Elder Watch Program Helps Des Moines Seniors

by Josh Hart

Last October, a cool new program started in the Des Moines area when Don Harper and Wayne Corey founded the Des Moines/Normandy Park Elder Watch Program.

It took these guys 1-1/2 years to put together this project, which is aimed at increasing public awareness and reducing instances of Elder Abuse and neglect in the community.

Harper and Corey do this through a coordination of resources, support and response from various sources like the Des Moines Fire Aid Fund, South King Firefighters Foundation and the Legacy Foundation fund.

Wayne is the Elder Watch Co-Director, publisher of publicsafe.org, chairman of The Enhanced Public Safety Committee, a member of King County EMS/Medic One Advisory Committee, a volunteer for the Des Moines Police and South King Fire & Rescue, and a board member at the Des Moines Waterfront Farmer’s Market

Don also serves as Elder Watch Co-Director, a part of the Des Moines Senior Services Advisory Committee, and is a volunteer at the Des Moines Police and South King Fire & Rescue, a retired police officer, a volunteer at the Senior Services of King County, and a Suicide Prevention counselor.

Don and Wayne, along with the Des Moines Senior Advisory Committee, the Enhanced Public Safety Committee and local police target elders who get abused and who don’t get protected via the APS (Adult Protection Service). Don and Wayne find four ways of abuse, with Financial Exploitation and Neglect (either self neglect or caregiver neglect) as the most common one, in over 50% of cases. At a smaller amount but still noticeable is Physical and Emotional abuse along with sexual abuse in many cases.

• Intentionally causing pain and suffering and/or injury to an elderly adult can be considered physical and emotional abuse.
• Sexual Abuse is any form of non-consensual physical contact. It includes rape, molestation, or any sexual conduct with a person who lacks the mental capacity to exercise consent.
• Neglect is the failure of caregivers to fulfill their responsibilities to provide needed care. Self Neglect is the person’s own failure to maintain heath and safety. Intentionally taking advantage of an elderly adult financially is financial abuse.

The signs of these forms of abuse are the following:

• Physical & Emotional Abuse: unexplained injuries or behavior, elderly adult appears afraid of a person or circumstances, significant weight loss/gain that is not attributed to other causes, and stress related conditions, including elevated blood pressure.
• Sexual Abuse: inappropriate sex-role relationship between victim and suspect, genital or anal pain, irritation, bleeding or bruising, difficulty walking or sitting, torn, stained or bloody underclothing, and sexually transmitted diseases.
• Neglect/Self Neglect: untreated injuries or health, sudden decline in physical appearance, unsafe living conditions, and signs of medication mismanagement, including empty or unmarked bottles or outdated prescriptions.
• Financial Exploitation: disappearance of possessions or property, sudden transfer of money, unauthorized use of bank cards, and or/ forged signature on checks, and undue influence or coercion.

Only five percent of cases are reported, mainly because the elders are afraid to report the case or because they aren’t aware that they are being abused. Sometimes the elderly won’t talk to or let in First Responders, so Don and Wayne try to be less threatening and more low-key in trying to get the victim to open up.

Elder Watch provides victims rights information; help with information about the investigation; assistance with application for victims compensation benefits; liaison with prosecuting attorney’s office; referrals to other community agencies and resources that assist victims; assistance in getting property returned, and court support through the criminal justice process.

For more information on this program or to schedule a presentation to your group, please click on their website here: www.publicsafe.org/edlerwatch.org or call Elder Watch at 253-946-7338.

You can also visit the Des Moines Senior Center at 2045 S. 216th Street.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Josh Hart is The Waterland Blog’s first Intern!

He’s also a 15-year old student at Highline’s “Big Picture High School” in SeaTac.