The Department of Health and Senior Services gets 85 reports a day of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the elderly. Department officials are hitting the road, hoping to head off greater growth of the problem.
Twenty meetings have been scheduled in senior centers and senior housing complexes so department officials can help the elderly know if they’re being abused or helping others identify abuse.
The Department says it received almost 31,000 reports of elder abuse in the last fiscal year. Department planner Marta Fontaine says most people know what to look for with child abuse—but elder abuse is often a hidden abuse. “It’s the last form of family violence,” she says.
Bob Priddy interviews Marta Fontaine 11:01 mp3
The department says the elderly often are prime targets because they might need help with daily tasks and might be socially isolated but with considerable assets.
The department hopes to reduce elder abuse cases by making sure potential victims as well as their neighbors, friends, and realties know what to look for.
Here’s the hearing schedule.
1. 9:00 a.m. June 9
South County Senior Center
9415 Gentry
St. Louis
Presenters: Jennifer Indelicato and Karen Siegel
2. 10:15 a.m. June 9
West County Senior Center
14535 Manchester
Ballwin
Presenter: Helga Werth-Morgan
3. 12:30 p.m. June 9
Clinton Senior Center
970 E. Sedalia Ave.
Clinton
Presenter: Wanda Staley
4. 10:00 a.m. June 15
Green Lantern Senior Center
506 S. Linn Ave.
Wentzville
Presenter: Karen Klearman
5. 10:45 a.m. June 15
Southside Senior Center
2215 S. Fremont
Springfield
Presenter: Randy Weaver
6. 11:00 a.m. June 15
Nodaway Senior Center
1210 E. 1st St.
Maryville
Presenter: Karen Worthington
7. 11:00 a.m. June 15
St. Clair County Senior Center
120 Pine St.
Osceola
Presenter: Wanda Staley
8. 11:30 a.m. June 15
Slater Senior Center
123 Main St.
Slater
Presenters: Christy Thorp and Kim Chastine
9. 12:30 p.m. June 15
Hickory County Senior Center
Hwy. 54
Wheatland
Presenter: Wanda Staley
10. 11:30 a.m. June 16
Warsaw Senior Center
920 Gunstock
Warsaw
Presenters: Renee Mazurek or Deana Schlesselman
Â
11. 11 a.m. June 17
Cameron Nutrition Site
315 E. 3rd
Cameron
Presenter: Karen Worthington
12. 11 a.m. June 17
Cole Camp Senior Center
206 Jungle St.
Cole Camp
Presenter: Renee Mazurek or Deana Schlesselman
13. 11:30 a.m. June 18
Concordia Senior Center
710 Main St.
Concordia
Presenters: Christine Walther and Deana Schlesselman
Â
14. 10:45 a.m. June 22
Mercer County Senior Center
110 Broadway
Princeton
Presenter: Christal Reeter
15. 11:00 a.m. June 22
Washington Senior Center
1459 W. 5th St.
Washington
Presenter: Teresa Gentry
Â
16. 11:30 a.m. June 22
Calvin Senior Center
1412 N. 3rd St.
St. Joseph
Presenter: Haley Ludington
17. 11:30 a.m. June 23
Wesley Towers (senior housing complex)
1002 Francis St.
St. Joseph
Presenter: Kim Piper
18. 11:15 a.m. June 25
Stockton Senior Center
510 E. Hwy. 32
Stockton
Presenter: Wanda Staley
19. 11:30 a.m. June 25
Grand River Multipurpose Center
440 Locust
Chillicothe
Presenter: Jamie Wes
20. 11:00 a.m. June 28
Sullivan Senior Center
730 W. Main St.
Sullivan
Presenter: Teresa Gentry