Crime
How to spot signs of, report elder abuse
THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES — Approximately one in 10 older people living in the United States has experienced physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse or neglect, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse.
By Holly Gainer
Approximately one in 10 older people living in the United States has experienced physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse or neglect, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse.
To understand how to keep your elderly loved ones safe, whether in your care or in the care of others, Patricia Speck, DNSc, a board-certified family nurse practitioner who specializes in forensic nursing, family and sexual violence at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, explains the different types of elder abuse and how to spot signs of and report suspected abuse.
Physical and sexual abuse
Physical abuse is defined as the intentional use of physical force that results in illness, injury, pain or functional impairment.
“Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns and bedsores are signs of physical abuse,” Speck explained. “If you notice sudden changes in behavior, particularly when the suspected abuser is around, that is a sign that you should seek help for your loved one.”
Speck says health care providers should suspect abuse if they see subdural hemorrhages (or bleeding that occurs outside the brain as a result of a head injury) and eye, nose and mouth injuries.
“Nurses should particularly look for signs of intentional injuries, such as contusions of lips, cheeks, soft palate, facial fractures, missing hair, particularly in odd places and not where you would expect to see balding,” Speck said. “Bruising and skin tears in odd places, like the abdomen or under the arm or in the crotch, are also common signs.”
Another common indication of abuse is for people who spend most of their time in wheelchairs.
“If there is injury to an older person who is being restrained in a wheelchair, you would look for friction burns on the abdomen or wrists, different patterns in bruising and skin tears,” Speck said.
The majority of sexual assault cases to older adults are in the community; but many are reported from institutions, and in most cases the perpetrator is known by the victim.
Speck says signs of sexual abuse include unexplained venereal diseases, genital infections, and bleeding and tearing in the genital area. They also include bruises to the buttocks and around the inner and outer thighs.
Psychological abuse
Psychological abuse is one of the most common types of abuse. Suspected signs include unusual changes in behavior or sleep, fear or anxiety, sadness, and isolation.
“Isolation is one of the worst symptoms of psychological abuse,” Speck said. “Many older people who are being abused by a loved one don’t want to tell other people what their son or daughter is doing to them because it is their child. This leaves the victim feeling very alone and depressed.”
Speck says control is a major issue in psychological abuse.
“The abuse could come in the form of scolding, insults and degradation; but it could also be less obvious to see,” Speck said. “For example, if a loved one or caretaker keeps a walker or wheelchair just out of reach of the person so they can’t get up and around. Another example might be withholding glasses or dentures from the patient so they can’t eat or see.”
Common signs of abuse may occur when one notices that the patient is unwilling to communicate when a certain person is in the room or nearby.
“If you suspect abuse and are speaking to the patient as part of an investigation or as a friend or relative who is concerned, and you notice the older person’s behavior changes, that should be a major indicator of abuse,” Speck said. “The problem is that moving an older person from their living environment may be disorienting. It takes time to figure out what happened.”
Financial abuse
Financial abuse is defined as the illegal or impromptu use of an elder’s funds, property or assets. Examples include forging an older person’s signature, coercing an older person into signing documents, such as a contract or will, and the improper use of power of attorney.
Speck says financial abuse is common among seniors, especially those with dementia or cognitive impairment; but despite their mental state, the best thing to do is believe them when they complain of missing funds.
“When an older person complains, believe them and listen to them,” she said. “If a loved one is in an assisted-living facility and complains that things are missing, pay attention to that. It is important to do this until you have evidence to prove otherwise.”
Not listening or disregarding complaints about financial abuse will cause the victim to feel shame for not being believed and will also create fear and skepticism when it comes to reporting future instances of abuse. Providers want to create a trauma-informed safe environment.
Neglect
According to Speck, there are three types of neglect — physical, emotional and self.
“Physical neglect is defined as failing to attend to a person’s medical hygiene, nutrition and dietary needs,” she said. “It may also involve not giving them the medications they’ve been prescribed or not changing their bandages on time.”
Emotional neglect also causes pain and distress.
“We often see emotional neglect when an older person is infantilized by their caregivers,” she said. “Abandonment is also a common problem, where someone is left at an emergency department or the hospital.”
Self-neglect is a growing concern and appears when a person chooses not to be treated by a health care provider. Signs of self-neglect include attempted suicide, withdrawal, anxiety, psychosomatic ailments such as stomachaches and headaches, and difficulty sleeping. The older person may desire to be alone, but social support is so important to the older person’s health.
What to do if you see signs of abuse
As the elderly population continues to grow, understanding the signs and symptoms of abuse is an important way to care for your loved ones. Speck says the best thing to do is to be gentle and listen.
“Older people need you to be patient with them, so be patient and listen twice as long as you speak,” she said.
When communicating with an older person whom you suspect has been abused, make sure the person knows what you are saying. If a document or something they need to read is involved, make sure the letters are large enough so they can read the print.
Also, use trauma-informed care principles of safety and transparency to communicate with them in a place where they feel comfortable, and ask them about their hearing and vision preferences.
“They may not be able to see well in a bright room, or they may be sensitive to loud speech and need you to speak in a slow, calm manner using their language,” Speck said. “Avoid medical-ese. Ask them if they have any difficulties, and offer to help them make the environment safer for them. They will be more cooperative and trust you if you show that you are putting their needs first.”
If you suspect abuse, talk with them when the two of you are alone. Offer to take that person to get help and let them know you are worried about their safety and well-being. Many communities have Coordinated Community Responses to Elder Abuse, with a variety of services for the older person. Be proactive, identify older persons at risk, and participate in the development of Coordinated Community Responses to elder maltreatment. In Alabama, Adult Protective Services supports and enables county departments to protect elderly and disabled adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation and to prevent unnecessary institutionalization.
In Alabama, to report abuse, neglect and exploitation of elders or vulnerable adults:
- IMMEDIATE DANGER? Call 911 if that person is in immediate, life-threatening danger.
- Call the HOTLINE at 1-800-458-7214 to report abuse, neglect and exploitation of elders or vulnerable adults when suspicious.
- For services to support elder persons in your community, call 1-800-677-1116 TO PREVENT, the Eldercare Locator (a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging), to speak with someone who will connect you to services for older adults and their families and prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of elders or vulnerable adults.
This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of March 29 – April 4, 2023
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 29 – April 4, 2023

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Bay Area
A Spike in Youth Violence Prompts School District, City Hall to Take Action
In response to series of violent incidents that recently occurred on and off school campuses, the San Francisco Unified School District and city officials introduced a slew of proposals on Tuesday to mitigate youth violence in San Francisco. Last week, the school district was hit with reports of a gun at a middle school campus and a stabbing at another.

By Olivia Wynkoop
Bay City News
In response to series of violent incidents that recently occurred on and off school campuses, the San Francisco Unified School District and city officials introduced a slew of proposals on Tuesday to mitigate youth violence in San Francisco.
Last week, the school district was hit with reports of a gun at a middle school campus and a stabbing at another.
And off campus — a 12-year-old was arrested last week for allegedly stabbing a 15-year-old highschooler on a MUNI bus, and police said they are adding more patrols at Stonestown Galleria on Monday after several large teen fights broke out at the mall.
“There are no excuses for violence, but there are steps we can take to prevent this kind of behavior from taking hold in our schools and our City,” said Mayor London Breed. “As City leaders, we are committed to working together with the School District to make sure our kids are safe and have the support they need, especially after the incredible strain on our young people caused by the last few years.”
The nine proposals released on Tuesday would beef up pre-existing city and school programs, like adding more MUNI transit ambassadors, expanding a school violence interrupter program to identify at-risk youth and coordinate rehabilitation programs for youth involved in crime in the city’s district attorney and public defender offices.
“As SFUSD’s superintendent and a parent, I recognize how challenging the last few weeks have been,” said Superintendent Matt Wayne. “I am grateful that SFUSD and City leaders have come together with a sense of urgency to find solutions, and deepen our partnerships so that we can better support SFUSD students and families.”
The school district also said it intends to improve mental health support, resource-sharing and coordination techniques in school violence incidents.
“Our youth are still recovering from the devastating effect of the pandemic, and we know that it will take the entire City family, which includes leveraging the expertise of our community-based organizations, to help them build up their social-emotional resilience,” said Dr. Maria Su, Executive Director of the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families.
BayCityNews
Newsom Unveils Restorative, Rehabilitative Vision for San Quentin Prison
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday unveiled his plan to transform San Quentin State Prison into a facility that emphasizes services and support over punishment, dubbing the new model the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. The governor joined former and current prison staff and inmates, elected officials, and criminal justice reform advocates for a news conference on Friday at the prison announcing the project, which some are calling a Scandinavian approach to incarceration.

By Katy St. Clair
Bay City News
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday unveiled his plan to transform San Quentin State Prison into a facility that emphasizes services and support over punishment, dubbing the new model the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.
The governor joined former and current prison staff and inmates, elected officials, and criminal justice reform advocates for a news conference on Friday at the prison announcing the project, which some are calling a Scandinavian approach to incarceration.
“I don’t refer to it as a Scandinavian model,” said Newsom on Friday when asked about the comparison. “This is the California model. The California way, informed by best practices across the globe.”
Newsom said he hopes to make San Quentin “the preeminent restorative justice facility in the world.”
Under the new plan, San Quentin would only hold about 2,000 inmates who are serving lesser sentences and it would move more than 500 inmates doing more time for greater offenses, including those on death row, to other facilities.
The transition would take place by 2025, Newsom said, and he has pledged $20 million toward it.
The so-called Scandinavian model emphasizes education, training and rehabilitation over punishment, with the idea that people shouldn’t leave prison worse than when they came in. Newsom said that some approaches have already begun in smaller prisons throughout the state but this one would be the largest in scale.
At San Quentin under the new model, prisoners will be able to learn lucrative trades to better their chances of making it when they get out. This means inmates can study to become plumbers, electricians or truck drivers.
Currently, San Quentin already has its own college program, an award-winning inmate-produced newspaper, and several other opportunities for enrichment.
State Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, shared his support as well for the new direction.
“We have put politics above smart policy when it comes to our criminal justice system,” he said. “Today’s action by Newsom isn’t just about reform. It’s about changing lives. It’s about ending the prison pipeline that’s impacted California’s communities of color. It’s about creating a pathway for entire families and a stronger future for this state. And it’s about saving taxpayers money.”
At the core for the need for a new approach, said both McGuire and the governor, is the state’s 70 percent recidivism rate. And while he said his office was merely looking at worldwide models of reform and would create its own model, he cited Norway’s 20 percent recidivism rate as an argument for restorative justice over simply warehousing people.
Asked what challenges he faces in implementing the new model, Newsom replied jocularly.
“Fires, droughts, social unrest, pandemics?” he quipped, adding “Ron Desantis?”
He then got serious.
“Interested people find excuses. Committed people find ways of getting things done,” he said.
Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, spoke at the news conference in support of the program.
“For a couple of decades, we had this idea that as a state we could be safer,” he said. “If we put our inmates in the most remote parts of the state, if we could just send them out, separate them from their communities, separate them from us, separate them from their loved ones and from family members, that somehow we would be safer.
“Actually I think the exact opposite is needed,” Ting said.
San Quentin, which sits on prime Marin real estate facing the Bay, is California’s oldest prison and was once home to the nation’s largest death row. It currently houses about 3,300 inmates.
In 2019, Newsom placed a moratorium on executions in the state and ordered that the death chamber at San Quentin be dismantled.
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