LAS VEGAS, Aug. 14, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Alarmed by the recent rise of reported elder abuse incidents at the hands of family members, Rick Dural, President of SafeSenior.com, decided to take action. To combat this problem Safe Senior has launched a wellness call service. SafeSenior.com uses an automated interactive service that will telephone elderly loved ones daily to check on their well-being and notify a responsible relative if the elder is in need of assistance.
The National Center on Elder abuse estimates that 3.4 to 5 percent of the 43 million Americans who are 60 and older will become the victims of some form of maltreatment each year. Elder abuse is characterized as active or passive neglect; psychological or financial exploitation; physical abuse, sexual abuse, or abandonment carried out with intent to cause injury or pain. The National Center for Victims of Crimes reports that adult children are the largest perpetrators of elder abuse (47.3%), followed by spouses (19.3%), other relatives (8.8%), and grandchildren (8.6%).
A national expert in the field of adult protection, Dr. Georgia Anetzberger Ph.D, ACSW, LISW believes that elder abuse at the hands of family members is on the rise due to several factors. "There is less of a family support network available to seniors now because their Baby Boomer children either work fulltime or reside at a distance away from their elderly parents," said Dr. Anetzberger. "Given the fact that seniors often have greater financial resources than their indebted adult children, the potential for financial exploitation, neglect and outright abuse of the elderly is burgeoning."
According to Dr. Anetzberger, the relatives who are available and willing to accept the responsibility of caring for their elderly relatives are all too frequently apt to be adult children or grandchildren with mental health issues or drug and alcohol abuse problems. Often their offer of help is accepted by more responsible family members who are unwilling to consider the possibility that their "ner' do well" relatives would pose a potential risk to their own vulnerable family members.
No family is immune to the problem of elder abuse, Dr. Anetzberger noted. "To curtail elder abuse, families need to stay socially connected and monitor the situation of their elderly family member with a high level of suspicion."
SafeSenior.com will place several randomly timed calls to an isolated or "at risk" senior daily on behalf of busy, yet concerned, family members. If the senior gives a "no" response, to the question "Are you well today?" or if the call goes unanswered, the listed relative will be immediately notified by telephone and email. Prompt attention to a potentially abusive situation can save a senior's life, preserve their health and protect their assets. For more information about this low cost service, or a free trial subscription, contact Rick Dural by email at rick@safesenior.com, at the website www.safesenior.com, or by telephone at (949) 677-3595.