Crime against elderly top concern




Home \| Elder Rights \| Health \| Pension Watch \| Rural Aging \| Armed Conflict \| Aging Watch at the UN

	SEARCH	SUBSCRIBE
			Mission \| Contact Us \| Internships \| Donate Now!

back

Crime against elderly top concern
County protection unit works against abusers, helps inform

By RACHEL ZINN

Toledo Blade, August 8, 2003

Denise Cubbon, who leads the senior protection unit, seeks to empower senior citizens against crime.

The senior protection unit of the Lucas County prosecutor’s office is helping elderly residents stand up against crime.

The unit has worked with senior citizens for a little over a year, prosecuting cases against their abusers and holding informational meetings at local senior events.

"Crime prevention is our big focus," said Denise Cubbon, the assistant county prosecutor who leads the unit. "Our goal is to empower seniors."

About a month ago, the protection unit started the senior help line. Seniors can call 419-939-2040 during standard business hours to discuss concerns about crime with trained operators. All calls are confidential.

Tips for elderly to avoid con artists

This time of year, many senior citizens fall victim to con artists offering cheap home repairs. The Lucas County prosecutor’s office suggests:

Always get a written and signed contract that describes services the contractor will provide.

Get estimates from three different companies before hiring a contractor.

Obtain references of prior customers and contact the references.

Do not pay for services in advance.

Never pay for services in cash.

Call the police if someone begins repairing your home without permission.

Beware of workers driving throughneighborhoods offering discounted home repairs and people who approach you saying you need a quick home repair for a problem you were not aware of, such as a leaky roof.

"The help line was a result of our going out into the community and talking to seniors about what services would help them," Ms. Cubbon said.

Operators at the help line said they have received about 30 phone calls so far on a variety of topics.

Ms. Cubbon emphasized that the service is not an emergency hotline, so anyone who thinks they might be in danger should call 911 immediately.

Seniors often are reluctant to report crime, Ms. Cubbon said, because they fear authorities will view them as unable to care for themselves and will force them into a nursing home.

The senior protection unit is trying to educate seniors about the justice system so they understand that attorneys want to prosecute criminals and help elderly victims continue living as independently as possible.

"There’s so many steps between living at home totally on your own and being put in a nursing home against your will," Ms. Cubbon said.

In addition to sending speakers to local senior centers and other organizations, the senior protection unit hosted two visiting groups at the county courthouse. The visitors got a tour of the courthouse, lunch, and a presentation on crime prevention.

Dorothy Landskroener, head of the Friendship Circle at Trinity Lutheran Church, took her group to the courthouse.

"They told us how as senior citizens we should protect ourselves from scams," she said. "It was a most enjoyable day, a most informative day, and people came away very excited."

Thieves often target seniors because they tend to be trusting, they often keep large amounts of cash at home, and because they are perceived as less likely to report crime. Many seniors are taken advantage of by people they know, such as relatives or neighbors.

The protection unit is working on a program that would focus on training bank employees to detect theft from seniors’ bank accounts. Another initiative would pair seniors with volunteers who would act as their guardians, helping them with major decisions.

The senior protection unit has three attorney positions assigned to its cases. Toledo police Sgt. Bob Baumgartner, who heads the burglary squad, said the attorneys have been helpful in getting elderly crime victims to testify.

"It really helps to have someone you can go to that just deals with the elderly," he said. "They make sure these cases don’t fall through the cracks."

Ms. Cubbon said it is important to educate the entire community about crime against seniors, because anyone can confidentially report a suspected abuse against a senior citizen to the county’s adult protective services. County workers follow up on the tip within 48 hours.

"This is not a new type of crime," she said. "We’re just raising the level of awareness about it."