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March 17, 2006     Barnstable Patriot
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March 17, 2006
 
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THE BABHSTABLESENIOR CEHTEB From the Director By Elyse DeGroot Hello all, April will bring showers and taxes and other equally depend- able events. With the open enrollment period for Pre- scription Advantage here again, the Senior Center is also busy responding to local seniors who are trying to navigate the maze of the "benefits" program. If you have questions or need an appointment, please call Claudia or Judy in the out- reach department. We are also celebrating National Volunteer Month and I would like to take this opportunity to say a very public THANK YOU to all our volunteers. We truly could not run the front desk, vans, blood pressure clinics, flu clinics, mailings, events, and boards etc. without all of your help. If you are interested in learn- ing more about volunteering at the Center, please give me a call. This weekend, I will be in California at the National Council on the Aging Con- ference. As you read this, I will be preparing myself both figuratively and liter- ally for my big conference presentation on Saturday about the Barnstable Senior Center and the wonderful work we have accomplished on the Boomer front. Yes, I know you have heard me say this before, but due to the demograph- ics here on the Cape, we are facing a huge influx of boomers. The Senior Center staff, along with our board and the Suffolk University communications program, have been working hard over the last year, consider- ing how best to appeal to this group.We are now open evenings, are in the process of updating our "image" and are trying to create pro- gramming that will intrigue this new audience. I will be reporting on these ideas and the other changes we have incorporated over the last year during my session, as well as describing a new collaboration we will be initiating in April. If you are a newly minted Boomer, or are considering what you would like to do with the next stage of your life, Erin Healy from Prime- time Magazine and I cor- dially invite you to a Third Age Chat at the Center on Wednesday,April 12, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. These talks, or gatherings, are occurring across the country as Boom- ers seek out peer groups for ideas, support and to be kept honest in their goal-setting. Near Boston they are called/Transition Talks," in California they are "Elder Wisdom Circles" and if you are a woman you can partake in a group called "Womansage," Here on the Cape we are thinkingit might be more of a personal "Third Age Chat." Whatever you call it, the idea is the same. Come meet some people your age, talk about your hopes, visions and dreams for the future and have a group of peers help you manage your third age. I hope you willjoin us as we explore the road that lies ahead together. Please call the Senior Center at 508-862-4750 to RSVP for what I hope will be an in- spiring evening. And send good thoughts my way Saturday afternoon. Elyse Do You Have Pain, Tingling Numbness Cold Feet, Burning Feet & Hands? Clinically Proven New Therapy Helped Thousands With Neuropathy • Reduction in Pain • Restores sensation in feet & hands! • Improved Balance - fewer falls! • Potential to prevent amputations! SAFE, PAINLESS NON-INVASIVE, DRUG-FREE Call now and ask for an appointment to see if our Neuropathy Treatment Program is right for you! The Physical Therapy Center 508-428-0300 719 Main Street, Osterville (between Wimpy 's & Fancy 's) ¦ J f'lw- faring for You, IComforting Solutions ^¦ ^ ^ ^ ™ For In-Home Care™ • Meal Preparation • Feeding • Errands • Light Housekeeping • Respite Care • IncidentalTransportation • Laundry • Incontinence Care • Companionship • Bathing • 24-Hour CareAvailable • Screened, Bonded and Insured For a Free In-Home Consultation , Call / ? ^ ^\ I-866-888-5800 (g| ) c ZSrS. www.comfortkeepers.com &„h 0ffii f hijw»M>OHWA optrmrd Heeding the call Elder Services fights against increased elder abuse By Kathleen Manwaring kmanwaring@barnstablepatriot.com TAPPING RESOURCES - Leslie Scheer, executive director of Elder Services, meets with George Bryant, Provincetown 's member of the county Assembly of Delegates,to review her agency's funding request for its nutrition programs. Instances of elder abuse on Cape Cod have been increas- inginrecent years,withphone scams and physical abuse by caregivers .becoming more widespread. Organizations such asElder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands are tak- ing notice. "During fiscal year 2005, there were 11,503 cases of elder abuse reported state- wide in Massachusetts," said Maryanne Ryan, director of clinical services and planning at Elder Services. "Almost 570 of those were from the Cape and Islands. This fiscal year, we've had 447 new cases reported with 163 open and active." Elder abuse is an umbrella term used to describe poten- tial issues pertaining to se- niors.These include selfabuse or neglect, abuse or neglect by a caregiver, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and financial exploitation. "The aging population is increasing and with that are incidents of abuse and ne- glect," said Ryan. In cases of abuse and/or neglect,situationsvarywidely. One person may be suffer- ing at the hands of a family member struggling with an addiction while another may be neglecting his or her own health by not eating properly or skippingdoses of important medications. Scenarios can be unsettling. Seniors with dark bruises or broken bones inflicted by troubled caregivers appear at local hospitals. Emotional abuse can occur when weary caregivers become overbur- dened and lash out. Financialexploitationisalso becoming common among seniors. While phone scams are most familiar, elders are takenadvantage of financially in other ways as well. It is not uncommon for homebound individuals to hire a private citizen to assist them in an attempt to cut costs. Such hirings are often done without obtaining refer- ences or background checks, allowing a potential employee to fabricate information. Individuals hired through an agency or even volunteers through organizations such as Elder Services must have arecent CORI criminalrecord check on file with the state. "It is a state law that all volunteers working with the elderly submit to a CORI," said Leslie Scheer, executive director of Elder Services. CORI forms alert organiza- tions and employers when there are problems with a person's background. In an area such as the Cape wherethe seasonalpopulation changes dramatically, seniors become easy prey, especially those who may be suffering from memory problems. Savvy predators target the elderly to obtain their Social Security checks and gain ac- cess to their bank accounts. "All of a sudden, you've got a person who is known for saving begin cashing a lot of checks," said Ryan. Battling elder abuse prob- lems may seem daunting, but Scheer notes that it begins with a simple phone call. Should a family member, friend, or neighbor suspect el- der abuse isoccurring, Scheer asks people to call their hot- line immediately. "Make the call and talk to us," she said. "There is a local presence 24 hours a day." Unfortunately,witnessesto abuse are waryof makinga re- port lest their names become known. Ryan stresses that , although the agency does request information about callers,identities are carefully guarded. "We do protect the anonym- ity of the caller," she said. "Someone will know a report was made but not who made it." Determiningwhether a per- son isbeingabused, neglected or exploited can be extremely challenging. Unlike children, adults have the right to refuse services by an agency. For ex- ample, if it is suspected that a senior may be placing him or herself injeopardy through self-abuse or neglect , proof can only be found through a home visit. Elder Services can attempt a visit, but the individual has the right to deny them entry. Other obstacles in getting at the truth of a situation involve mental clarity and willingness to cooperate on the victim's part. "We try to educate the el- der to empower them," said Scheer. The causes of abuse are as varied as the types of abuse , ranging from substance addic- tion to mental illnesses such as Alzheimer 's. "The same issues affecting many younger people are also affecting older people ," said Scheer. Added Ryan, "The stressors oflife are very similar - money problems, drug and alcohol abuse, housing." Both Scheer and Ryan en- courage family members and friends of elders to make a note of any sudden changes in behavior, moods or health as any one of these could be a sign of trouble. Once Elder Services re- ceives an abuse report it is handled according to the like- lihood of imminent danger to the victim. Should emergency assistancebe needed,it issent immediately. "While we're tak- ing the lead, we're collaborat- ing with other organizations for support ," said Scheer. This includes the District Attorney 's office when mat- ters cross lines of legality. Of course, the best measure of protection is prevention. Elder Services has programs to assist everyone from home- bound seniorsto their caregiv- ers. "The elder is our client, but we're frequently work- ing with the family system," Scheer said. "It's important to know you're making a dif- ference. " To report elder abuse , call Elder Services at 508-394-4630 or 1-800- 922-2275 after business hours. For more information about Elder Services and its programs , visit the office at 68 Route 134 in South Dennis. L0V€ your hair LEONA hairst ylist 9wiannoave osterville 508-4207812 BANKERS LIFE AND CASUALTY COMPANY We specialize in seniors • Medicare Supplement • Prescription Drug Plan • Long Term Care Insurance • Life Insurance • Fixed Annuities Complimentary Consultation Christine M. Fitzsimmons, CLTC Licensed Resident Agent 508-477-2800 x201 Artisan expo Senior artists will dis- play their work March 21 at 10:30 a.m. in The Great Artisan Expo at Barnstable Senior Center in Hyannis. Mayors for Meals Barnstable Town Man- ager John Klimm willhelp Elder Services deliver Meals on Wheels March 22 as part of the Mayors for Meals Day celebration. Drug plan open Enrollment is open through April 28 for the state's Prescription Ad- vantage pharmacy assis- tance program. For details, call 800-AGE-INFO (800- 243-4636) and press 1. UNIQUE HOME DETOX™ for drugs and alcohol. Private & confidential. Physician Directed. Covered by most insurance plans. —y$y * Custom Painting EJS I* Wallpaper Removal IBjOB nT • Hardwood Floors iWBr g| • Rotten Wood I Available i LN *U >r Replacement I—Now! rr 508-771-1 608 j) ANN M BAJART M0 Eye Exams • Consultations • Second Opinions A.ROBERTBELLOWS,M.D. Eye Care For: Cataracts • Glaucoma • Retina • Cornea umimw. ./ , r\ r I -J m V O ALBERT R. 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