We’ve selected and analyzed the most helpful recent articles and trending topics in the news. We are pleased to provide the latest in national efforts to raise awareness of elder abuse and prevention, advocate for elder justice, fight against ageism and improve the resources available to our community. Please contact us if you would like to share a news item or resource.
Elder Abuse Often Missed in the Emergency Room
Researchers reviewing national data found that emergency doctors make a formal diagnosis of elder abuse cases in only one of 7,700 visits by seniors. “These findings indicate that the vast majority of victims of elder abuse pass through the emergency department without the problem being identified,” study senior author Dr. Timothy Platts-Mills, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine, said in a school news release. This research was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Scams Push Foreclosure Fraud to Limit
The Associated Press reports the startling rise of deed theft and foreclosure scams. Some of the victims are older adults. For example, an attorney in Indiana states, “Deed theft victims are often older, or have some other perceived vulnerability, such as difficulty with English or a limited grasp of finances.” Some of these cases can take years to resolve: “Undoing deed theft damage can take herculean efforts.”
To Be a Genius, Think Like a 94-Year-Old
A study of Nobel physics laureates since the 1980s found that the majority of those laureates have made their discoveries, on average, at age 50. The study also found that the peak age of creativity for Nobel winners is getting higher every year.
Social media is not just for the young! Social media can be a powerful tool to disperse ideas and change attitudes. “Social media is a useful tool for spreading the word about positive aging and giving everyone a voice. It allows people to join in national (or even global) conversations…”
First Comprehensive National Reporting System for Adult Protective Services Programs
Unfortunately, the extent of elder abuse by guardians is relatively unknown to us due to the limited data that we have available,” stated Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) at a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing. Early next year, HHS will begin the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS), which the department describes as “the first comprehensive national reporting system” for Adult Protective Service (APS) programs. The data collection will include information from investigations into the mistreatment of older adults and adults with disabilities.