Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Lancaster County Shows Rise In Elder Abuse

The Lancaster County Office of Aging has seen a rise in the incidents of elder abuse in recent years.  One such report was of a local woman draining her 95-year-old mother's bank account. The office investigates about 1,500 claims a year, up from 1,200 last year.  They report increases of several hundred reports every year for the last 4-5 years.  The reports range from abuse and neglect to financial exploitation.  The office recently outlined a four-year plan for 2012-2016, which is required from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.  They hope to increase the amount and efficiency of their services, as outlined in their plan. 

In Lancaster County, over 20% of the population is 60 or older.  Out of these residents,over 10% requested at least one service offered via the Office of Aging.  The Office of Aging's budget is $8.6 million, most of which comes from proceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery.  No tax dollars are spent on this office.  According to the article (hyperlinked above), "currently, the county has a waiting list of more than 300 eligible seniors who want access to some of these services, which help seniors with daily needs, such as bathing, eating and paying bills, while allowing them to continue living at home."


This office is doing a great job at meeting the needs of their area's seniors within their budgets.  Elder abuse is a rising concern within many American areas.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer specializing in elder abuse/neglect and motor vehicle accidents.  For more information on his law firm and legal practice, please visit his website here.

No comments:

Post a Comment