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Our last years, may
we live in peace!
By Klaus Guttmann
klausguttmann@comcast. net
It happened right here on
the Cape. A couple of months
ago, a 73 year old lady, a re-
tired nurses aide, acare giver,
was brutally murdered in her
home.
The allegedperpetrator was
related to and had previous
dealings with the victim. Her
unsuspecting husband was
mowingtheir lawn during this
horrendous crime. The end
result of this "Elder Abuse"
was death.
Can there be worse deeds
perpetrated against old folks
who have earned to live their
last years in peace? There
certainly can be.
There have been many doc-
umented casesof physicaland
mental abuse. Many Seniors
are unable to cope with these,
many times criminal, actions.
The National Committee for
the Prevention ofElder Abuse
notes that 4% to 6% of Elders
are being abused.
The personal losses associ-
ated with abuse can be dev-
astating and include the loss
of independence , homes, life
savings, health, dignity, and
security.Victimsof abuse have
been shown to have shorter
life expectancies than non-
abused older people. Physical
abuse can rangefrom slapping
or shoving to severe beatings
and restraining with ropes or
chains.
When a care giver or other
person uses enough force to
cause unnecessary pain or
injury, even if the reason is
to help the older person, the
behavior can be regarded as
abusive.
Physical abuse can include
hitting, beating, pushing,
kicking, pinching, burning, or
biting.It can alsoinclude such
acts against the older person
as over- or under-medicating,
depriving the elder of food ,
or exposing the person to
severe weather—deliberately
or inadvertently.
Emotionalor psychological
abuse can range from name-
calling or giving the "silent
treatment" to intimidating
and threatening the indi-
vidual.When afamilymember,
a caregiver, or other person
behaves in a way that causes
fear, mental anguish, and
emotional pain or distress,
the behavior can be regarded
as abusive.
Emotional and psychologi-
cal abuse can include insults
andthreats.It canalsoinclude
treating the older person like
a child and isolating the per-
son from family, friends, and
regular activities—either by
force or threats or through
manipulation.
Caregiver neglect can range
from care giving strategies
that withhold appropriate
attention from the individual
to intentionally failing to
meet the physical, social, or
emotional needs of the older
person. Neglect can include
failure to provide food, water,
clothing, medications , and
assistance with the activities
of daily living or help with
personal hygiene.
If the caregiver has respon-
sibility for paying bills for the
older person , neglect also
can include failure to pay the
bills or to manage the elder
person's money responsibly.
What canyou doabout Elder
Abuse? There are laws that
are more severe in punishing
those responsible for Elder
Abuse. These laws are only
as good astheir enforcement.
Enforcement depends on de-
tection of these crimes.
This is where we all come
into the picture.
Don't let your fear of med-
dling in someone else's busi-
ness stop you from reporting
your suspicions. Youcould be
saving someone's life.
Your Town of Barnstable
TRIAD is asking you to be
observant. If you see or hear
something that just doesn't
seem right, call your Police
Department. If there is im-
minent danger, call 9-1-1. To
report concernsyou mayhave,
call 1-508-775-0387.
The Barnstable Police De-
partment Detective Division
has trained and experienced
officers , of both genders ,
who will investigate these
occurrences. They may want
to visit you to obtain all the
facts needed to remedy these
abusive acts. All this will be
handled with extreme dis-
cretion.
There is also a Common-
wealth Hot Line that you
can call, 1-800-922-2275. Your
information will then be di-
rected to the proper authori-
ties. It isup to all of us to take
this seriously.
S Barnstable
£ TRIAD
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B:3
and programs are designed
with you in mind. If there is
something new you want to
try, we will happily round
up a teacher. If there is a
current topic that you are
interested in learning more
about, we will schedule a
seminar.Bring your friends.
Wehave alovely lobby where
you can sit.Cometakeaclass
together.
Cape Cod and the Is-
lands have always defied
rules. Think Cape Cod Ca-
sual.Think Nantucket Reds.
Think Nomar Garciaparra. I
guess you probably get the
point. Come break some
barriers down withme.Let's
have anattitude adjustment
party together.
I am thrilled to introduce
Catherine Reynolds , our
social work intern from BC.
Catherine will be helping in
the Outreach department,
working with our Adult So-
cialDayclients,workingwith
seniors on both anindividual
and familybasis, and manag-
ing to take classesin Boston
all at the same time. We will
be doing a Talk of the Town
soon together, so keep it
tuned to channel 18.
I hope to see you around
YOUR Center soon.
From the Director...
Remember?
a i
Call us
before you get into troublelll
QLSEN, an ethical establishment to stand behind the
service and products they supply. No product or warranty
is any better than the installer, you need the best con-
cerned professionals who make their living by providing
service and reliable equipment. People who will be there
to help, even after the bill is paid.
Call Now: 385-5290 VftnU3EIAI
PLUMBING& HEATINGINCORPORATED
P.O.BOX 2026, DENNIS,MA 02638
Enjoy a "senior moment"
and volunteer for Elder Ser-
vices of Cape Cod and the
Islands ' Barnstable Senior
Dining Center. Nutritious
meals will be served to folks
60 and older in alovely, social
setting.Volunteersare needed
to greet and serve meals and
help clean up. Greeters and
servers are needed Mondays,
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Fridays from 11 a.m. to 12:15
p.m. Kitchen help is needed
Monday s, Thursdays , and
Fridays from noon until 1
p.m. For more information,
call Lorraine Fitzgerald at
508-790-1462.
Senior moments
The Barnstable Senior Cen-
ter invitesseniorartists 50and
older to submit an original
piece of artwork for consid-
eration for the 2006 poster
design for the "Silver Plate"
fundraiser on Oct. 10.Art can
be dropped off Aug. 14from 9
a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Senior
Center and a representative
work will be chosen on Aug.
15. For more information ,
call Elyse DeGroot at the
Barnstable Senior Center
(508-862-4750).
Art contest
Mackenzie Melemed, child
piano prodigy, will perform
a special concert at the
Barnstable Senior Center on
Aug. 8 at 1 p.m. with an ice
cream social to follow. This
event is free, but an RSVP is
required. Call 508-862-4750 to
reserve your seat.
Little piano man
Be Sure To
Say Thanks'
For Us...
WhenYouPatronize
OurAdvertisers!
\t\ 7\
IF YOU ARE 50+
SAVE THE DATE
^IJ^^^^Z
T^^I
P^ -''' Cape Cod Jk
KV Ji9
mr^k^.c °"e8e MJCsmmm
OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, August 13, 1 to 3 P.M.
Cafeteria - Grossmann Commons Building
Cape Cod Community College
?Meet the Coordinators ?Chat
?Register for Courses*
Take 2 courses for the nominal fee of $75 — Bring your checkbook
Fall Semester Classes Begin
September 18, 2006
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