Seniors encouraged to say NO to elder abuse

Imperial Valley community spoke out against elder abuse at the 14 th Annual Senior Appreciation Day on Thursday in Imperial.

John Hernandez, Chairman for I.C. Area Agency on Aging, said, “Not only physical, mental but also financial that’s going on in our community. And we need to have ways to address that and to do away with it, and to eliminate that abuse.”

It was a day of love and information for local seniors.

“In order to celebrate and appreciate the contributions from and for the senior citizen community in our county,” Hernandez said.

Nearly 700 seniors at the event learned about resources available to them as they face many challenges every day.

“Health issues not only in accessing the medical needs of our community but also trying to get to them. Transportation is a big one for our senior population that no longer drives. Our seniors are finding themselves disabled, in canes and walkers and wheelchairs,” Hernandez said.

Catholic Charities Director Laurie Edwards mentioned other challenges seniors face and how her organization tries to help with them.

“Food and security, isolation, which is why it’s so important that our drivers out there five days a week making contact with those seniors and ensuring they get at least one full meal a day,” Edwards said.

The community wants seniors to say no to abuse.

“We do see it often. It’s really good that our drivers, when they make that contact, they can report to me that they feel there’s abuse, and then we make a report to adult protective services,” Edwards said.

Karla Flores, I.C. Area Agency on Aging, said, “We do a lot of outreach for senior abuse, so we try to educate them about scams, financial abuse, even short providers abuse, family members abuse.”

Here are some more signs of elder abuse.

Physical Abuse:

– Unexplained bruises, welts, black eyes, wounds, or fractures

– Multiple injuries in various stages of healing

– Sudden changes in behavior (adult is fearful or depressed or engages in self-destructive behavior)

– The caregiver refuses to allow visitors

– Person is in restraints or locked in a room

– Missing patches of hair or hemorrhaging below the scalp Client reports abuse Mental Abuse

– Person is emotionally upset, agitated, withdrawn, non-communicative, depressed, or non-responsive

– Caregiver refuses to allow visitors or does not let the person participate in family or community events

– Client reports abuse

Sexual Abuse:

– Bruising around breasts and/or genital area

– An unexplained venereal disease

– Soiled underclothes or bedding

– Sudden changes in behavior

If any of these conditions apply, please call Adult Protective Services at 1­‐760-‐337­‐7878 immediately to report it.

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