-0605.
CITY
Hastings Woodland
Union City
Albion Battle Creek Battle Creek Battle Creek Marshall Tekonsha
Jackson Michigan Center Spring Arbor
LOCATION
COA Building Eagles Club
FACILITATOR
Mary Cook Joyce Dennie
PHONE DAYS
(269) 948-4856 M-F (269) 367-4041 M,W,F
TIME
10am-2pm 10:30am-1pm
SENIOR DINING CENTERS
BARRY COUNTY
Delton
Faith United Methodist
Elayne Nottingham
(269) 623-5400
M,W,T
10:30am-1pm
Nashville
Main St. Banqets
Jenny Burlison
(269) 852-9182
M-F
10:30am-1pm
Meals provided by Barry County Commission on Aging. A program sponsored by Barry County United Way.
BRANCH COUNTY
Coldwater
Branch County CAA Office
Tamara Wittbrodt
(517) 278-8249
M-F
9am-1pm
Lunch Served at 12pm
Union City Fire Station Rusty Hampton (517) 741-7212 M,T,TH,F 10:30am-12pm
Lunch served at 12pm
Meals provided by Community Action Food and Nutritional Services. Funding sources AAA 3C, Branch County United Way, USDA and private donations.
CALHOUN COUNTY
Albion
Albion Senior Dining Center
Cynthia Rose
(866) 200-8877 ext 350
M,T,W,F
10:30am-1pm
Lunch served at 12pm
Clarence Dining Center
Cherryhill Manor Senior Center Springview Towers Dining Center Northside Senior Dining Center Heritage Commons
Tekonsha Community Hall
Sharon Rice Constance Siegel Caroline Oberlin Deboraha Sallee
Senior Health Partners
(866) 200-8877 (866) 200-8877 (866) 200-8877 (866) 200-8877 (269) 558-6150
(866) 200-8877
ext 350 ext 350 ext 350 ext 350
ext 350
M,T,W
M,W,F
M,W,F
T,W,Th
T, Th
T
10:30am-1pm 10:30am-1pm 10:30am-1pm 10:30am-1pm 12-1pm
10am
Lunch served at 11:45am Lunch served at 11:30am Lunch served at 11:30am Lunch served at 11:30am Can have a hot or cold meal Whole Person Wellness too
Lunch served at 12pm Lunch served at 12pm Lunch served at 12pm
Battle Creek
Bedford Manor Dining Center
Burdell Wells
(866) 200-8877 ext 350
M,W,F
10:30am-1pm
Lunch served at 11:30am
Battle Creek
Lakeview 900 Dining Center
Karl Hoard
(866) 200-8877 ext 350
M,W,F
10:30am-1pm
Lunch served at 11:30am
Battle Creek
Westbrook Place Dining Center
Michelle Dove
(866) 200-8877 ext 350
M,W,F
10:30am-1pm
Lunch served at 11:30am
Homer
Homer Presbyterian Church
Senior Health Partners
(866) 200-8877 ext 350
T
10:30am
Whole Person Wellness too
Marshall
Marshall House Dining Center
Bablynn Squires
(866) 200-8877 ext 350
M,W,F
10:30am-1pm
Lunch served at 12pm
Meals provided by Senior Services. Funding by Calhoun County Senior Services, AAA 3B, USDA and private donations.
JACKSON COUNTY
Jackson
Crouch Senior Center
Michelle Rose
(517) 788-4364
M,T,W,Th,F
8am-4pm
Lunch served at 12pm
Park Forest
St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church Spring Arbor Senior Center
Lynn Walker Nikki Soli Bev Greene
(517) 787-9750 (517) 764-2950 (517) 750-1010
M,T,W,Th,F M,W,F M,T,W,Th,F
10am-1pm 10am-2pm 8:30am-2:30pm
Jackson
Word of Light
Nancy Behling
(517) 782-7755
M,T,W,Th,F
10am-1:30pm
Lunch served at 12pm
Norvell
Norvell/Township Hall
Gail Jamieson
(517) 536-4370
M,W,F
10am-1pm
Lunch served at 12pm