For each reported case of neglect and abuse of an adult, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services estimates there are another 24 that fall through the cracks.
“Elder abuse is a crime that knows no boundaries,” the Cabinet states. “Elder Abuse can occur anywhere, anytime; it can affect all races, religions, ethnicities, cultures, and socioeconomic groups.”
Soon, Boone County may have a task force to combat elder abuse in the community. Commissioners Jesse Brewer and Charlie Kenner announced their intention to create an Elderly Abuse Prevention Task Force for the county.
“In this day of growing cyber-crime and invasive technology, we need to go above and beyond in taking care of those who have taken care of us,” Brewer said. “Those preying on the elderly have always been out there, but at least they had to actually be in the community to commit a crime. Now, anyone with a computer from anywhere in the world can steal from those who are most vulnerable in our society.”
The group will focus on the detection and prevention of financial crimes committed against senior citizens, though the National Council on Aging defines elder abuse as more than scams or mysterious transactions.
The NCA says the abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, and include passive neglect, willful deprivation of one’s needs, and confinement in addition to financial exploitation.
The council reports that one in 10 Americans ages 60 and older are victims of abuse from caretakers, and in more than half of cases the abuser is a family member.
“The idea would be to have members of the task force all working on this issue together for presentations, information sharing, developing tactics to combat these issues, notifying the community and when a crime is committed and hopefully prosecution and recovery of stolen funds,” he said.
Whether they are family or a close friend, Boone County Attorney Robert Neace said it’s not unusual for perpetrators of these crimes to be someone the victim knows and trusts. It is on the shoulders of Commonwealth Attorney Louis Kelly’s office to prosecute felony cases in Boone County.
The county commissioners plan to present the task force to the Boone County Fiscal Court, which is due to meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26.
“Due to the lack of reporting these crimes there needs to be more focus on prevention and streamlining the reporting process, potentially even through anonymous tips,” Brewer added. “That is why there is a need for a special task force to be created, potentially with the collaboration of other counties and cities in the Northern Kentucky region.”
If someone suspects elder abuse is taking place they are legally obligated to report it. Reports can be made abuse at the 24-hour hotline at (877) 597-2331.