Elder Financial Abuse

Financial abuse is the theft or embezzlement of money or any other property from an elder. It can be as simple as taking money from a wallet and as complex as manipulating a victim into turning over property to an abuser through undue influence. The annual financial loss by victims of financial abuse is estimated to be at least $2.9 billion dollars (Metlife, 2011). Many victims of financial abuse do not report the abuse due to: fear of retaliation, fear of legal consequences for family members, too embarrassed and they are not sure who to turn to.

Strangers make up 51% of the abusers and target victims who are out shopping, driving or managing financial affairs. Strangers typically  look for flags of vulnerability such as handicap tags on cars, canes or displays of confusion (Metlife, 2011).

It is hard to believe that family and friends make up 34% of the abusers (Metlife, 2011)  Family members and friends who take advantage may: have substance abuse, gambling or other problems, stand to inherit and feel justified in taking what they believe is “almost” or “rightfully” theirs, fear that the older family member will use up their savings, depriving the abuser of an inheritance. Women over the age of 80 are the most likely victims of financial abuse. Twice as many females as  males are victims! (NCEA, 2011).

WARNING SIGNS

 · Older adult has signed/wants to sign a document (property deed, will, POA) and seems to not have a full understanding.

· Family member moving in without an agreement/shared cost.

· Caregivers who asks questions about   finances.

· Change in spending patters, such as buying items he/she doesn’t need and cannot use.

· Family talking over the senior while in your office making decisions.

· Unpaid bills/bounced checks.

· Unexplained discrepancy between known income and standard of living.

· Possessions disappearing.

· Utilities turned off/not paid on time despite person having adequate income.

· Age and sex (women over 80 most vulnerable)

· Unusual bank activity, frequent withdrawals from automatic teller.

· Appearance of a stranger who begins a new close relationship and offers to manage the elders finances and assets.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

 · Ask Questions.

· Be aware of circumstances/vulnerabilities.

· Ensure financial checks and balances.

· Check references/background checks of in-home helpers (especially private caregivers!)

· Consider monitoring of checkbook.

· Understand family members can be the abusers.

· Prevent caregiver overload and burnout.

· Know how challenging Alzheimer's and other dementias can be fore caregivers and give resources for help in home/respite care.

· Refer to IKOR as the expert when your client looks to you for life answers and you need resources to help with health and wellness concerns.

WHAT CAN IKOR DO?

IKOR is in the business of providing medical and financial advocacy and guardianship for seniors as well as the disabled of all ages. We provide a total-person assessment followed by both a short-term and long-term strategic plan. Our plan includes medical, environmental and psycho-social aspects. We then coordinate the care in order for our client to meet the goals set.

You can contact us if you suspect predatory behavior in finances, daily living, or care management but are not certain. We can conduct credit reports on the senior to look for suspicious activity. We can take over bill pay services to protect your client from family predators. We do background checks on all “professional caregivers”.

Stress and overload of caregivers can increase abuse and neglect (both physical and financial). If family members and/or caregivers are showing signs of stress and overwhelmed in managing care, we can help. We can recommend and help find respite care. We provide an assessment which can properly determine fair cost reimbursement for family caregivers out of the trust and many times justify payment for respite care through trusts. We can help coordinate care for a loved one to take the burden off the family member. When family is fighting and not in agreement we are an unbiased third party to make recommendations and review the overall circumstances.

We improve quality of life and decrease vulnerability by assessing hearing, vision, gait, depression, cognition level (perhaps due to medication contraindications), and recommend a plan to help the senior live the most independent life possible.

Financial abuse is a crime! If you know of someone who is being taken advantage of call your local Adult Protective Services!

Metlife (June, 2011). The Metlife Study of Elder Financial Abuse. Retrieved from https://www.metlife.com/mmi/research/elder-financial-abuse.htm#keyfindings.com Retrieved July 26, 2013.

National Committee to Prevent Elder Abuse (NCPEA) (2008). Preventing the Abuse of Elders.   Retrieved from www.preventelderabuse.org. Retrieved July 29th, 2013.

Happy American Education Week! Celebrate Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities

American Education Week is November 18^th-22^nd, 2013. This week we celebrate public education and to honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. I would like to honor the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) who advocates for quality education for youth with disabilities.

Last week I attended a conference on ADHD: What Parents, Educators, and Caregivers should know to Support Children/Adolescents with ADHD. The presentation was by David Meichenbaum, Ph.D. and was sponsored by OCECD.  This was a wonderful conference that addressed all aspects of ADHD which is the number one disability in our schools today. ADHD cannot be diagnosed as a disability just by symptoms, but it MUST cause an impairment (social, behavioral or emotional impairment).

ADHD should not be determined by a pediatrician but must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist. Other factors that can contribute to ADHD-Like behaviors are:

-medication (albuterol)

-lack of sleep

-poor diet

-stress reaction (ex. Bullying, separation, relocation, abuse and neglect)

-increased pupil to teacher ratios

-unstructured/inconsistent environment

ADHD impairments that affect a child socially include:

            -Not waiting in turn for games

            -Intruding in peers’ activities

            -Poor conflict-resolution abilities

            -Poor frustration-toleration

            -Reactively aggressive

            -Inattentive in recreational setting

            -More often disliked and rejected by other children

Due to these impairments it is important to increase socialization activities with the child with ADHD and teach appropriate socialization skills. The ADHD child often has a hard time picking up on social cues and can have problems initiating play and can be perceived as overbearing. Children with ADHD are therefore more likely to be socially isolated.

Not only do these children struggle in school, but are usually always disciplined at home for not being on task, having a messy room, not following through with homework, and on top of struggles at home and school they are not socially accepted by peers which can cause deep self-esteem issues that can last a lifetime.

What can you do at school and home? Give effective instructions and commands.

Instead of “Clean your room” have a check list “1. Make bed 2. Put laundry in basket 3. Pick up toys from floor, etc”.

Instead of “Can you please wash your hands for dinner” tell child “wash your hands now”

Instead of chain commands give one command at a time.

Give rewards for behavior immediately. Give many opportunities for success and praise. A reward system works for all ages, not just elementary school. Have adolescent age children earn computer or phone time at the end of a week.

OCECD was established in 1972 by one woman at her dining room table at home to advance the educational interest of children with disabilities. OCECD is now composed of over 40 parent and professional organizations representing over 50,000 individuals.  OCECD promotes efforts to provide appropriate quality education for children and youth with disabilities from age 3-26..

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) provides legal grounds for children with disabilities to receive fee appropriate education in the least restrictive environment.

Visit www.ocecd.org to learn about the rights of children with disabilities.

Canine Companions For Independence

Canine Companions for Independence is a program that trains dogs to enhance the lives of seniors and the disabled by promoting independence. Canine Companions is nation wide and has a facility in five different areas in the United States. The North Central Regional Center is located in Delaware, Ohio! Right in our own back yard!! They train four different types of Assistance Dogs. 1. Service dogs- partnered with adults with disabilities to perform certain tasks to help promote independence  2. Skilled Companion-trained to perform tasks for an adult or child with a disability under the guidance of a facilitator, 3. Hearing Dogs-trained to recognize and respond to environmental sounds by alerting their deaf or hard of hearing partner, 4. Facility Dog-dogs partnered with a facilitator who directly serves clients with special needs. 
These dogs go through extensive training for around 2 years and then are partnered with a person in need. The person then has go through two weeks of extensive training with their dog and then is theirs to keep. I attended the graduation today at the Dublin Recreation Center. The graduation celebrates everyone who has helped make the graduation possible from the breeders, caretakers, puppy raisers and volunteers and donors. 
If you would like more information about applying for a Canine Companion, would like to donate to this wonderful and worthy program, or want to volunteer your time visit www.cci.org for more information. 

Empowering People

I have been wanting to start a business for as long as I can remember. I also wanted to help people and empower others. I went into nursing right out of high school to fill my need to help others. I have been happy in my nursing career for the past 18 years, but was still looking for that business I have always dreamed of. For four to five years I have been looking into business prospects but did not want to do something that would not significantly impact others and have no meaning. I came across IKOR Global in Pennsylvania and was immediately interested and felt my heart fly. This was a business I could use my nursing background, education, make a huge impact on improving and empowering lives! I opened IKOR of Greater Columbus in July of 2013 and now this is my calling. I get the chance to enhance the quality of lives of seniors and the disabled of all ages. I empower them by helping them make informed and educated choices to help them improve live, and live more independently. How great to be able to do what you love and make a positive impact on others! With this blog I hope to have helpful information to empower others and promote optimal health!