Additional funds to protect seniors from abuse, fraud
The Wolf administration has announced an expenditure of $2.1 million in additional funding for the state's Older Adults Protective Services.
The funding will be available in the state's 2018-19 budget. It is not yet known what portion of the $2.1 million Butler County will receive.
A news release from the state Aging Communications Office said the funding was secured after a decade of annual increases in elder abuse reports.
Beth Herold, administrator of the county Agency on Aging, confirmed that reports of emotional, verbal, physical, sexual and financial abuse received by her agency among those aged 60 and older has doubled in the eight years she has served as director.
When she was hired eight years ago, the agency investigated 30 to 35 cases per month. Today, that number has climbed to 60 to 70 reports per month.
“I think it's wonderful, because our costs of being able to provide these services and keep consumers over the age of 60 safe has increased greatly over the eight years I have been here,” Herold said. “This will help enable us to continue to meet the increased needs of this population.”
She attributes the increased abuse cases in part to the opioid crisis, as addicted family members steal or request sums of money from their elderly relatives to support their habit.
A full story will appear in the Butler Eagle.
