General Information

The Community Liaison to Seniors program provides a proactive approach to help seniors and at-risk adults within our community avoid becoming victims of crime.  All too often, seniors become targets of any number of scams, ranging from telephone scams to fraud scams.  Criminals choose to prey on this group for a variety of reasons, some of which include their trusting personalities and the difficulty for a senior citizen to be a strong witness and follow a criminal case through prosecution.

Our Community Liaison to Seniors serve and partner with this group by providing invaluable education which will help them detect a scam before they become a victim.  It also provides outreach and guidance to seniors on any number of law enforcement topics, including home security, emergency contacts within the community, and what to expect throughout an investigation and court prosecution if they do become a victim.

Stop and Prevent Elder Abuse

• "At-risk elder" means any person who is seventy years of age or older.
• "Abuse" means any of the following acts or omissions committed against an at-risk elder; (a) The nonaccidental infliction of bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death,(b) Confinement or restraint that is unreasonable under generally accepted caretaking standards, (c) Subjection to sexual conduct or contact classified as a crime under this title and (d) Caretaker neglect.
• "Caretaker neglect" means neglect that occurs when adequate food, clothing, shelter, psychological care, physical care, medical care, or supervision is not secured for an at-risk adult or an at-risk elder or is not provided by a caretaker in a timely manner and with the degree of care that a reasonable person in the same situation would exercise; except that the withholding, withdrawing, or refusing of any medication, any medical procedure or device, or any treatment, including but not limited to resuscitation, cardiac pacing, mechanical ventilation, dialysis, and artificial nutrition and hydration, in accordance with any valid medical directive or order or as described in a palliative plan of care shall not be deemed caretaker neglect.
• "Exploitation" means an act or omission committed by a person who:(a) Uses deception, harassment, intimidation, or undue influence to permanently or temporarily deprive an at-risk elder of the use, benefit, or possession of anything of value, (b) In the absence of legal authority employs the services of a third party for the profit or advantage of the person or another person to the detriment of the at-risk elder or Forces, compels, coerces, or entices an at-risk elder to perform services for the profit or advantage of the person or another person against the will of the at-risk elder or misuses the property of an at-risk elder in a manner that adversely affects the at-risk elder's ability to receive health care or health care benefits or to pay bills for basic needs or obligations.

Who is a Mandatory Reporter?

• Health care providers and other medical personnel including: Physicians, surgeons, physicians’ assistants, osteopaths, physicians in training, podiatrists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists; medical examiners and coroners; registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse practitioners; Emergency medical service providers; chiropractors; dentists; pharmacists
• Health care facility and mental health: hospital and long-term care facility personnel engaged in the admission, care, or treatment of patients; psychologists and other mental health professionals; social work practitioners
• Clergy members (with exceptions)
• Law enforcement officials and personnel
• Court-appointed guardians and conservators
• Fire protection personnel
• Community-centered board staff (think senior center or the like)
• Financial Institutions including: personnel of banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, and other lending or financial institutions
• Care Providers including: a caretaker, staff member, employee, or consultant for a licensed or certified care facility, agency, home, or governing board, including but not limited to home health providers; and a caretaker, staff member, employee of, or a consultant for, and a home care placement agency

How to Make a Report of Suspected Mistreatment

On and after July 1, 2014, any mandatory reporter who observes the abuse or exploitation of an at-risk elder, or who has reasonable cause to believe that an at-risk elder has been abused or has been exploited or is at imminent risk of abuse or exploitation, shall report such fact to a law enforcement agency not more than twenty-four hours after making the observation or discovery.

When making a report to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services, provide as much information as possible about the at-risk adult and the alleged perpetrator including:

• The adult’s demographic information, such as name, gender, date of birth, or approximate age, address, current location if different from permanent address, and phone number;
• Medical and/or disabling condition(s);
• Contact information for friends, family, neighbors, or caregivers;
• Specific concerns regarding the alleged mistreatment;
• Safety concerns for the adult;
• The alleged perpetrators information, such as name, gender, address, phone number and relationship to the at-risk adult, when mistreatment is alleged.