Statewide Program Helps Seniors Deal With Abuse

Seminar Hopes To Stifle Financial, Physical, Emotional

SEASIDE, Calif. -- The California Attorney General's Office says hundreds of thousands of elderly and dependent adults are the victims of abuse in the state. On Wednesday, an adult seminar in Seaside hoped to prevent the abuse, whether its financial, physical or emotional.

State officials believe that raising public awareness of elderly abuse through seminars is the first step to helping them.

Elder abuse is a crime, but it often goes unreported because people are ashamed they've been abused or swindled, according to officials.

Typically, it's a family member or relative committing the abuse, experts say. Authorities recommend that those who suspect abuse should report it.

Experts say there are ways to tell if somebody might be trying to financially abuse the elderly.

"When someone wants to come into your house, and you don't know them," said Assistant Attorney General Paul Seave. "When they want to do something for free. When they want to sell you something for free. When they seem eager to sell you something. When they say there's a deadline tomorrow, and you've got to do it today. If it's a lot of money, and they're not giving you time, chances are it's a scam."

There are some steps that can be taken to protect against identity theft:
- Get a crosscut shredder and use it every day on credit card checks and card offers.
- Don't give your personal information out over the phone.
- Check your credit report once a year.
- Two of the biggest scams for seniors involve phony prizes or sweepstakes, and phony charities, according to state officials. They should be checked out before any money is given.

There are many local resources to which seniors can turn for help, including a toll-free hotline for reporting suspected abuse (The ElderCare Locator: 1 (800) 677-1116) - and the local District Attorney's Office for cases of consumer fraud.