Group Hopes to Raise Elder Abuse Awareness
A lack of awareness about the increasing incidence of elder abuse was the impetus for a new 30-second public service announcement released to local television stations Thursday.
“There is much more attention given to spousal and child abuse,” said Bonnie Matchinga, president of Impact PSA, the group that produced the announcement.
At a showing of the spot at a West Hollywood theater, Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti said, “We have to educate our community. This is a problem for all of us.”
The California Council on Criminal Justice estimates that every year about 2 million senior citizens nationwide are victims of physical, psychological or financial abuse or neglect.
“Victims seldom report because they’re afraid,” Matchinga said. “There are millions of people being abused. . . . The most prevalent kind of abuse is domestic, committed by a family member.”
The release of the public service announcement followed a motion Wednesday by Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Feuer, demanding an audit on what the city is doing to combat the problem of elder abuse. The LAPD, the city attorney and the Department of Aging will report back to council in 30 days with what can be improved in the system.
State laws approved last year impose fines up to $1,000 and six months in jail for failure to report elder abuse. In addition, anyone convicted of physical or financial elder abuse cannot inherit the abused person’s estate.
The information and referral hotline number for elder abuse is 1 (800) 339-6993.
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