How to Identify Elder Abuse, What Can Be Done about It?

Elder abuse generally falls into four categories:

Physical. Bruises, scratches or injuries that don’t match the explanations given. Inappropriate use of medication or physical restraint.

Neglect. Poor hygiene, clothes torn or dirty. Untreated medical conditions. The senior is malnourished or dehydrated or living in unsafe housing.

Psychological. The elderly person is withdrawn or hesitant to talk around a caregiver. The senior seems extremely forgetful or confused or is restricted from contact with others.

Financial. Implausible explanations by a relative or caregiver about the finances. Unexplained bank withdrawals or changes in spending patterns, often accompanied by the appearance of a new friend. Checks cashed by other people. The elderly person’s belongings are missing. Unpaid bills or eviction notices.

If you suspect an elderly person is being subject to any of the abuse described above, call the Ventura County elder abuse hotline at (805) 654-3200; in Simi Valley, call (805) 582-8062. Or contact the California attorney general abuse hotline at (800) 722-0432, and they’ll refer the complaint to the appropriate agency.

What can be done to avoid becoming a victim of a construction scam? The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) recommends:

•Don’t let salespeople into your home unless you called them

•Check the identification of the contractor or service and repair people before letting them in and hire only licensed contractors, verifying their license with the CSLB beforehand

•Get three bids and then three references on the contractor you’ve chosen. Pay a visit to the home of a reference to evaluate the quality of the work

•Don’t pay for work in advance or in cash

•Pay no more than 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less, as a down payment

•Don’t let payments get ahead of the work

•Have a written contract spelling out the exact work that’s to be done, and make sure you understand it completely before signing it

•Keep a file of all the paperwork, including records of payment

For more information, call the CSLB at (800) 321-2752 or visit www.cslb.ca.gov

To thwart identity thieves, Oxnard Detective Louis Mancha recommends that you:

•Never carry your Social Security card with you or leave it in your car

•Write with a marker on the backs of credit cards: "Check my identification"

•Get a copy of your credit report every six months

•Buy a paper shredder, the type that makes confetti. Thieves will spend the time needed to piece together the long strips of paper other types of shredders make. The preferred shredder may be more pricey, but it’ll save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run

For more information on financial abuse of the elderly, contact the Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) at (805) 497-0189. FAST is a group of volunteers from law enforcement, the legal, medical and mental health professions, government, real estate and the finance arena that provides information and referrals to state and local resources. They also educate the community and professionals who serve the elderly and dependent adults on how to spot, prevent and respond to financial abuse.

More legal information that covers a wide range of senior topics—from explaining what a reverse mortgage is to information on Social Security benefits—is available in the brochure "Seniors & the Law; A Guide for Maturing Californians." Mail a request for a free copy to Office of Media and Information Services, The State Bar of California, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105-1639 or make a request via e-mail at BARCOMM@calbar.ca.gov.

For information on the services of the long-term care ombudsman, call (805) 656-1986. Their services are free and confidential.

Families with relatives in nursing care facilities and the facility’s residents are encouraged to get acquainted with the ombudsman who visits their facility.