True Stories of Preventing Elder Abuse

These are true stories of how people recognized and reported suspected elder abuse. The stories show that, if a person steps forward and takes the time to report a harmful situation, another person can be helped. Names and identifying information have been changed to protect the individuals.

Story 1 - Tammy helps her sister, Grace

In 2008, Tammy called the Adult Protective Services Hotline to report that her sister, Grace, was being abused. Grace lived here in Arizona, while Tammy and her entire family lived in New Hampshire. While the distance between them is great, Tammy and Grace speak to each other each night on the phone for at least an hour and keep in contact.

Tammy was concerned because Grace was over 90 and had a granddaughter living with her along with the granddaughter's ex-husband and their 5 children. Tammy reported that the granddaughter was a drug user and financially exploits Grace. The granddaughter's husband threatens Grace with physical abuse.

Adult Protective Services had gone far beyond their call in this case. The case worker spent countless hours trying to just get the details on the extent of the abuse to report so they could help improve the situation.

The police also went out to the house several times, yet each time Grace would refute any allegation of abuse. Since the 5 children had no other family, Grace refused to report any abuse to APS or law enforcement in fear of the children's well-being and so the situation kept going.

Tammy kept up her nightly conversations and one day called the Adult Protective Services Hotline back, this time reporting that the granddaughter had physically hit one of the girls and left a bruise across her face. She also reported that the granddaughter had been in a treatment program down the street for mental illness and was leaving the children in Grace’s hands.

The Crime, Fraud & Victim Resource Center immediately moved in the police, Adult Protective Services and Child Protective Services. When the police arrived at the house, the ex-husband threatened the police with force if they tried to come inside and take the children.

The police ran the granddaughter's ex-husband’s criminal record and found that he had several outstanding felony warrants in Washington State including armed robbery and manslaughter. The police arrested the ex-husband.

CPS found out at the same time that the granddaughter had left the treatment facility and was selling and using narcotics. The police arrested her, too.

CPS was able to secure the children and APS was dispatched to help out Grace.

Tammy and the whole family in New Hampshire flew out to start adoption proceedings and help Grace recover.

None of this would have happened without Tammy's constant attention and effort. Grace was no longer in an abusive situation. In the process, they found a very bad person with several felonies and rescued children who were living in a neglectful situation.

Story 2 - Sam helps his neighbor, Rick

In 2008, Sam called the Adult Protective Services Hotline. Sam was concerned about his elderly neighbor, Rick. Sam lived next door to Rick for 30 years.

A young lady had somehow appeared at the home recently and was taking him out to shopping centers and dinners every night. This was strange, since Rick lived on a fixed income in his paid off home.

Adult Protective Services sent a person to interview Rick. Rick reacted very badly and refused to talk to the APS worker and said nothing was wrong.

It was then that Sam went searching on the County Recorder’s office and found that several new loans were taken out against Rick’s home with the notary as this young lady.

Sam contacted several elder law attorneys and a private investigator. The private investigator found several family members that Rick had been out of contact with. Sam called those family members who immediately flew into town to talk to Rick.

There was an intervention by the police department, Sam, the family and an attorney that the family hired.

The group managed to convince Rick finally that he was being preyed upon.

Further investigation later led the police to 3 others that the young lady had been doing the same scam to.

The smart action by Sam who was looking out for his friend led not only the removal of an elder abuser but saved 3 others as well.