Hundreds of Elder Abuse Cases in 2011

Tools

By Sarah Gravlee

Story Published: Jan 2, 2012 at 6:55 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 3, 2012 at 2:14 PM MDT

BILLINGS - There are currently about 39 million Americans over the age of 65. In the next 25 years, as baby boomers enter retirement, experts expect that number to skyrocket. It's a demographic that is often targeted by criminals and even family members.

Recent statistics show more than 1 million Americans over the age of 65 were injured, exploited, or mistreated by someone they depend on for care or protection. That's elder abuse according the National Center on Elder Abuse. Denise Armstrong with Big Sky Senior Services said it's happening in your back yard.

"We do get an average of about 30 referrals a month," Armstrong said. There were 350 referrals in total last year.

"One in ten are reported, " Armstrong said. "So, nine in ten aren't. It's big; and it's growing; and it continues to grow."

Armstrong said about half of the cases they respond to is considered self-abuse where seniors aren't able to pay their bills. "Even as much as they haven't had heat or electricity in their home for months, and so we respond to those," she said. "We try to link them up to services in the community."

The other half is mostly financial abuse. Armstrong said in many instances younger family members pray on their older relative's Social Security check.

"Their Social Security checks average $600 to $700 a month. It's barely enough to cover rent," Armstrong said. "Unfortunately, if people are motivated by other things, drugs or alcohol, they'll look to any source they can to get their cash."

Big Sky Senior Services was one of the first organizations in the country to conduct gatekeeper training, teaching bank tellers, meter readers and mail carriers to spot and report possible elder abuse. Last year they trained 500 people. Armstrong said she hopes with this training the community is able to prevent more seniors from becoming victims in the new year.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Your Weather Authority

Icon
Current Temp 64.0 °F
Partly Cloudy
Wind : Southwest at
5.8 mph
Humidity : 45 %
Pressure : 30.02 in
More Weather

Party America Sky Cam

More Weather

On Demand

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.