Claremont seniors spotlight elder abuse

By TORY DENIS
[email protected]
CLAREMONT — In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness (WEAAD) Day, close to 30 residents of the Earl M. Bourdon Centre in Claremont took part on Friday, June 15 in a series of activities and information sessions geared toward helping local senior citizens increase awareness of elder abuse, neglect, fraud, and exploitation. 

“Everybody enjoys this because it’s an important time,” said Earl Bourdon resident Cheryl Shaimas, who said that as a former certified nursing aide in Rutland, she has seen elder abuse – sometimes by family, and occasionally by co-workers – in her former workplaces. While working in a nursing home in the past, she said, she felt it was important to help keep the residents safe. 

“That’s why I was always there with them,” she said. 

Shaimas said she really enjoys the educational sessions she attends at the Claremont center, and feels she has “learned a lot” from them. 

Center residents gathered outdoors in front of the center at 1:30 p.m. to launch Friday’s awareness event and to be more environmentally-friendly blew bubbles in place of a balloon release, and held on to their bright red and purple balloons. The residents also celebrated the educational day with a cake. 

“I needed something to lift my spirits,” said resident Donald Dustin, who was outdoors with the group, smiling, a helium balloon in one hand. He also added that he has personally been the victim of past identity fraud, losing more than $8,000 to that scam. 

The apartment complex has 88 residents, and some took part in the outdoor celebration, while others attended the educational session and other activities centered around elder abuse awareness.

The events at the center on Maple Avenue, arranged by Earl Bourdon Centre Service Coordinator Linda Schettino, were part of a larger movement to promote awareness of elder abuse and to provide information nationwide. 

Elderly Housing & Operations Corporation (EHDOC) manages the Earl Bourdon Centre. Along with the residents in Claremont, residents of in 57 other EHDOC senior housing communities in 14 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico joined together on June 15 to promote World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. 

WEAAD serves as a call‐to‐action for individuals, organizations and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, according to a press release from EHDOC. 

Following the bubble release and celebration, the group headed indoors for an informative presentation by Kaity Ferland, a Referral, Education, Assistance and Prevention (REAP) counselor at West Central Behavioral Health. REAP is a prevention program available to all older adults in New Hampshire, and is designed to help older individuals take control of their lives and to live a happy, healthy, independent lifestyle.

Ferland said she visits the center monthly, presenting a variety of educational session for the residents of the apartment complex.

The purpose of Friday’s presentation, which focused on scams and fraud, was to help some of the seniors at the center be more aware of what to look out for.

“There’s so much out there,” Ferland said. 

As part of the session on Friday, Ferland asked Claremont residents about their own experiences and struggles, and discussed fraud and safety. 

Research has shown that elderly abuse – in the form of neglect, fraud, violence and exploitation – is one of the biggest issues facing seniors around the world. World Health Organization data suggests that 4 to 6 percent of elderly suffer from some form of abuse, a large percentage of which goes unreported, according to EHDOC, which is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and manages 57 senior housing communities, including the Earl Bourdon Centre. 

“The safety of our seniors has never been more important,” said EHDOC President and CEO Steve Protulis, in a press release. “World Elder Abuse Day focuses on the terrible reality of elder abuse. EHDOC provides safe and affordable housing for our seniors and gives them a vital sense of security. We shield them and, in some cases, help them heal from the economic and physical abuse they have received in the past.” 

Other senior centers also offer regular information on fraud prevention. In Newport, a session about fraud and scams is planned for Wednesday, June 20, when Bar Harbor Bank & Trust will present “Money Smarts for Older Adults” at the Newport Senior Center. Bank staff will be at the center from 11 a.m. to noon to share tips about managing money, avoiding scams and other forms of fraud. This free seminar will focus on grandparent scams, IRS telephone scams, identity theft, and scams that target veterans. Guests do not need to be a member of the Newport Senior Center to participate in that seminar.

The United Nations has designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The day focuses global attention on the problem of physical, emotional and financial abuse of elders. 

In Vermont, Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced on Friday the launch of a permanent unit, known as the “Elder Protection Initiative,” within his office. This unit will focus on supporting and protecting Vermont’s aging population, and will collaborate with Vermont 2-1-1 and Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont on elder-related projects, according to a press release from the AG’s office.

The AG’s office is also collaborating with the Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont (COASEV). Recently, COASEV received a grant from the United States Department of Justice to support the development of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) in Windham County to combat elder abuse in the region. 

“We see potential for the county-based MDT approach to be an effective model for Vermont, in terms of addressing elder abuse,” said Carol Stamatakis, executive director of Senior Solutions, based in Springfield, Vermont. “We welcome the attorney general’s new initiative and look forward to working together,” she said. 

As part of Senior Solutions’ grant, Donovan will send a prosecutor to a DOJ elder abuse prosecution training this August. The AGO and Senior Solutions will collaborate with other agencies and organizations to explore the potential relevance of the MDT approach statewide.

The announcement of the Elder Protection Initiative comes on the heels of a recently concluded listening tour by the Vermont AG, during which he traveled to all 14 counties and addressed the issue of older Vermonters’ greatest needs, concerns, and vulnerabilities. During the listening tour, the AG’s staff visited senior centers, senior meal sites, and senior housing units and met with approximately 230 representatives of 65 different organizations that serve older Vermonters, including the Area Agencies on Aging, SASH, Meals on Wheels, home health agencies, hospitals, the VT Alzheimer’s Association, the Vermont Center For Aging, AARP, and Legal Aid, among others. 

For more information, visit ago.vermont.gov/epi. Vermonters with questions or aging-related concerns may dial 2-1-1 or visit www.navigateresources.net/211vermont/. For more information on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, visit www.ehdoc.org, or call the REAP Service Link at (866) 634-9412 and ask for a counselor, as one-on-one sessions are also available.

Anyone who is concerned that they or a person they know may be the target of elder abuse can call the New Hampshire Central Intake for Adult Protective Services line, toll-free, at (800) 949-0470.