Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 05/16/06

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua and Dianne M. Edwards, Director of Human Services, jointly announced today that the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution declaring the month of May as Elder Abuse Prevention Month.

"Our senior citizens are very important members of our community but are often very vulnerable . We need to protect them against financial and physical abuse. Prevention must be a top priority to stop elder abuse in Sonoma County," said District Attorney Passalacqua.
Director Edwards stated, "Financial elder abuse is a crime of opportunity. The opportunities increase as people become older and more vulnerable. The age group with the highest rate of financial abuse is 80 to 90 years of age."

Commencing January 2007, banks and other financial institutions will be required to report to Adult Protective Services (APS) situations involving seniors who appear to be victims of financial abuse. APS social workers investigate reports of elder abuse.

The public is encouraged to contact Adult Protective Services, the Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging, and the Elder Financial Protection Network for information on elder abuse prevention measures.