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

 

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

 

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

 

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